Feb 2, 2022, 11:00 PM – Feb 3, 2022, 12:00 AM
From a gang-riddled Detroit neighborhood to leading a gaming empire at the center of the booming multibillion-dollar esports industry, Delane Parnell’s story to success is unlike any other. Meet Delane Parnell, CEO of $400 million PlayVS during our Black History Month kickoff and learn about his journey to the helm of one of esports most exciting startups.
Limited attendance, please secure admission ticket to receive the registration link.
We are proud to kick off Black History Month with Delane Parnell as our Fireside Chat esteemed guest.
A lifelong entrepreneur, Delane started his first job at 13, working 40 plus hours a week during the school year. At 17, Delane used the money he saved to purchase three cell phone stores and joined the founding team of Executive Car Rental that now has 16 locations across Michigan.
In 2017, Delane was introduced to Science founders Peter Pham and Mike Jones, where they discovered a common interest in esports. After a few months of speaking with Science, Delane founded PlayVS. In April 2018, PlayVS announced their exclusive partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to collaborate on the national rollout of esports in high schools.
Fireside Chat Guest Host
Our fireside chat guest host will be Kevin Ryan, award-winning journalist who covers tech startups at Inc. magazine. His book, Ahead of the Game: The Unlikely Rise of a Detroit Kid Who Forever Changed the Esports Industry, which tells the story of Delane Parnell's improbable journey to becoming the founder and CEO of PlayVS, was published by HarperCollins Leadership in January 2022. Kevin has previously written for ESPN The Magazine, CNBC and Fast Company.
Purchase the book and receive all the Stellar Member benefits at no extra cost: a personal recognition during the event and a 30 second pitching opportunity. Do not purchase the ticket before receiving the complimentary access code. Email the book purchase receipt to marc@startupgrind.com first. Book link: https://hcleadershipessentials.com/pages/ahead-of-the-game
Expected Event Takeaways:
Expected Book Takeaways:
Delane Parnell in the news:
PlayVS in the news:
February 2 – 3, 2022
11:00 PM – 12:00 AM UTC
Welcome & Networking |
Fireside Chat |
Audience Q&A |
Final Announcements & Farewells |
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