Registration opens for Millsummit, the annual entrepreneurship and leadership conference in Wilmington

This year, the Millsummit will have a new venue and a streamlined program.

Born at the Chase Center, the event went virtual when the pandemic hit. Then, Millsummit had a mini event at CSC Station in 2021 to ease back to in-person, and moved to the Queen for two-day hybrid events in recent years.

But while the August 6 event has taken many forms over the years, one thing remains the same: It’s an event where people can connect and learn career development strategies, whether they’re professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives or in public service.

Millsummit trims down to one day, moves to new venue

Previously a two-day event, the conference this year will be compressed into a single day.

“Getting two days off for an event can be a lot to ask,” said Charles Vincent, founder of Spur Impact, the organization behind Millsummit. Fitting it all into one day will hopefully make it easier for people to approach their employers about attending. .

The streamlined event will be at the Hercules Plaza at 1313 N. Market Street, a distinctive postmodern building built in the early 1980s as the headquarters of a now-defunct manufacturing company. Today the building — formerly the home base for the McConnell Johnson startup accelerator and coworking space 1313 Innovation in the 2010s —  houses several law firms, the Chancery Market food hall and The Screening Room independent film theater.

One of its distinctive features, along with the outdoor water sculptures and the giant clock, is the atrium. Once decked with thousands of plants, fig trees and an indoor waterfall flanking long-gone escalators, Millsummiters will fill the wide-open space for the event.

If you haven’t been to Hercules Plaza, here’s a detail that isn’t on the schedule: This year will be closer to the outdoors. Hercules Plaza sits on a lush park along the bank of Brandywine Creek, so you can take a breather in nature during the event, even though it’s in the middle of the city. Plus, there’s Chancery Market’s big outdoor seating area, an event space in itself.

Popular speakers and beloved emcee return to the event

Emcee Blake “The Brain” Saunders has been a highlight of the Millsummit in the last couple of years. The popular speaker and entrepreneur, known for his energetic crowd work, will be back in 2024 to get attendees on their feet between sessions.

The day will include fireside chats with Denée Crumrine of Highmark Health, Evan Ehlers of Philly food donation organization Sharing Excess and journalist-turned hip hop artist Rob Markman, among others.

Breakout sessions will include workshops on business plan creation, social media networking, motivation, building an arts-based business and green leadership. Lunch and happy hour will be at Chancery Market, and the events of the day will be followed by the 3rd Annual Impact Awards and Leadership Dinner.

Early bird tickets are on sale now.

Technical.ly is proud to be a Millsummit media partner