2027 EVENTS CALENDAR
Find your next great idea. Meet your next best friend. Start your next adventure.
Monday April 5
Visit the full schedule at the 517 E&I Week Luma
12:00PM - 2:00PM Small Business Consultations | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP - LEARN MORE
12:00PM - 2:00PM Co-Working Power Hours | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP LEARN MORE
5:00PM - 7:00PM Pitch Lab: Mastering Your Business Pitch | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP LEARN MORE
7:00PM - 9:00PM 517 E&I Launch Party | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP LEARN MORE
12:00PM - 1:00PM That's it, I've Had Enough. I'm Starting my Own Company | The Graduate | hosted by Gravity Works Design LEARN MORE
Tuesday April 7
12:00PM - 2:00PM
12:00PM - 1:00PM
12:00PM - 2:00PM
5:00PM - 7:00PM
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Small Business Consultations | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP
LEARN MORE
LEARN MORE
LEARN MORE
LEARN MORE
Co-Working Power Hours | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP
Pitch Lab: Mastering Your Business Pitch | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP
517 E&I Launch Party | The Graduate | hosted by LEAP
That's it, I've Had Enough. I'm Starting my Own Company | The Graduate | hosted by Gravity Works Design
LEARN MORE
Wednesday April 8
Capital Area Tech Hub Coffee Mixer
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
8:00AM - 9:30AM
WHERE
Case Credit Union
2400 West Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Join us for a Coffee Mixer focused on building meaningful connections across the local tech and entrepreneurship community.
ORGANIZER
Capital Area Tech Hub (CATECH)
Small Business Consultations (By Appointment)
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
11:00AM - 3:00PM
WHERE
The Hub @ The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Your business idea deserves a real conversation — and this is your chance to have one.
Join LEAP's Small Business Liaison, Adriana Lopez-Ellis, for a focused, 30-minute one-on-one session to learn how LEAP supports small businesses across the Lansing region.
Organizer
LEAP
Local to Lansing: How Local Businesses Grow & Thrive – LRCC Grow Series
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
10:00AM - 11:30AM
WHERE
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
500 E Michigan Ave UNIT 200, Lansing, MI
DESCRIPTION
Local to Lansing: How Local Businesses Grow & Thrive brings together Lansing small business owners for an engaging panel discussion on the realities of running a business in our community.
ORGANIZER
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Healthy Founders. Healthy Exits.
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
12:00PM - 2:00PM
WHERE
E&I Hub, The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
This session offers founders a candid look into what investors look for when evaluating a company’s potential and long-term viability.
ORGANIZER
Washington Avenue Advisors & Ventures
Hot Bytes
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
6:30PM - 8:00PM
WHERE
UrbanBeat
1213 Turner Rd, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
DESCRIPTION
Inspired by the popular YouTube interview series Hot Ones, Hot Bytes brings that same fast paced, unscripted energy to the world of entrepreneurship and innovation.
ORGANIZER
Lansing Codes, MI Technology Network (MITN) Lansing, SmartZone, MSUFCU
Start Up Grind
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
4:00PM - 6:00PM
WHERE
The Rock Bar, The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
An evening of networking, connection, and conversation with Lansing’s founders, investors, and business leaders.
ORGANIZER
Washington Avenue Advisors & Ventures
Bringing Your Online Business to Life with AI
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
5:30PM - 6:30PM
WHERE
Technology & Innovation Center
325 E Grand River Ave suite 300
East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
DESCRIPTION
Accepting Payments with Stripe: This session focuses on what makes modern digital businesses possible: accepting online payments.
ORGANIZER
Capital Area Startup Studio
Businesswomen Talking LIVE
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
11:00AM - 12:00PM & 3:00PM - 4:00PM
WHERE
The Hub @ The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Businesswomen Talking will be LIVE at the 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week on Wednesday, April 8!
Organizer
Foster Swift Attorneys
Co-Working Power Hours
WHEN
Wednesday April 8
12:00PM - 2:00PM
WHERE
The Hub @ The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Stop working in isolation. Start working in momentum Co-Working Power Hours is your dedicated midday block to plug in, focus up, and get things done — surrounded by a community of fellow entrepreneurs, innovators, and go-getters all pushing toward their goals.
Organizer
LEAP
Thursday April 9
Influencer Lab: Content as Innovation
WHEN
Thursday April 9
7:00PM - 8:30PM
WHERE
The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Explore how creators, entrepreneurs, and professionals are using content creation to build influence, shape culture, and create opportunities.
ORGANIZER
Cocktails & Coworking
Press Start: Playtest the Future of Games
WHEN
Thursday April 9
5:00PM - 6:30PM
WHERE
MSU Museum
409 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
DESCRIPTION
Be among the first to play the next generation of games created by Michigan State University student developers and regional game studios.
ORGANIZER
Michigan State University Media & Information
Business Made Simple: The Stunio Story with Adam Green
WHEN
Thursday April 9
5:30PM - 7:30PM
WHERE
Jolly Pumpkin
218 Albert Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
DESCRIPTION
In this session, Adam Green, President & CEO of Stunio, will share the story behind building a platform that connects employers with students for one-day shifts, internships, and part-time work. He’ll reflect how unexpected pivots, stepping outside his comfort zone, and support from the Lansing ecosystem helped shape his path.
ORGANIZER
Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), SmartZone, MSU RF
Burgess New Venture Challenge
WHEN
Thursday April 9
4:00PM - 8:00PM
WHERE
Marriott East Lansing at University Place 300 M. A. C. Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Burgess New Venture Challenge is the premier pitch competition for student entrepreneurs at Michigan State University.
ORGANIZER
Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Student Venture Capital Fund Investment Celebration 2026
WHEN
Thursday April 9
10:00AM - 12:00PM
WHERE
Minskoff Pavilion
645 N Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
DESCRIPTION
Join us for a dynamic showcase of innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment at the Student Venture Capital Fund Investment Celebration. Hosted by MSU Research Foundation in partnership with the Broad College of Business, this event highlights the next generation of venture capital leaders.
ORGANIZER
MSU Research Foundation and the Broad College of Business
Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) Class
WHEN
Thursday April 9
8:30AM - 12:30PM
WHERE
AC Hotel Lansing University Area
3160 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912, USA
DESCRIPTION
Learn more about the Greater Lansing region’s history, attractions, and visitor experiences in this engaging four hour Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) course.
ORGANIZER
Choose Lansing®
Co-Working Power Hours
WHEN
Thursday April 9
12:00PM - 2:00PM
WHERE
The Hub @ The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Stop working in isolation. Start working in momentum Co-Working Power Hours is your dedicated midday block to plug in, focus up, and get things done — surrounded by a community of fellow entrepreneurs, innovators, and go-getters all pushing toward their goals.
Organizer
LEAP
Friday April 10
Grand River Connection: 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week
WHEN
Friday April 10
5:01PM - 7:00PM
WHERE
MP Social
313 N Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48912
DESCRIPTION
Grand River Connection is our monthly networking series geared toward young professionals.
ORGANIZER
Lansing 5:01
Future of Work (Workshop): Level Up Your Communication with AI-Powered Visuals
WHEN
Friday April 10
9:00AM - 12:00PM
WHERE
TechSmith
14 Crescent Road, East Lansing MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
A practical, insightful, hands-on workshop exploring how AI-driven visual tools are transforming the way teams connect, sell, and share ideas.
ORGANIZER
Tech Smith
517 E&I Week: Last Call (Closing Celebration)
WHEN
Friday April 10
7:00PM - 10:00PM
WHERE
Urban Beat
1213 Turner Rd, Lansing, MI 48906
DESCRIPTION
An elevated closeout experience for E&I Week featuring curated cocktails, live DJ sets, and visuals celebrating Lansing’s innovators.
ORGANIZER
OS, LEAP, Urban Beat
Open Spaces
WHEN
Friday April 10
2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
MSUFCU
311 Abbot Rd
East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
DESCRIPTION
Open Spaces is a flexible, participant driven event designed to bring together technologists, innovators, and curious minds around shared interests. Rather than following a traditional conference format, attendees help shape the conversations by gathering into topic groups based on what they want to explore.
ORGANIZER
Lansing Codes, MI Technology Network (MITN) Lansing, Urban Beat, LEAP
Empower Your Business Growth
WHEN
Friday April 10
11:30AM - 1:00PM
WHERE
Lansing EDC Office
401 S. Washington Sq., Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48933
DESCRIPTION
Explore how the Lansing EDC Empower Program helps entrepreneurs scale through practical systems, automation strategies, and operational clarity.
ORGANIZER
Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC)
Co-Working Power Hours
WHEN
Thursday April 9
12:00PM - 2:00PM
WHERE
The Hub @ The Graduate
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
DESCRIPTION
Stop working in isolation. Start working in momentum Co-Working Power Hours is your dedicated midday block to plug in, focus up, and get things done — surrounded by a community of fellow entrepreneurs, innovators, and go-getters all pushing toward their goals.
Organizer
LEAP
FAQS
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517 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week is open to innovators, entrepreneurs, students, professionals, and community members from the Lansing Region and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just starting out, there's something for everyone!
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Most events are either free or budget-friendly, making it accessible for attendees from all walks of life. Check event details for specific pricing.
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Registration details for individual events will be available on our website closer to the event. Be sure to sign up early for the events that align with your interests and goals.
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Expect a mix of workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and hands-on experiences. Events are designed to help you learn, grow, and connect with other innovators and entrepreneurs.
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Interested in sponsoring? Contact us to connect and explore sponsorship opportunities