Activate LIVE! The Power of Us

Curated by DM Firm X Times Square Alliance.
Times Square. Open air. Real energy.

On June 6, we’re bringing Activate LIVE! The Power of Us to the heart of NYC not as another event, but as a living, breathing ecosystem in motion. This is our take on a conference outdoors in open air. This is where entrepreneurs, creatives, ecosystem builders, and community leaders don’t just talk about impact… we activate it.

June 6, 2026

Times Square | 45–46 Broadway Plaza (across from the iconic red steps)

12PM – 4PM

What to expect:

Panels

From Local To National: Building Ecosystems That Work For Everyone - A dynamic conversation exploring how local ecosystems, entrepreneurs, and community-rooted strategies scale into national impact and opportunity.

The Creative Economy – Because culture isn’t adjacent to business… it is business.

Idea To IPO (…or not): The Truth About Scaling - An honest look at the many paths from startup to scale breaking down funding, growth, and ownership beyond the traditional IPO narrative.

Innovation Row – Founders, builders, and organizations showcasing real work in real time

Times Square HBCU Pitch Takeover – The next generation of brilliance, on stage

Scholarship Announcement

In 2024, 28,000+ people experienced the energy in just two hours. This year? We’re going even bigger, deeper, and more intentional. If you’ve ever said:

“I want to be in the room where things happen…”

This is that room.

We just moved it outside.

A special thank you to our organizers, sponsors, and partners: The DM Firm, Times Square Alliance, Venture for THEM, kivaUS, Top Dollar Scholarship Fund, Bowie State University: Entrepreneurship Innovation Center, WEAA 88.9 FM, Leverage Marketing, Kay Rose Detroit, Harlem CLX - Create Learn Xperience, Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS), Morgan State University SGJC, and LISC x Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.
Event Agenda:

12:00 - 12:10 PM (Opening Welcome & Kick-Off)
12:15 - 12:45 PM (Panel #1: Local to National Ecosystem)
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (Panel #2: Idea to IPO)
1:45 - 2:45 PM (Times Square Takeover: HBCU Pitch)
3:00 - 3:30 PM (Panel #3: The Creative Economy - Parallel, Not Peripheral)
3:45 - 3:55 PM (Scholarship Announcement)
4:00 - 4:10 PM (Final Activation & Closing Call)
By attending this event, you consent to being photographed and recorded. You grant permission for your likeness to be used by event organizers and partners for marketing, promotional, and recap purposes across all media channels, without compensation. If you prefer not to be included, please notify event staff upon arrival.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher the DM Firm