Global innovation platform to hold first Detroit Summit on
July 11th

Chris Holman interviewed Amanda Roraff, PlanetM Operations Manager, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, out of Detroit. Representatives from Michigan’s mobility ecosystem – including 40 startups, 60 corporate entities and educational institutions from across the state – are coming together today, on Wednesday, July 11, at Little Caesars Arena for a first-of-its-kind Detroit Summit featuring a day of pitches, exhibits, demos and one-on-one meetings.

The event is being hosted by Plug and Play – the world’s largest global innovation platform – in partnership with PlanetM and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Detroit was a natural choice for an event, given the city’s reputation as a leader in transportation innovation.

To hear Amanda and Chris's interview please click on the embedded SoundCloud PodCast shared immediately below.

“We are very excited to partner with PlanetM. Detroit remains the home of technology advances in the mobility space, and it is an obvious destination to expand Plug and Play’s global presence. We hope to bridge the gap between the software of Silicon Valley and the hardware of Detroit,” said Sobhan Khani, Vice President of Mobility at Plug and Play.

 This event is structured to provide each participant a curated experience that focuses on making connections in the mobility space. Startups will have opportunities to exhibit, present and demo for corporate attendees looking to explore and learn more about emerging technologies. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity to work with Plug and Play to showcase Michigan’s robust mobility ecosystem,” said Trevor Pawl, Group Vice President of PlanetM. “From startups to automakers, the work being done in Michigan is leading today’s transportation revolution and putting Detroit at the epicenter of mobility innovation, testing and deployment.” 

Plug and Play has a worldwide presence working with startups, corporations and investors to aid in growth. Startup accelerator matchmaking events, such as this program, make introductions that help both parties thrive through investment, pilots, acquisitions and mutual growth. Plug and Play also has Silicon Valley VC partners that can lead to investment. 

The pitch competition will include 16 Plug and Play startups as well as several local companies including: 

• May Mobility - self-driving microtransit service makes short-distance travel safe, convenient, and personal, allowing people to move effortlessly around the areas where they live and work.
• Lookingbus - LookingBus is an orientation system for the blind that uses proprietary hardware to facilitate communication between blind pedestrians and bus drivers. 

Additionally, several Michigan universities, including Michigan Tech, Wayne State University and the University of Michigan, will have an opportunity to pitch both projects and programs to corporate representatives in attendance. Other PlanetM partners, including The American Center for Mobility and Kettering University, will be also presenting throughout the day. Representatives from Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Pure Michigan Business Connect, all programs at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, will also be participating in the event. 

Visit https://planetm.connect.space/pnpsummit for more information

About PlanetM
PlanetM is a partnership of mobility organizations, communities, educational institutions, research and development, and government agencies working together to develop and deploy the mobility technologies driving the future. Available to any mobility-focused company or investor, PlanetM is also a no-cost, concierge service that connects startups to Michigan’s automotive ecosystem — the people, places and resources dedicated to the evolution of transportation mobility. Michigan has always been the leader of the automotive industry, and as vehicle and transportation technologies continue to evolve in amazing ways, Michigan is continuing to lead the way. Visit PlanetM.com to learn more.