Futureland is entering a new chapter with the announcement of Alysha Ellis Montgomery as Chief Executive Officer. As a Co-Founder of Futureland since its inception in 2022, Alysha has played an instrumental role in shaping the organization's vision through building partnerships, engaging with programming, growth, and community impact from the beginning.
Futureland is charging forward for Cleveland's builders. They show up as founders, creators, technologists, small businesses, professionals, and civic leaders, but they are a part of something bigger: a community building the future of Cleveland. Seeing the ones that build Cleveland strengthens why the vision to create more access, visibility, and connection is evolving into a year-round ecosystem focused on building true infrastructure for the people shaping what's now and what's coming next.
"While the Foundation's support of Futureland goes back to the first conference in late 2022, our goal was always for it to be more than just a 'cool conference.' Futureland continues to represent a better version of our city, one that nurtures and develops the talents of diverse entrepreneurs and creatives to drive more equitable economic growth. I'm excited to watch Alysha and the Futureland team continue to create pathways for the next generation of leaders in tech, art, culture, and entrepreneurship, representing all those who make up our diverse Cleveland community."
Treye Johnson, Program Director, Economic Justice and Community Power, The George Gund Foundation
Alysha Ellis Montgomery, MBA is the equalizer. She is an ecosystem builder, community strategist, and entrepreneur helping shape Cleveland's next era of inclusive innovation. She has built platforms and initiatives for nearly a decade that amplify underrepresented voices, create trusted spaces for connection, and expand access to visibility, resources, and opportunity. Alysha's leadership expands Futureland's reach, continuing to build the platforms where opportunity changes hands, gets connected and moves the future forward.
Her appointment as CEO represents a defining moment for Futureland as the organization grows beyond individual events into trusted community infrastructure designed to support builders across every stage of their journey.
"Alysha has been the driving force behind Futureland's growth from day one. She has a rare ability to turn vision into momentum, building trust, attracting partners, and creating real opportunity for founders, creators, and community leaders across Cleveland. Naming her CEO simply formalizes what the work has already shown. The Board has full confidence in her leadership, and I'm excited for what's ahead under her direction."
Kumar Arora, CEO of Arora Ventures and Futureland Board Member
Since becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2024, Futureland has continued building on a foundation of community trust, civic alignment, and measurable impact. Originally launched with the vision and support of Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb, Futureland has evolved into a community-driven platform advancing innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and creative opportunity across Cleveland.
"Futureland has always been about the people and building what our community deserves access to. This next chapter is about turning momentum into infrastructure, building stronger pathways to capital, visibility, relationships, and opportunity for the people shaping Cleveland's future and contributing to a global economy."
Alysha Ellis Montgomery, CEO and Co-Founder of Futureland
As CEO, Alysha leads Futureland's long-term strategy, fundraising, programming ecosystem, partnerships, organizational development, and growth as the organization continues to strengthen Cleveland's entrepreneurial, creative, and technology landscape.
Futureland's mission remains clear: connect people to opportunity, build trusted ecosystem infrastructure, and help shape a future where innovation is visible and accessible to more people, in more neighborhoods, across more industries, connecting Cleveland's entrepreneurial, creative, and technology landscape from local to national and global markets.