Syracuse University students are calling local creators to their very own bizdev convention

When someone says they’re heading to a creator convention, a few names automatically come to mind: VidSummit, VidCon, TwitchCon…big events where thousands of creators from around the world gather to network with one another, level up their businesses, and (rarer, these days) meet their fans.

But some creators are hosting cons for their local communities, too.

Matty Weisholtz and Elizabeth Riehl, both students at New York’s Syracuse University, are this week putting on the second annual ‘CUSE Creator Con.

Running Oct. 22 and 23 with a theme of “Owned and Operated,” the convention will have keynotes and panels with folks from platforms and companies like Meta, Spotter, Proud Management, and Out2Win, as well as expert faculty members from Syracuse and other universities.

It’ll also offer a fireside chat focused on e.l.f.‘s successful social marketing strategy, and a creator showcase featuring Syracuse students the Sideline Sisters, Motivational Mondays, Brandon Nguyen, Spencer Howard, Grace Vickner, and Gabe Cohen.

‘CUSE Creator Con co-runner Weisholtz is a creator, President of Syracuse student club ‘Cuse Creative Studios, and a Teen Vogue campus correspondent. According to Syracuse University Today, she landed a brand deal with luxe fashion brand Valentino and has been pitching and partnering with other brands ever since.

This past summer, she was invited to join fellow creators in New York City with Google and Alex Cooper‘s media company Unwell.

“Being surrounded by other creators and getting to experience that side of the industry made me realize how far something that started as a hobby had taken me,” Weisholtz said. “It was one of those moments where I thought, ‘Wow, this is actually my life!'”

Her co-runner Riehl is a PR major and Project Manager for Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Relations. She works with student-run PR firm Hill Communications and helps produce content for the university’s social accounts.

“Working with a brand that is centered around students, my team and I are always working to make our content authentic. If you are inauthentic on social media, consumers will be able to see right through that,” Riehl told Syracuse University Today. “At this point in time, brands want to be people and people want to be brands. It’s so important to make sure that your content is accurately reflecting the stakeholders you serve.”

At ‘CUSE Creator Con, Riehl aims to make content that will “help maximize the guest experience,” the outlet reports.

While this event is exclusive in that it’s only for Syracuse students, Riehl said no student should feel like they aren’t important enough of a creator to attend.

She also (rightfully) encouraged folks to attend even if they aren’t on-camera creators, because our industry spans tons of production, administrative, legal, support, and other roles.

“To students who may think this event isn’t for them because they are ‘not a creator,’ I would say that the creator economy is far more than just creators,” she said. “The creator economy is made up of business practitioners, lawyers, creatives, software developers and so many other professions that make up this industry. This event is for all students to explore a career in this industry and learn how the creator economy can help you get there.”

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