TechTown Detroit celebrates two decades of entrepreneurship at 10th annual “Toast of the Town” on Sept. 25

Salute Awards ceremony set to honor Brittni Abiolu, James McKissic, the Vargas family and Alexa and Johnnie Turnage

Event features immersive experiences, tech startup demos, local retailers and Detroit-based dining

Marks TechTown Detroit's 20th anniversary while supporting its mission to build equitable community wealth through entrepreneurship across Wayne County

Sept. 5, 2024

TechTown Detroit, Wayne State's entrepreneurship hub, announced today the return of its highly anticipated annual celebration, Toast of the Town, to be held Sept. 25. This year's event, marking the nonprofit's 20th anniversary, will celebrate Detroit's vibrant community of innovators and entrepreneurs. Now in its 10th year, Toast of the Town kicks off at 4:30 p.m., with the ninth annual Salute Awards at the Wayne State Industry Innovation Center, followed by festivities at TechTown from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is open to the public with ticket purchases supporting TechTown Detroit's mission.

"Thinking ahead to my favorite evening of the year, we have so much to celebrate as we reflect on TechTown's first two decades," said Ned Staebler, vice president for economic development at Wayne State University and president and CEO of TechTown Detroit. "Beyond a doubt, our biggest honor is having the opportunity to watch our small business owners, tech founders and entrepreneurs activated across the city, strengthening neighborhoods and building community wealth."

NINTH ANNUAL SALUTE AWARDS

Hosted this year by Live in the D's Tati Amare, TechTown's Salute Awards are the organization's highest honor for embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and leveraging the many resources founded at TechTown and across Detroit's small business ecosystem.

The local entrepreneurs set to receive this year's Salute Award honor are Brittni Abiolu, founder and managing director of VentureHue; James McKissic, owner of Mac Galleries; and Jose Manuel and Teresa Vargas, owners of La Jalisciense Supermercado Y Taqueria.

Alexa and Johnnie Turnage, co-founders of Black Tech Saturdays, will receive the Marlowe Stoudamire Small Business Champion Award. The Turnages are dedicated to reshaping the landscape of technology by fostering diversity and inclusivity for Black founders and entrepreneurs. They have pioneered a groundbreaking movement aimed at empowering underrepresented communities within the tech industry.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the ceremony begins at 5 p.m. Seating is limited.

More information about 2024 Salute Award winners can be found at techtowndetroit.org/salute.

TOAST OF THE TOWN FESTIVITIES

As TechTown Detroit embarks on its next chapter, attendees are invited to an evening that celebrates the power of innovation and honors Detroit's vibrant community of risk-takers, community builders, trailblazers and economic drivers. From 6 to 9 p.m., TechTown's indoor and outdoor spaces will feature food, shopping, immersive experiences and technology demonstrations provided by TechTown clients, alumni, building community members and Hatch Detroit alumni.

This year, more than two dozen businesses will be onsite to provide experiences for Toast of the Town.

Entrepreneurs providing offerings and experiences at this year's Toast of the Town include:

• Culinary Delights: Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails, El Asador Steakhouse, Khana, Paradise Street Eats & Biryani, Sepia Coffee Project and Waka by Baobab Fare.
• Unique Vendors: Busted Bra Shop, G.L.A.M. Body Scrubs, and Serenityy The Brand
• Innovative Tech Ventures: Beauty GoGO, Localsine and TripSlip
• Engaging Experiences and Services: Detroit Future City, Math 4 Success and Nxt Level Fitness

Entry ranges from $25 for an admission-only ticket to $125 for an all-access, pay-it-forward ticket, which provides admission and unlimited food and drink tickets and covers the cost of a Toast of the Town ticket for a budding entrepreneur. Online ticket sales at techtowndetroit.org/toast will end at noon on Monday, Sept. 23. Tickets will still be available for purchase at the event and additional details about participating entrepreneurs and organizations are available at techtowndetroit.org/fest.

Toast of the Town is made possible with support from Accenture and Henry Ford Health.

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