Cleveland was once known as The Forest City – for its abundance of trees and greenery. It later became a notch on the Rust Belt, when its industrial and manufacturing prowess turned to urban decay. Efforts are now underway to return the city to a variant of its former green state – green with growth as a burgeoning tech belt and innovation hub otherwise known as the home of FutureLAND. The Bibb administration and its youthful allies envision making the city a new mecca for the innovative, the entrepreneurs, the techies, trendsetters and tastemakers alike.
The second annual FutureLAND conference is organized by the City of Cleveland, the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, Jumpstart Inc. and other partners. The two-day conference will take place Oct. 5-6 at Playhouse Square, likely to be a more congenial space than last year’s ill-fitting venue in on the east bank of the Flats.
Last year’s inaugural conference attracted more than 2,000 attendees, with “many entrepreneurs benefited tremendously including six figure deals, transformational connections and of course resources to advance businesses at every level,” said FutureLAND co-founder Alysha Ellis in a press release. “The impact from FutureLAND last year has led us to go for 2.0 in its second year… [leading] us to develop community-initiated steering committees and our fellowship program to get more movers and shakers involved,” said Ellis.
Cleveland is witnessing a noticeable increase in the number of startups, organizations, and initiatives that are dedicated to supporting and empowering people of color in tech. The city is touting a proactive approach towards fostering a diverse tech ecosystem to make it more attractive for entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals seeking an inclusive place to bring their ideas to life.
Zion Clark
Shaundretta Boykins
This year’s conference will feature an array of speakers such as social media influencer Zion Clark; Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels; Ohio Department of Development Manager of Business Development and Entrepreneurship Shaundretta Boykins, former CMO of both Progressive Insurance and AFLAC [think Aflac Duck!] Jeff Charney and a varied and impressive roster of other presenters. The sponsors promise an array of insightful panels, engaging fireside chats with industry leaders, interactive workshops designed to drive business growth, an immersive art show, a homecoming concert and invaluable networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, creatives, investors and ecosystem leaders.
“FutureLAND is a celebration of diversity in tech and entrepreneurship and a signal to the rest of the country that Cleveland is ready to compete, with homegrown talent, boomerangs and newcomers who have chosen to call Cleveland home. We are so excited to host this event for the second year and create the Cleveland we know we can be: A place for all people – especially our Black and Brown communities – to succeed,” said Mayor Justin Bibb.
One of the highlights of FutureLAND is the highly anticipated pitch competitions, where Cleveland-based founders will compete for a life-changing $100,000 prize powered by Jumpstart Inc.
The success stories emerging from Cleveland's tech and innovation landscape highlight the transformative power of embracing diversity and inclusion. “FutureLAND is more than a conference, it’s a movement,” Ellis said, referencing FutureLAND’s efforts to harness and promote the talents and unique perspectives of people of color.
Tickets for either or both days are still available. To purchase, visit the FutureLAND website and click on Register.
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