Metro Detroit entrepreneurs looking to sharpen their pitch, untangle AI tools or finally publish that book idea have a one-day shot at it next month. The National Entrepreneurs Association will host the 2026 Entrepreneur and Small Business Conference and Expo: Accelerate on Friday, November 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Southfield-Detroit, with registration open to the public for $97 including lunch.
For entrepreneurs weighing whether a one-day event fits their needs, Accelerate combines practical sessions with access to business-support organizations. The program covers marketing, funding, pitching, artificial intelligence and book publishing, according to PR Newswire. Southfield Mayor Dr. Kenson J. Siver is slated to deliver opening remarks.
A Shark Tank Veteran Headlines the Pitch Training
Precious L. Williams is among the featured speakers, with a session titled “The Million-Dollar Pitch: How to Magnetize Clients, Captivate Investors and Own Every Stage.” The release describes Williams as a 13-time national elevator pitch champion, corporate sales trainer and five-time number-one bestselling author who has appeared on ABC's Shark Tank and on two TEDx stages.
The remaining sessions address several stages of running a business. Hank Barker will discuss applying AI in business; Ber-Henda Williams will speak about sustainable growth without burnout; and Andrea Walker-Leidy will cover marketing and public-relations storytelling. Tenita Johnson's session focuses on turning a book into multiple income streams, while Bardi Yono Jr. will discuss legal essentials for growth and protection.
Networking, Headshots and a Bootcamp Reunion
Attendees can also get free professional headshots, take part in a power networking lunch and join a reunion for NEA Entrepreneur Bootcamp alumni. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, a Small Business Development Center, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Fifth Third Bank and Comcast Business are expected to be available.
NEA President and CEO Dr. ZaLonya Allen said the conference is intended to give entrepreneurs practical information, connections and strategies they can use. The program also aims to help attendees apply AI and present and sell their services in settings ranging from meetings to stages.
Sponsors and a Growing Local Track Record
The Fifth Third Foundation, Comcast Business and the City of Southfield are sponsors. The National Entrepreneurs Association describes itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering training, business resources and events, according to a release about an earlier Southfield event. The organization says it has served more than 8,000 entrepreneurs.
Accelerate follows another NEA event in Southfield this year. In March, the association held its 2026 Entrepreneur Expo and Pitch Competition at the Southfield Public Library. Roughly 200 entrepreneurs and professionals were expected, and ten Michigan entrepreneurs pitched their businesses in three-minute rounds for a chance at $3,000 in cash prizes, according to NEA's event page. The expo also offered speed networking.
The association's 2025 annual conference, held October 24 at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, focused on collaboration among entrepreneurs, corporations and community organizations, the Michigan Chronicle reported. Its eight breakout sessions covered marketing, artificial intelligence, funding, taxes, mentoring, cybersecurity and entrepreneur mental health.
Michigan small-business resources beyond the conference
For statewide context, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy's 2023 Michigan Small Business Profile lists 908,007 small businesses in Michigan. That is a statewide count, not a metro Detroit figure: the profile provides the cited context here. Entrepreneurs looking for support beyond a conference can also turn to public resources. The Michigan Small Business Development Center says it offers personalized business coaching at no cost. For qualifying fixed-asset projects, Oakland County's Business Finance Corporation says it analyzes, packages and submits requests for SBA 504 loans, which provide long-term, fixed-rate financing to eligible businesses: Oakland County Business Finance Corporation.
Why the AI Training Track Matters Right Now
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that small businesses using AI were 10% more likely to have added employees in the past year than businesses not using it. In the same research, 25% of small businesses said AI was creating permanent jobs at their firm, compared with 6% who said it was allowing them to reduce headcount, according to the Chamber.
The Chamber also found that reported small-business AI adoption rose from 23% in 2023 to 66% today, and that 78% of surveyed small businesses said restricting access to AI tools would limit their ability to grow. Separately, the Q3 2026 Small Business Index from Justworks and the U.S. Chamber found seven in ten small businesses rated their health as good; the overall index stood at 70.5.
Registration for Accelerate is open to the public at $97 per person, which includes lunch, and can also be completed by calling the National Entrepreneurs Association at 248-416-7278.
