March 07, 2016
Despite hopes and just-short-of-promises that the event would stay in Philadelphia, Forbes is moving its Under 30 Summit to Boston for 2016, reports the Boston Globe. The four-day event, which was held in Philly in 2014 and 2015, will be held at Faneuil Hall October 16-19.
The move may come as a surprise to some, as Forbes editor Randall Lane expressed a desire to keep the event in Philadelphia. However, public support for the event dropped when it was revealed that the city contributed $3 million to Forbes advertising in the two years it held the event here to keep the deal sweet.
According to Philly.com, Forbes asked for $2 million from the city for the conference this year and was denied, though Lane has since said Forbes did not seek taxpayer fund support.
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Daniel Koh, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh's chief of staff, told the Boston Globe that no public money will fund the 2016 event.
Lane also told the Globe, “If Boston supports this as we think they will, we have no desire or interest in going anywhere else."
The invite-only event will attract about 5,000 people to its activities, which will include celebrity speakers, concerts, a food festival and a community day.
In 2015, featured speakers at the Under 30 Summit at the Pennsylvania Convention Center included Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, makeup guru Michelle Phan, model Ashley Graham, athlete Shaun White and more. A concert was held at Festival Pier to round out the conference, featuring Hanson, Fetty Wap and Shawn Mendes.
