Ann Arbor SPARK has released the partner event lineup for a2Tech360 2026, adding 13 community-hosted events to the 10-day innovation series running Sept. 22 through Oct. 2 across Washtenaw County.
The partner events range from a two-day hackathon at the University of Michigan to YpsiTasty, a food crawl through downtown Ypsilanti. They join eight signature events that include a $200,000 startup pitch competition and a downtown street fair expected to draw more than 60 companies.
"Partner Events bring such a unique mix of organizations, ideas and experiences into the lineup, and that's exactly what makes them so valuable," said Lydia Mitchell, a2Tech360 program manager at Ann Arbor SPARK.
Registration is open at a2Tech360.com. Most partner events are free, though some require a separate ticket or registration fee.
Signature highlights
The series opens Tuesday, Sept. 22, with Tech Homecoming, a career fair at Venue by 4M that is free for job seekers. The next day, the Invest360 Pitch Competition & Summit puts 15 high-growth startups in front of investors for prizes totaling $200,000, including a People's Choice Award, according to a2Tech360's event page.
Tech Trek on Friday, Oct. 2, transforms Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor into an innovation street fair with interactive exhibits, food vendors and family activities.
Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, said in July when registration opened that the series highlights "the collaboration between academia, industry, investors, and community partners."
Partner events to watch
University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships hosts Celebrate Invention on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Michigan Union. The free event will feature startup demonstrations and present the Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award to H. David Humes, M.D., a professor emeritus of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. Humes developed the Selective Cytopheretic Device, a blood filter that quiets overactive immune cells. Two pediatric trials showed a 50% reduction in mortality compared to standard care, according to the university.
JacHacks runs a two-day hackathon focused on agentic AI at the University of Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 27. That same Saturday, Maker Works celebrates its 15th anniversary with an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MichBio brings the Michigan Medical Device Summit to Washtenaw Community College on Wednesday, Sept. 30, featuring a keynote conversation with Dr. Michelle Tarver, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Other partner events include a ZingTrain coffee chat with Tom Root of Zingerman's Mail Order and Maker Works on Thursday, Oct. 1, and the a2Tech360 After Party at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum on Friday, Oct. 2, for adults 21 and older.
By the numbers
Last year's a2Tech360 drew more than 4,196 registrations and 79 participating companies, with 95.2% of attendees recommending the series, according to the a2Tech360 website. Oracle and OpenAI are presenting sponsors for 2026.
Full event details and registration links are available at a2Tech360.com.
