Innovate Farmington

In 2014, Tom Buck, business leader and former mayor of Farmington, MI, had an idea which became branded as Innovate Farmington. Working with a local co-working business, he began a monthly networking meeting for discussion of new technologies, software, apps and hardware.  The goals were to

• promote Farmington (and Oakland County) as a base for technology entrepreneurs and young tech professionals
• promote downtown Farmington’s restaurants, business and public venues (the meetings take place in rotating venues)
• connect innovators with their peers, business people and public officials curious about new technologies

Tom worked with the Downtown Development Authority and many local entities as the meetings progressed month by month. 

Today Innovate Farmington is a thriving group. In 3 years, the following for this monthly presentation/discussion forum has grown to 1383 members. Following a model developed by Ann Arbor New Tech meetup, the meetings are facilitated according to a specific agenda: short presentations with input from the meeting participants.

Presentations have included many new innovations, technology bootcamps, business funding sources, joint venture resources and entrepreneurship training.