Guest Author Bio: Vikash Shah is a Twitter hashtag fiend that recently started hashtagd. A website dedicated to being the “reality TV trash of Twitter”. When he isn’t infront of a computer he is either; tearing up the dance floor, eating more food than is adequate or reading about economics. You can follow him at @vikashnshah.

For three days Eastern Market, a vibrant marketplace in downtown Detroit, was transformed into the epicenter of Tech Socialites. Hundreds of attendees including seasoned marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and digital creators. The marketing professionals frantically wrote notes in hopes to better understand the role of social in the new age of media. The venture Capitalists could be identified as the only attendees wearing either Dockers or suits. Digital creators swarmed around conference speakers to thank them for their work in their field. And entrepreneurs showed off their pride and joy.

Graphic.ly is a CDN company that specializes in comics. The company has raised $1.2 million in their first round of funding. DFJ Mercury is the early-stage lead VC firm behind the funding. Other investors include Starz Media, GC&H Investments, Northstar Equity Partners, Dave McClure, Paige Craig, and Chris Sacca.

Graphic.ly plans to use the funding for technology development, marketing, and future partnerships. One of Graphic.ly’s first projects after the funding is to develop an iPhone application for Marvel Comics. Graphic.ly launched out of TechStars, a startup incubation firm. Graphic.ly was founded by Kevin Mann and Thanavanth Jaroenvanit and is run by CEO Micah Baldwin. Baldwin is the former VP of business development at Lijit Networks.