About us
This is a group for anyone interested in learning about #IBM AI, hybrid cloud, and open source technologies. You can be an existing #IBM user, or someone who has never touched #IBM technologies before. Meetup topics will vary and could be of interest to developers, administrators, or business leaders.
We are interested in using cool tech to grow businesses and make the world a better place. Some of the technology topics that we care about are: hybrid cloud platforms, artificial intelligence, AI agents, generative AI, blockchain, analytics, automation, cloud services / APIs, data science, integration, application development, and governance.
Upcoming events
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Michigan DevFest + AI Hackathon 2026
Little Caesars Global Resource Center, 2125 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI, USMichigan DevFest + AI Hackathon 2026 Tickets
The Detroit, Ann Arbor, Toledo, UofM Dearborn and Windsor GDGs are teaming up with Compass Detroit to bring you the 12th Michigan DevFest on November 13-14, 2026.
Join us on Friday, November 13th for an AI Hackathon followed by Michigan DevFest sessions on Saturday, November 14th at Little Caesars HQ. With this year's DevFest, we aim to put together a great weekend of networking, innovation, and knowledge sharing for all involved.
This years sponsors include Google, IBM, DTE Energy, Little Caesars, and Compass Detroit.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Michigan DevFest, email us at sponsors@midevfest.com### You can view the Michigan DevFest + AI Hackathon 2025 Schedule (below) on midevfest.com.
### Workshops:
- Introduction to Gemini 2.5 Pro on Google Cloud: Google Developer Experts
- Building AI Agents with Vertex AI Agent Builder: JC Escalante, Ipsos, Google Developer Expert
- Multimodal Use Cases: Adonai Vera, Voxel51, Google Developer Expert
### Build With AI:
- The Agentic Shift: From Prompt to Action: Nilesh Patel, Google
- Gemini Nano on Android: Building with On-Device GenAI: Madona S. Wambua, Capital One, Google Developer Expert
- From Data Gaps to Data Gold: Adonai Vera, Voxel51, Google Developer Expert
- Practical AI: Within SRE, Delivery and Cloud Engineering: Joel Vasallo, TAG - The Aspen Group, Google Developer Expert
- The Universal Adapter: Building and Scaling MCP Servers: Stephen Wylie, OpenBrite, LLC, Google Developer Expert
- Building the Chain of Trust: A Google ADK Blueprint for Grounded Legal AI Agents: Boris-Wilfried Nyasse, Google Developer Expert
### Tech+Design:
- Beyond the Black Box - Designing for Trust and Transparency with Google Cloud: JC Escalante, Ipsos, Google Developer Expert
- Blood, Sweat & Code Reviews: David Giard, Microsoft
- Building Your First AI Tool Server with Firebase Auth & Cloud Functions: Alex Patterson, CodingCatDev, Google Developer Expert
- Know Your JS: SBOMs for Frontend Devs: Chris DeMars, TuxCare
- Iterating on Applications from a Browser with Firebase Studio: Jay Whitsitt, Commerce Bank
- Car Hacking for Android Enthusiasts: Shams Ahson, Google Developers
### Innovation:
- Designing for the Mind: Bridging Human Experience and Emerging Technologies: Hoda Solati and Shima Solati, BraunAbility
- Visualizing Neural Network Training with PyTorch: Ankita Guha, Freudenberg e-Power System
- Build Securely: How Developers Can Protect the AI Ecosystem: Kavitha Bangalore, Cleveland Clinic
- Blending Product Thinking with Software Modernization: Brian McKeiver, BizStream, Microsoft MVP
- Robotics in the Age of Generative AI: Hafeez Jimoh, Lawrence Technological University
- Getting Started with Microcontrollers and Sensors: W. Scott Richardson, Altair Engineering
### Level Up:
- Mission Resilience™: Thriving Through Change in Tech: Lorrena Black, She Served LLC
- Strategies & Tips for Growing Your Career: Dave Koziol, Little Caesars
- Leading Through Change: Hispanic & Black Engineers Shaping the Future of STEAM: Panelists -
- Martez Coleman
- Trivia Barnes, ZF Group
- Angel Porras, Ford Motor Company
- Erik Blancas, United Wholesale Mortgage
- Raquel Estradas, Comerica Bank
- Moderator - Maridy Mazaira, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
- Component Catalyst: Building a Dynamic React Portfolio. Build a Professional Project Showcase!: Shugmi Shumunov, Shumunov Solutions
- From Meetups to Mastery: Balancing Growth and Community: Umelo Onyejiaka, DevOps Detroit
- AI Hackathon Winners: Presentations, Demos and Award Ceremony
### Leadership:
- FORGET YOUR GRAND DAD: ADOPT THE NEXT-GEN EXECUTIVE PLAYBOOK: Ida Byrd-Hill, Automation Workz
- Solving a Problem to Create Innovative Change: Turning Pain into Purpose, Profit, Impact, and Power: Kamille Tynes, Connected with Care
- Microsoft Azure AI Foundry & Agent Framework: Pooya Alavian, Microsoft
- Beneath the Armor: The Cost of Emotional Suppression in Tech Leadership: Bernadette Atanga, MD, AltangaMD Consulting LLC
- The Ethics of Voice & Storytelling: Who Gets Heard in the Age of AI: Michael Bower
- Women Shaping the Future Panel: Panelists
- Cynthia Respert, BuildHer Academy and Rebrand City
- Stephaine Frantz, Cengage Education
- Jeseekia Vaughn, Detroit Black Tech and TechTown Detroit
- Alexis Seiler, Stratascale
- Moderator - Bandhan Kaur, Google Women Tech Makers Ambassador & EA
Additional information is available on our dedicated website.
Michigan DevFest attendees agree to follow the Code of Conduct.2 attendees
Past events
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