Forbes Under 30 Summit Showcases Detroit on a Global Scale

“We were looking for a new home for our annual Forbes Under 30 Summit. Steve Case [former chairperson of AOL] recommended I talk to Dan Gilbert about Detroit. Dan personally got on the phone, he coordinated tours and meetings with the various stakeholders. He made it a personal point to try and deliver this for Detroit,” said Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer of Forbes. “It was exactly what we wanted. It became a catalytic event for a city that deserves the spotlight.”

The annual event brings together young entrepreneurs from around the world, including honorees of the Forbes 30 Under 30 lists. Investors, aspiring founders and local government officials come together for four days of networking, inspiration, impact, and cultural excursions. From 2019 to 2023 the annual summit brought global talent to Detroit to discuss how they are disrupting their respective industries.

“It’s such a beautiful canvas with so many neighborhoods, diversity, facilities and history—where innovation is thriving,” said Lane.

The first Forbes Under 30 Summit in Detroit took place in 2019. Working with ROCK, the Family Office of Dan and Jennifer Gilbert and the Rocket Family of Companies, the event had record attendance.

Among the most memorable experiences for Lane is the multi-day hack-a-thon during the pandemic. Leaders across various sectors came together to brainstorm solutions to systemic societal issues. Teams focused on everything from improving student outcomes in urban environments to accelerating innovation in a downtown core.

“It wasn’t just an hour, or a day. It was an entire weekend. We had government officials and ROCK facilitators in each group. It was so well-coordinated, specifically at a time after the pandemic where people were looking to help. It felt impactful and important. The time spent solving these problems – some people didn’t sleep. They just kept going. A couple of the groups even stayed together after the hack-a-thon, innovating, creating, continuing to meet and further the solutions. It was incredible,” recalls Lane. “

The drive to improve its city is something Lane noticed permeating Detroit. From the assembly line to a growing startup corridor, Detroit is a city where ideas are plentiful.

“You can see the creative ecosystem in Detroit. Whether it’s artists, musicians, social entrepreneurs – people from all walks of life, Detroit is a place people can build and create. Where creative people go, money follows. ROCK has helped build that ecosystem here,” Lane described.

The Forbes Under 30 Summit helped shine a global light on Detroit and left an indelible mark on the more than 600 leaders representing more than 20 industries from across the globe. “I’ve noticed the perception change. From where I sit, you hear less about a city whose time is past. Instead, you hear about a city where great businesses are started, where talented people want to go, and where innovation is thriving,” said Lane.

“What ROCK is doing in Detroit, and the impact on the city, is huge. Dan is investing in Detroit because it is personal, it is his hometown,” adds Lane. “Everything we did with ROCK always had this focus of making sure Detroit was the beneficiary, not Dan, not his businesses, but Detroit.”

That investment is paying off. Detroit is frequently recognized as having one of the best startup ecosystems in the world. In 2023, Startup Genome gave it the top spot for emerging startups. Wages and total incomes continue to rise, even when inflation is factored in. A record crowd of 775,000 people attended the NFL Draft in Detroit. Events like the Forbes Under 30 Summit bring global leaders to Detroit and what they see is a city on the move.

“Seeing is believing, and when Dan brought me in, I saw this amazing, vibrant city. I saw what Detroit has become, and I became a believer.”