Investing in Michigan’s growing economy.

September 30, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$125 Early Bird Pricing Ends 8/25/25 (Regular $150) | Vanguard Hotel
Presented by Ann Arbor SPARK.

Curious about how startups raise money—and where the capital is flowing? This summit brings together venture capitalists, angel investors, and founders to explore investment trends and growth strategies. Whether you’re fundraising, investing, or just startup-curious, this event is packed with insights and connections.

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Michigan Startup Capital Summit Speakers

Plus more being announced soon!

Biography

Jennifer Hayes

Senior Vice President, Public Policy

Invest Detroit

Jennifer joined Invest Detroit in January 2018 and has more than 20 years of experience in organizational management, public policy, external affairs, and economic development. She currently leads the organization’s public policy work. In the past three years, she has successfully led the creation of the Michigan CDFI Coalition and led advocacy efforts that resulted in $189 million total for Michigan’s CDFI and venture ecosystems. Before taking on public policy full time, she was responsible for a variety of areas including technology management, internal process improvements, and management reporting during which she oversaw the implementation of multiple new organizational software platforms.

Prior Experience: Prior to joining Invest Detroit, Ms. Hayes served as director of administration and outreach with Business Leaders for Michigan, a non-profit executive leadership group that represents CEOs of the state’s largest companies in Michigan, and as a senior legislative analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. She began her career in the Michigan Legislature, holding various policy positions in the Michigan House and Senate over eight years and working on a variety of economic development and tax policy public policy initiatives and legislation. Her last position was senior policy advisor with the Michigan House of Representatives’ Republican Policy Office where she led efforts around economic development and tax policy work for two House Speakers.

Professional & Board Affiliations: Ms. Hayes serves as chair of the Detroit CDFI Coalition and its Policy Committee and as treasurer of the Michigan CDFI Coalition and its Policy Committee. She is also a Board member with the Detroit Youth Sports Commission. She has also participated in the Inforum Executive Leadership Program and Detroit Regional Chamber: Leadership Detroit program.

Education: Bachelor of Science, Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science-Human Resources; Minor in Political Science; Emphasis on Business Administration/Accounting from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Jennifer Hayes
Invest Detroit

Biography

Peter Hill

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

Business Leaders For Michigan

Peter Hill is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Business Leaders For Michigan, a statewide organization driven by CEOs from the state’s leading employers, all working toward a shared goal: making Michigan a Top 10 state for jobs, talent and a thriving economy.

Peter is leading the organization’s work around talent, innovation and economic growth.

Peter previously was an associate partner at McKinsey & Company in Detroit, where he was a leader in economic development and government performance, working with states and regions on topics from unemployment to technology strategy to regional growth and innovation.

Prior to McKinsey, Peter was a strategist at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where his work included resiliency planning, sector development, and managing the creation of the city’s workforce development strategy alongside the Jobs for New Yorkers Task Force. He started his career in the nonprofit sector, consulting for mission-based organizations at Root Cause and running youth leadership programs in Mexico and the U.S. as part of Amigos de las Americas.

Peter has a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Peter Hill
Business Leaders For Michigan

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