PROVIDENCE, R.I -- Sitting in the top bleachers at Trinity Rep, 25-year-old Jerome Arul soaks up the speakers Wednesday at BIF9.
An estimated 400 are in attendance for the two-day conference, created for people to inspire each other and exchange ideas. Most paid $1,800 for the experience.
Arul didn't thanks to mentor, Mickey Ackerman, a BIF administrator.
"It's been incredible so far," says Arul, a 2012 graduate from Rhode Island School of Design.
He was most inspired by military veteran, and photographer, Stacy Pearsall. Pearsall was the last to speak in season one. After being injured, she made it her mission to help fellow veterans.
"So nice to see her come out of something like that with such a positive outlook," he said.
Arul served two years in the Singapore military, which he says is mandatory, before going to RISD. He is currently based in Singapore, his home country, but spent the last year designing and making affordable off-road vehicles for middle class residents in Kenya.
Arul says there aren't any manufacturing companies in Africa.