STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – If you haven’t heard of the local business incubator Velocity, you might be missing some great opportunities to learn, grow a business, and even win some cold hard cash.
The Sterling Heights coworking hub has been making a name for itself by helping other local businesses thrive and it’s offering another unique opportunity this spring.
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Velocity’s Future Leader Live! is described as a first-of-its-kind leadership conference that’s not like more sedate (some might say boring) conferences you may have seen in the past. Organizers say it is a high-energy leadership conference designed to break away from the traditional business event format.
They tell Local 4 it will feature live music, audience participation and a real-time pitch competition built into the program.
How to win $10K
A major highlight of the event is the live pitch competition, where three Michigan-based companies will compete for cash prizes including a $10,000 grand prize. Attendees will vote in real time via QR code, with results displayed live on screen. There are no judges, the audience decides.
While that’s certainly a big highlight, the keynote speaker says there’s much more to the event coming April 16th.
“What makes Future Leader Live! so compelling is that it’s intentionally designed to keep people engaged from start to finish,” said Jacob Brown, who’s also the event’s host.
He added, “This isn’t a sit-back-and-listen conference. It’s fast-paced, it’s exciting, and the pitch competition in the middle completely changes the energy in the room. Attendees walk away with practical insights, real inspiration, and a true sense of connection to the local business community. The value of being in the room for this is tremendous.”
The speaker lineup features respected, nationally recognized local leaders who, despite being longtime friends, are collaborating on stage together for the first time:
- Mark Ostach – Digital wellness and connectivity
- Princess Castleberry – Risk management
- Hajj Flemings – Entrepreneur and author
- Jacob Brown – Closing keynote and host
Future Leader Live! will be held at Velocity’s Sterling Heights headquarters on April 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with registration and networking beginning at 8:00 a.m. The half-day conference will bring together approximately 150 entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders for a morning of high-energy learning, connection, and competition.
Here are some of the details about registering for the conference.
- Early bird pricing is available through March 1.
- Future Leader Live!
- April 16, 2026, | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (Registration at 8:00 AM)
- Velocity, Sterling Heights
Here’s what you need to know about registering for the Pitch Competition
- Applications close: 3/16/26
- Notification of Finalists: 4/1/26
- Pitch Competition: 4/16/26 at Future Leader Live! Conference
- Announcement of Winners: 4/16/26 at Future Leader Live! Conference
For more information, visit https://futureleaderlive.com.