As U.S.-China competition continues to reshape the international landscape, questions of diplomacy, economic security, technology, development, values, and the management of strategic risk are becoming increasingly important to the future of the bilateral relationship and the wider international order.

Join us for a conversation with U.S. Representative 
Ro Khanna
, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, on his perspective on the future of U.S. strategy toward China, including AI safety and governance, American economic competitiveness, effective deterrence, and the role of diplomacy in managing strategic competition. 

Representative Khanna will lay out a proposal for a U.S.-China agreement on safety and monitoring standards for AI. 

Following his remarks, Representative Khanna will join the Hon. Dr. 
Kevin Rudd 
AC, Global President and CEO of Asia Society and 26th Prime Minister of Australia, for a fireside conversation on how the United States and China can manage sustained strategic competition, reduce the risks of conflict, identify areas of practical cooperation, and navigate their respective roles in an increasingly competitive and multipolar international environment.

Asia Society

Assistant Director

<p style="margin: 0px;">As U.S.-China competition continues to reshape the international landscape, questions of diplomacy, economic security, technology, development, values, and the management of strategic risk are becoming increasingly important to the future of the bilateral relationship and the wider international order.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Join us for a conversation with U.S. Representative <strong>Ro Khanna</strong>, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, on his perspective on the future of U.S. strategy toward China, including AI safety and governance, American economic competitiveness, effective deterrence, and the role of diplomacy in managing strategic competition.&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Representative Khanna will lay out a proposal for a U.S.-China agreement on safety and monitoring standards for AI.&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Following his remarks, Representative Khanna will join the Hon. Dr. <strong>Kevin Rudd </strong>AC, Global President and CEO of Asia Society and 26th Prime Minister of Australia, for a fireside conversation on how the United States and China can manage sustained strategic competition, reduce the risks of conflict, identify areas of practical cooperation, and navigate their respective roles in an increasingly competitive and multipolar international environment.</p>

General Admission

US. Representative Ro Khanna and Kevin Rudd: Managing U.S.-China Strategic Competition in an AI World

Asia Society and Museum

Supermomos is selecting a small group of standout 
AI startups
 to demo and join a lightning pitch session at the 
CIE-GNYC 2026 Annual Conference
 in New York City on 
October 25
.

The conference brings together senior leaders from 
Microsoft, IBM Research, Pfizer, TIAA, Yale, Mount Sinai, Weill Cornell/NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia
, alongside 
Taiwan’s former Minister of Digital Affairs
 and members of the 
investor and family-office community
.

We’re especially excited to meet founders building at the intersection of 
AI × healthcare/biotech
 and 
AI × finance
, though exceptional AI companies across any vertical are welcome.

Selected startups will receive a demo space, the opportunity to participate in the Startup Lightning Round, access to conference networking and roundtables, and one complimentary banquet ticket.

RSVP to apply (2 minutes). Apply by September 10.

Baruch College

Supermomos

Strategic Programs Lead

You are the social spark who knows everyone, everywhere, and loves connecting people like pieces of a puzzle

The Connector/Social Butterfly

The Wharton School

Co-Founder & CEO

New York University

NYC Market Lead

<p style="margin: 0px;">Supermomos is selecting a small group of standout <strong>AI startups</strong> to demo and join a lightning pitch session at the <strong>CIE-GNYC 2026 Annual Conference</strong> in New York City on <strong>October 25</strong>.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">The conference brings together senior leaders from <strong>Microsoft, IBM Research, Pfizer, TIAA, Yale, Mount Sinai, Weill Cornell/NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia</strong>, alongside <strong>Taiwan’s former Minister of Digital Affairs</strong> and members of the <strong>investor and family-office community</strong>.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">We’re especially excited to meet founders building at the intersection of <strong>AI × healthcare/biotech</strong> and <strong>AI × finance</strong>, though exceptional AI companies across any vertical are welcome.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Selected startups will receive a demo space, the opportunity to participate in the Startup Lightning Round, access to conference networking and roundtables, and one complimentary banquet ticket.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>RSVP to apply (2 minutes). Apply by September 10.</strong></p>

CIE-GNYC 2026 Annual Conference

To be shared on approval

This public conversation brings together 
The Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd
, President and CEO of Asia Society, and 
Brad Smith
, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology policy, cybersecurity, and geopolitics in an increasingly complex global environment. The discussion will examine how governments, institutions, and technology leaders can foster innovation, strengthen resilience against cyber threats, and advance international approaches to responsible AI development and governance.

Speakers
As Microsoft’s vice chair and president, 
Brad Smith 
is responsible for spearheading the company’s work and representing it publicly on a wide variety of critical issues involving the intersection of technology and society, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, environmental sustainability, human rights, digital safety, immigration, philanthropy, and products and business for non-profit customers. He leads a team of roughly 2,000 business, legal and corporate affairs professionals located in 54 countries and operating in more than 120 nations.

In Smith’s bestselling book, coauthored with Microsoft’s Carol Ann Browne, 
Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age
, he urges the tech sector to assume more responsibility and calls for governments to move faster to address the challenges that new technologies are creating. In his podcast by the same name, Smith and his guests expand on the themes in the book, exploring potential solutions to the digital issues shaping the world today. 
The New York Times 
has called Smith “a de facto ambassador for the technology industry at large” and 
The Australian Financial Review
 has described him as “one of the technology industry’s most respected figures.” He has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress and other governments on these key policy issues.

His podcast, 
Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith
, is available on all podcast platforms.

The Honorable Dr. Kevin Rudd AC
 served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010, then as Minister for Foreign Affairs, before a second term as Prime Minister in 2013. In March 2023, Dr. Rudd assumed his role as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C. He is recognized as a preeminent Sinologist and, prior to his ambassadorship, served as the inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York from 2015 to 2023. In 2020, he was also appointed President & CEO of the Asia Society globally and, in 2022, founded the Center for China Analysis. He has just returned to Asia Society as its 10th President & CEO.

<p style="margin: 0px;">This public conversation brings together <strong>The Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd</strong>, President and CEO of Asia Society, and <strong>Brad Smith</strong>, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology policy, cybersecurity, and geopolitics in an increasingly complex global environment. The discussion will examine how governments, institutions, and technology leaders can foster innovation, strengthen resilience against cyber threats, and advance international approaches to responsible AI development and governance.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Speakers</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;">As Microsoft’s vice chair and president, <strong>Brad Smith </strong>is responsible for spearheading the company’s work and representing it publicly on a wide variety of critical issues involving the intersection of technology and society, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, environmental sustainability, human rights, digital safety, immigration, philanthropy, and products and business for non-profit customers. He leads a team of roughly 2,000 business, legal and corporate affairs professionals located in 54 countries and operating in more than 120 nations.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">In Smith’s bestselling book, coauthored with Microsoft’s Carol Ann Browne, <em>Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age</em>, he urges the tech sector to assume more responsibility and calls for governments to move faster to address the challenges that new technologies are creating. In his podcast by the same name, Smith and his guests expand on the themes in the book, exploring potential solutions to the digital issues shaping the world today. <em>The New York Times </em>has called Smith “a de facto ambassador for the technology industry at large” and <em>The Australian Financial Review</em> has described him as “one of the technology industry’s most respected figures.” He has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress and other governments on these key policy issues.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">His podcast, <em>Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith</em>, is available on all podcast platforms.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>The Honorable Dr. Kevin Rudd AC</strong> served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010, then as Minister for Foreign Affairs, before a second term as Prime Minister in 2013. In March 2023, Dr. Rudd assumed his role as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C. He is recognized as a preeminent Sinologist and, prior to his ambassadorship, served as the inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York from 2015 to 2023. In 2020, he was also appointed President &amp; CEO of the Asia Society globally and, in 2022, founded the Center for China Analysis. He has just returned to Asia Society as its 10th President &amp; CEO.</p>

Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President

Tech Gather NYC is a mixer for anyone and everyone in NYC Tech.

New to Tech? Welcome!
15 years in? Come on down!
Just got to the city? Get to know the techies here!
Been here forever? Grab your "Pizza Rat"
headband and welcome the newbies.

Be you Product, UI, Coder or Solutions or any of the buzz terms our industry throws out there, come unwind at a chill Irish pub on Fulton with cheap drinks and stay for a top-notch (free!) karaoke session next door.

Did I mention the whole thing is free?

techgathernyc.com

Founder

<p style="margin: 0px;">Tech Gather NYC is a mixer for anyone and everyone in NYC Tech.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">New to Tech? Welcome!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">15 years in? Come on down!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Just got to the city? Get to know the techies here!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Been here forever? Grab your "Pizza Rat"</p><p style="margin: 0px;">headband and welcome the newbies.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Be you Product, UI, Coder or Solutions or any of the buzz terms our industry throws out there, come unwind at a chill Irish pub on Fulton with cheap drinks and stay for a top-notch (free!) karaoke session next door.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Did I mention the whole thing is free?</p>

Tech Gather NYC September Meetup

The Irish American Pub

NachoNacho - The B2B SaaS & AI + Services Marketplace will host this exclusive SaaStr San Francisco SaaS & AI Founder + Investor rooftop happy hour event. 
This event will include sponsored drinks and appetizers.

​This networking event will be exclusively for SaaS/AI:
​Founders (minimum Seed funded and later)
​C-Suites
​Investors/VCs
​Tech media

​Your application will be carefully screened. No +1s allowed. Only approved guests will be allowed onto the premises.
​We regularly host Founder + VC events in NYC, SF, LA, and Austin with an amazing turnout of hundreds of participating investors and Founders. You can 
see photos from our previous events
 here to get an idea.

We want everyone to have genuine conversations and build real connections here where founders can share their vision, investors can find the next great startup investment opportunity, and media members can get an inside track of the latest deals and tech trends.

​This is part of our NachoTuesday series, which includes in-person events as well as online thought leadership C-Suite interviews (
https://nachonacho.com/nachotuesday
).

western washington universirty 

NachoNacho

Head of Marketing

<p style="margin: 0px;">NachoNacho - The B2B SaaS &amp; AI + Services Marketplace will host this exclusive SaaStr San Francisco SaaS &amp; AI Founder + Investor rooftop happy hour event.&nbsp;<strong>This event will include sponsored drinks and appetizers.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">​This networking event will be exclusively for SaaS/AI:</p><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Founders (minimum Seed funded and later)</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​C-Suites</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Investors/VCs</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Tech media</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Your application will be carefully screened. No +1s allowed. Only approved guests will be allowed onto the premises.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​We regularly host Founder + VC events in NYC, SF, LA, and Austin with an amazing turnout of hundreds of participating investors and Founders. You can&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.nachonacho.com/events/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(243, 26, 124);">see photos from our previous events</a>&nbsp;here to get an idea.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">We want everyone to have genuine conversations and build real connections here where founders can share their vision, investors can find the next great startup investment opportunity, and media members can get an inside track of the latest deals and tech trends.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">​This is part of our NachoTuesday series, which includes in-person events as well as online thought leadership C-Suite interviews (<a href="https://nachonacho.com/nachotuesday?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(243, 26, 124);">https://nachonacho.com/nachotuesday</a>).</p>

NYC SaaS & AI Founder + Investor Rooftop Happy Hour

Join us for a thought provoking evening with multi-award-winning speculative fiction author 
Ken Liu
, for the release of his new collection, 
The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories
 -- which includes the provocative title story on why misinterpretations are impossible to avoid in art.

Renowned for his genre-defining "silkpunk" epics and deeply moving short fiction like 
The Paper Menagerie
, Liu returns with thirteen new tales exploring what it means to be human in a world shaped by rapidly shifting technology.

The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories
 will be available for sale during the event.

Speakers
Ken Liu
 is an award-winning American author of speculative fiction. His collection, 
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
, has been published in more than a dozen languages. Liu’s other works include 
The Grace of Kings
, 
The Wall of Storms
, 
The Veiled Throne
, a second collection 
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories
, and the forthcoming 
Julia Z 
series. He has been involved in multiple media adaptations of his work, including the short story “Good Hunting,” adapted as an episode in Netflix’s animated series 
Love, Death + Robots
; and AMC’s 
Pantheon
, adapted from an interconnected series of short stories. “The Hidden Girl,” “The Message,” and “The Oracle” have also been optioned for development. Liu previously worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on topics including futurism, machine-augmented creativity, the history of technology, and the value of storytelling. Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.

Alex Shvartsman (moderator) 
is the author of 
The Best of All Possible Planets 
(2026), 
Kakistocracy 
(2023), 
The Middling Affliction 
(2022), and 
Eridani’s Crown 
(2019). Over 150 of his stories and his translations from Russian have appeared in 
Analog
, 
Asimov’s Clarkesworld
, 
F&SF
, 
Nature
, 
Reactor
, 
Strange Horizons
, and several Year’s Best volumes. He won the WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction, and was a three-time finalist for each the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Fiction and the BSFA Award. For a brief, glorious moment one of his stories was in development as a live action TV series. He has edited nearly twenty anthologies, including the long-running 
Unidentified Funny Objects 
series, as well as 
The Digital Aesthete
, 
The Cackle of Cthulhu
, 
Humanity 2.0 
and many more.. He has worked on many games and is presently the Narrative Director for Card Advantage Games, working on the 
Reclusion 
video game.

<p style="margin: 0px;">Join us for a thought provoking evening with multi-award-winning speculative fiction author <strong>Ken Liu</strong>, for the release of his new collection, <em>The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories</em> -- which includes the provocative title story on why misinterpretations are impossible to avoid in art.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Renowned for his genre-defining "silkpunk" epics and deeply moving short fiction like <em>The Paper Menagerie</em>, Liu returns with thirteen new tales exploring what it means to be human in a world shaped by rapidly shifting technology.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><em>The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories</em> will be available for sale during the event.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Speakers</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Ken Liu</strong> is an award-winning American author of speculative fiction. His collection, <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories</em>, has been published in more than a dozen languages. Liu’s other works include <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">The Grace of Kings</em>, <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">The Wall of Storms</em>, <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">The Veiled Throne</em>, a second collection <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">The Hidden Girl and Other Stories</em>, and the forthcoming <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">Julia Z </em>series. He has been involved in multiple media adaptations of his work, including the short story “Good Hunting,” adapted as an episode in Netflix’s animated series <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">Love, Death + Robots</em>; and AMC’s <em style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.01em; white-space: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">Pantheon</em>, adapted from an interconnected series of short stories. “The Hidden Girl,” “The Message,” and “The Oracle” have also been optioned for development. Liu previously worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on topics including futurism, machine-augmented creativity, the history of technology, and the value of storytelling. Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Alex Shvartsman (moderator) </strong>is the author of <em>The Best of All Possible Planets </em>(2026), <em>Kakistocracy </em>(2023), <em>The Middling Affliction </em>(2022), and <em>Eridani’s Crown </em>(2019). Over 150 of his stories and his translations from Russian have appeared in <em>Analog</em>, <em>Asimov’s Clarkesworld</em>, <em>F&amp;SF</em>, <em>Nature</em>, <em>Reactor</em>, <em>Strange Horizons</em>, and several Year’s Best volumes. He won the WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction, and was a three-time finalist for each the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Fiction and the BSFA Award. For a brief, glorious moment one of his stories was in development as a live action TV series. He has edited nearly twenty anthologies, including the long-running <em>Unidentified Funny Objects </em>series, as well as <em>The Digital Aesthete</em>, <em>The Cackle of Cthulhu</em>, <em>Humanity 2.0 </em>and many more.. He has worked on many games and is presently the Narrative Director for Card Advantage Games, working on the <em>Reclusion </em>video game.</p>

Technology and Storytelling: Ken Liu and The Passing of the Dragon

Presented by NachoNacho, 
HubSpot for Startups
 & MongoDB
A curated wellness experience exclusively for Series A+ Founders to connect with their peers, let their guard down, and spend time together without the pressure to “perform.”

Sunday, September 13 | 10:00 AM
Othership Flatiron | 23 W 20th St, New York

About the Event

Join us at 
Othership Flatiron
 for an exclusive Sunday morning designed to 
reset, recharge, and connect
 before another busy week in NYC.

This invite-only experience brings together a highly curated group of 
Series A+ Founders
 for a morning of restorative wellness, meaningful conversations, and genuine connection — away from the usual conference rooms, pitch decks, and networking happy hours.

We'll move through the Othership experience featuring:

🔥 
Guided sauna & heat therapy
 to relax and recharge
❄️ 
Ice baths & cold plunges
 for an energizing state shift. 
We may ask you to do an elevator pitch for your company in the cold plunge.
🧘 
Guided breathwork & mindfulness
 to reset body and mind
🤝 
Social Commons
 for relaxed founder-to-founder conversations
☕ Time to connect, recharge, and start Sunday feeling refreshed. Food, coffee, and other refreshments will be provided.

The atmosphere is intentionally curated for authentic conversations between founders who understand the challenges of building and scaling companies.

No pitch decks. No panels. Just wellness, connection, and a chance to reset.

Who Should Attend
Series A+ Founders
No VCs allowed.
 This is a founder-only space to connect, recharge, and have open, honest conversations with peers—without pitching, fundraising, or feeling like you need to be “on."
This is a highly curated, invite-only experience. 
Application and approval are required for entry.

Location
Othership Flatiron
23 W 20th St
New York, NY 10011

Brought to you by:

NachoNacho:
 The B2B SaaS & AI + Services Marketplace — your first stop for software savings.

MongoDB:
 The modern, AI-ready data platform helping startups build faster, innovate, and scale from their first product to global growth. Learn more at MongoDB.com

HubSpot for Startups 
helps venture-backed startups grow better with access to HubSpot's full suite of marketing, sales, and customer service tools at up to 90% off, startup-friendly pricing built for founders scaling fast. We partner with leading VCs, accelerators, and startup communities globally to give founders the tools they need to go from Series A to IPO. Apply here: 
https://app.hubspot.com/signup-hubspot/hubspot-for-startups?partner-code=pQ2OHLVuVKXI&program=startups

<p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Presented by NachoNacho,&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://app.hubspot.com/signup-hubspot/hubspot-for-startups?partner-code=pQ2OHLVuVKXI&amp;program=startups" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>HubSpot for Startups</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;&amp; MongoDB</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;">A curated wellness experience exclusively for Series A+ Founders to connect with their peers, let their guard down, and spend time together without the pressure to “perform.”</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Sunday, September 13 | 10:00 AM</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Othership Flatiron | 23 W 20th St, New York</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>About the Event</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Join us at&nbsp;<strong>Othership Flatiron</strong>&nbsp;for an exclusive Sunday morning designed to&nbsp;<strong>reset, recharge, and connect</strong>&nbsp;before another busy week in NYC.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">This invite-only experience brings together a highly curated group of&nbsp;<strong>Series A+ Founders</strong>&nbsp;for a morning of restorative wellness, meaningful conversations, and genuine connection — away from the usual conference rooms, pitch decks, and networking happy hours.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">We'll move through the Othership experience featuring:</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">🔥&nbsp;<strong>Guided sauna &amp; heat therapy</strong>&nbsp;to relax and recharge</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">❄️&nbsp;<strong>Ice baths &amp; cold plunges</strong>&nbsp;for an energizing state shift.&nbsp;<strong>We may ask you to do an elevator pitch for your company in the cold plunge.</strong></li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">🧘&nbsp;<strong>Guided breathwork &amp; mindfulness</strong>&nbsp;to reset body and mind</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">🤝&nbsp;<strong>Social Commons</strong>&nbsp;for relaxed founder-to-founder conversations</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">☕ Time to connect, recharge, and start Sunday feeling refreshed. Food, coffee, and other refreshments will be provided.</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">The atmosphere is intentionally curated for authentic conversations between founders who understand the challenges of building and scaling companies.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>No pitch decks. No panels. Just wellness, connection, and a chance to reset.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Who Should Attend</p><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><strong>Series A+ Founders</strong></li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><strong>No VCs allowed.</strong>&nbsp;This is a founder-only space to connect, recharge, and have open, honest conversations with peers—without pitching, fundraising, or feeling like you need to be “on."</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;">This is a highly curated, invite-only experience.&nbsp;<strong>Application and approval are required for entry.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Location</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Othership Flatiron</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;">23 W 20th St</p><p style="margin: 0px;">New York, NY 10011</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Brought to you by:</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>NachoNacho:</strong>&nbsp;The B2B SaaS &amp; AI + Services Marketplace — your first stop for software savings.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>MongoDB:</strong>&nbsp;The modern, AI-ready data platform helping startups build faster, innovate, and scale from their first product to global growth. Learn more at MongoDB.com</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong><em>HubSpot for Startups&nbsp;</em></strong><em>helps venture-backed startups grow better with access to HubSpot's full suite of marketing, sales, and customer service tools at up to 90% off,&nbsp;startup-friendly pricing built for founders scaling fast. We partner with leading VCs, accelerators, and startup communities globally to give founders the tools they need to go from Series A to IPO. Apply here:&nbsp;</em><a href="https://app.hubspot.com/signup-hubspot/hubspot-for-startups?partner-code=pQ2OHLVuVKXI&amp;program=startups" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>https://app.hubspot.com/signup-hubspot/hubspot-for-startups?partner-code=pQ2OHLVuVKXI&amp;program=startups</em></a></p>

NYC Founder Reset @ Othership — Series A+ Founders Only (No VCs)

What does it take to build a career (and brands!) that can move across markets, industries and cultures?

From shaping digital fashion at 
Selfridges
, to leading global creative at 
Soho House
, 
through its IPO, to reinvigorating a legacy retailer as the 
Chief Brand Officer of Neiman Marcus
, Singaporean brand leader 
Nabil Aliffi
 has built a career spanning cities, industries and some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

For the next 
SGN Global Leaders Series in New York City
, we’re sitting down with 
Nabil Aliffi, Founder & Principal of Studio ALIFFI and former Chief Brand Officer of Neiman Marcus
, for a candid conversation about building a global career and creating brands that resonate across markets.

We’ll go beyond the career highlights to unpack the decisions behind Nabil’s journey: navigating different markets and cultures, moving across disciplines, knowing when to take an unconventional opportunity, staying ahead of shifts in consumer behaviour, and turning creative instinct into commercial impact.

We’ll also explore what his journey can tell us about 
building careers on the global stage
, and the perspectives that come from working across East and West.

Expect a 
candid conversation, live Q&A and networking
 with professionals, founders, creatives and operators from across NYC.

Who should attend:
Brand builders, creatives, founders, operators, marketers, and ambitious professionals
 interested in building careers across industries, navigating pivotal career moves, and understanding how some of the world’s most recognizable brands stay relevant.

You are the calm presence who’s perfectly happy to go with the flow, bringing peace and balance wherever you are

The Chill One/Laid-Back Hangout Buddy

Singapore Global Network

Regional Director (Americas)

<p style="margin: 0px;"><em>What does it take to build a career (and brands!) that can move across markets, industries and cultures?</em></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><em>From shaping digital fashion at&nbsp;</em><strong>Selfridges</strong>, to leading global creative at&nbsp;<strong>Soho House</strong>, <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">through its IPO, to reinvigorating a legacy retailer as the </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Chief Brand Officer of Neiman Marcus</span>, Singaporean brand leader&nbsp;<strong>Nabil Aliffi</strong>&nbsp;has built a career spanning cities, industries and some of the world’s most recognizable brands.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">For the next&nbsp;<strong>SGN Global Leaders Series in New York City</strong>, we’re sitting down with&nbsp;<strong>Nabil Aliffi, Founder &amp; Principal of Studio ALIFFI and former Chief Brand Officer of Neiman Marcus</strong>, for a candid conversation about building a global career and creating brands that resonate across markets.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">We’ll go beyond the career highlights to unpack the decisions behind Nabil’s journey: navigating different markets and cultures, moving across disciplines, knowing when to take an unconventional opportunity, staying ahead of shifts in consumer behaviour, and turning creative instinct into commercial impact.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">We’ll also explore what his journey can tell us about&nbsp;<strong>building careers on the global stage</strong>, and the perspectives that come from working across East and West.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Expect a&nbsp;<strong>candid conversation, live Q&amp;A and networking</strong>&nbsp;with professionals, founders, creatives and operators from across NYC.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Who should attend:</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Brand builders, creatives, founders, operators, marketers, and ambitious professionals</strong> interested in building careers across industries, navigating pivotal career moves, and understanding how some of the world’s most recognizable brands stay relevant.</p>

Neiman Marcus is a luxury department store founded in 1907 in Dallas, Texas. It has established itself as a premier global luxury retailer, known for offering high-quality, exclusive merchandise and exceptional customer service. The company caters to affluent clientele and has a rich history of overcoming challenges while maintaining a strong focus on fashion and marketing.

Former Chief Brand Officer at Neiman Marcus

SGN Global Leaders Series: Building Brands & Careers Across Borders ft. Nabil Aliffi (Fmr. Chief Brand Officer, Neiman Marcus)

​A curated showcase featuring seven high-growth deeptech startups building the next generation of intelligent software, physical AI, and enterprise solutions. Includes live pitches and targeted VC/CVC networking.

​About This Event:
​Join Elpis Labs and the TAP Acceleration Program for the Korea – NYC Venture Showcase, a premier evening connecting investors, corporate innovation leaders, and tech ecosystem partners with cutting-edge international innovation.
​This showcase features seven pre-vetted Seed to Series A deeptech startups expanding into the U.S. market, developing breakthrough technologies across enterprise AI, physical AI, robotics, voice intelligence, digital content, and customer insights. Meet the founders, see their solutions in action, and explore cross-border investment and partnership opportunities.
​Agenda:
​5:30 PM: Doors Open & Guest Arrival
​6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Startup Showcase & Pitch Presentations
​7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Investor Networking & Drinks Reception
​Event Details:
​Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
​Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
​Location: New York City 
(Exact venue address provided upon registration approval)
​Admission: Complimentary / Invite-Only 
(Approval Required)
​
Attendance is limited to ensure a high-density networking environment for attending VCs, CVCs, corporate executives, and ecosystem partners. Please request an invite to hold your spot.
Location
Civic Hall 124 East 14th Street, New York, NY

Elpis Labs

Managing Partner

Program Director

<p style="margin: 0px;">​A curated showcase featuring seven high-growth deeptech startups building the next generation of intelligent software, physical AI, and enterprise solutions. Includes live pitches and targeted VC/CVC networking.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>​About This Event:</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Join Elpis Labs and the TAP Acceleration Program for the Korea – NYC Venture Showcase, a premier evening connecting investors, corporate innovation leaders, and tech ecosystem partners with cutting-edge international innovation.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​This showcase features seven pre-vetted Seed to Series A deeptech startups expanding into the U.S. market, developing breakthrough technologies across enterprise AI, physical AI, robotics, voice intelligence, digital content, and customer insights. Meet the founders, see their solutions in action, and explore cross-border investment and partnership opportunities.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>​Agenda:</strong></p><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​5:30 PM: Doors Open &amp; Guest Arrival</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Startup Showcase &amp; Pitch Presentations</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Investor Networking &amp; Drinks Reception</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;"><strong>​Event Details:</strong></p><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Location: New York City <em>(Exact venue address provided upon registration approval)</em></li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Admission: Complimentary / Invite-Only <em>(Approval Required)</em></li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;">​<em>Attendance is limited to ensure a high-density networking environment for attending VCs, CVCs, corporate executives, and ecosystem partners. Please request an invite to hold your spot.</em></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Location</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Civic Hall 124 East 14th Street, New York, NY</p>

Korea-NYC Venture Showcase

Invite & approval only: Venture-backed founders. 

Join us for a candid discussion featuring 
Josef Najm, Principal at 
Thomson Reuters Ventures
 - the corporate venture arm of Thomson Reuters. Josef will provide a rare insight into how companies in their portfolio actually got acquired, what that process looked like from inside the fund, plus where a corporate arm's appetite is heading for earlier-stage companies.

If you're a founder building across 
legaltech, tax & accounting, fintech, risk, fraud, or compliance
, you don't want to miss this one!

We will have a private room to ourselves, and individually-assigned seating using our proprietary AI algorithms. There will also be a seat change and ample time for mingling before & after dinner, so you'll get to know everyone in the room!

<p style="margin: 0px;"><strong style="color: inherit;">Invite &amp; approval only: Venture-backed founders.&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Join us for a candid discussion featuring </span><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Josef Najm, Principal at&nbsp;</strong><strong>Thomson Reuters Ventures</strong> - the corporate venture arm of Thomson Reuters. Josef will provide a rare insight into how companies in their portfolio actually got acquired, what that process looked like from inside the fund, plus where a corporate arm's appetite is heading for earlier-stage companies.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">If you're a founder building across <strong>legaltech, tax &amp; accounting, fintech, risk, fraud, or compliance</strong>, you don't want to miss this one!</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We will have a private room to ourselves, and individually-assigned seating using our proprietary AI algorithms. There will also be a seat change and ample time for mingling before &amp; after dinner, so you'll get to know everyone in the room!</span></p>

Investing in enduring companies forging the future of enterprise technology. 

We invest in companies at the seed and series A stages building in tax, legal, fraud, risk, compliance, fintech, news and media 

Get in touch: https://www.trventures.com/

Principal

September Private Founders Lunch ft.Thomson Reuters Ventures

For Founders, Connectors, and Community Builders - You've been building alone in the trenches but there's a community for you too!

First Up: Crafting Community Events Lab

Umama Kibria 
is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who's hosted 200+ events nationwide with brands like Nike, Adidas, Bumble, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Join her for a hands-on workshop on what separates a forgettable meetup from a cult brand community. Umama is sharing her playbook on her visit to NYC - we are lucky to catch her while she is in town!

You'll walk away knowing:
How to design events that build real brand loyalty

The partnership playbook that makes your events work harder and go further

What "intentional" looks like when it comes to community building


💡 You'll learn Umama's four-step framework for designing monetized events with connection at the center, from the first idea to the moment that guests walk in the door. Get this right, and everything else follows: stronger community, deeper brand partnerships, and yes, real ways to monetize what you build.

Next up, we will have 
⚡ Lightning Talks 
from several veteran community builders & events hosts. Please welcome to the mic:

🎤 Lenny An
, Founder, 5 Borough Games & Dumpling Dude
🎤
 Erica Hanson
, Founder, Coffee & Career Transitions NYC
🎤 Max Rivera
, Global Agency Partnerships, Microsoft AI
🎤 Sabrina Romviel
, NY Community Manager, Chief

Then, the event will conclude with by a 
craft & connect 
session, because everyone needs a moment to just make something with their hands :)

📣 Who this is for:

✅ You've hosted events before, or have an idea for one, and want to make them more intentional
✅ You want to build partnerships and collaborations with other hosts & brands
✅ You care about the quality of connection that your events create, and want that to translate into something sustainable

🗓️ Flow of our day:

9:00 - 9:20 am: arrivals, networking & breakfast treats
9:20 - 9:30 am: introductions
9:30 - 10:30 am: workshop with Umama Kibria
10:40 - 11:10 am: lightning talks
11:10 - 11:30 am: guided networking
11:30 - 12:00 pm: Craft & Connect time with Samantha Brunson
*** schedule subject to change

About GoSadi
This event is brought to you by GoSadi: a community platform designed by makers, for makers. Skip the AI-driven feeds and discover a space where fiber artists connect with designers, track their creative journey, and build their craft & community in one thoughtful, intentional place. Spend more time stitching and less time scrolling or searching!

About Umama
Umama Kibria is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who's hosted 200+ events nationwide with brands like Nike, Adidas, Bumble, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. She built her career turning one-off gatherings into communities people keep showing up for. Connect with Umama on Instagram and check out her company Play.

About Lenny
Lenny A channels his community building between two worlds: Chinese heritage and a love of local civic engagement. He is the founder of Dumpling Dude, showcasing Chinese culture through in-person dumpling making, mahjong teaching, and cultural events. He is also an avid local political junkie, having previously worked on Yuh-Line Niou's 2022 congressional campaign. Lenny serves as on his local community board, Brooklyn CB2, and found his political home with New Kings Democrats and CAAAV (Communities Against Asian American Violence). He hopes to help others impact their local neighborhoods and communities.

About Erica
Erica Hanson is the founder of Coffee & Career Transitions NYC, a community for people who have been laid off or are job searching. She also hosts events for fellow community builders as the co-lead of CMX NYC. Erica spent her career building developer communities at Google and FlutterFlow. She is training for the NYC marathon and spending a lot of time at the playground with her toddler, baby, and husband.

About Sabrina
Sabrina Romviel is the New York Community Manager at Chief, a leading professional network for women executives. She builds the playbook for IRL connection in New York, including weekly programming that enables members to meet the right people and expand their leadership. Prior to Chief, Sabrina was a strategy consultant at Vivaldi Group and a Programming Lead at Women In Innovation, a global nonprofit dedicated to increasing the impact and influence of women innovators.

PRESENTED BY:

Fidelity Private Shares
 is a trusted equity management platform for growing private companies. From early rounds to IPO, they bring clarity to complex ownership – connecting cap tables, 409A valuations, data room, and modeling tools for next-round and exit planning. Backed by Fidelity’s reputation for trust and long-term reliability, so you can scale confidently and focus on what’s next. Learn more.

Sapphire Labs
 is a technology execution firm that partners with venture capital and private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies to deliver the technical work that drives value creation. Whether the need is shipping product and scaling engineering for a growth-stage company, or modernizing platforms and integrating systems post-acquisition, Sapphire Labs operate as the execution arm teams bring in when an initiative needs senior engineering leadership. Their teams deliver on schedule, often taking initiatives from stalled to shipped in weeks, not quarters. From shipping net-new products to stabilizing and modernizing inherited systems with senior-only teams structured around outcomes rather than hours.

Yarnspirations
 is your place for endless inspiration to spark creativity and fuel your passion for your next crochet, knitting, crafting, sewing, quilting, or embroidery project. Find your favorite craft brands in the Yarnspirations store – Aunt Lydia’s, Bernat, Caron, Coats & Clark, Lily Sugar'n Cream, Patons, Phentex, Red Heart, and more – all under one roof. New and innovative craft products are added all the time – from classic wool yarn to novelty yarns, to even zippers and threads. You will always find what you need to craft something.

Heads up...

***This event will be photographed and GoSadi, Inc., and all partners reserve the right to use photos and video from the event for marketing and communications purposes. By attending the event, you consent to the use of your image for these purposes.

By registering, you agree that any contact or personal information may be shared with GoSadi and Joy Jing and Umama Kibria, their affiliates, event sponsors and other partners. You also consent to the event being recorded and your name, information, image, audio, and video being published and/or edited in any form. You will also be added to our mailing list to receive event updates, stories, and information about upcoming events. Unsubscribe anytime.

You are the caring soul who’s always there with a snack, a hug, and a gentle reminder to stay hydrated

The Mom

Harvard University

Creative Generalist

GoSadi

Founder and CEO

For Founders, Connectors, and Community Builders - You've been building alone in the trenches but there's a community for you too!<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>First Up: Crafting Community Events Lab</b></div><div><br></div><div><b>Umama Kibria </b>is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who's hosted 200+ events nationwide with brands like Nike, Adidas, Bumble, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Join her for a hands-on workshop on what separates a forgettable meetup from a cult brand community. Umama is sharing her playbook on her visit to NYC - we are lucky to catch her while she is in town!</div><div><br></div><div>You'll walk away knowing:</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: 11pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">How to design events that build real brand loyalty</span><br></li><li><span style="font-size: 11pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">The partnership playbook that makes your events work harder and go further</span><br></li><li><span style="font-size: 11pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">What "intentional" looks like when it comes to community building</span><br></li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>💡 You'll learn Umama's four-step framework for designing monetized events with connection at the center, from the first idea to the moment that guests walk in the door. Get this right, and everything else follows: stronger community, deeper brand partnerships, and yes, real ways to monetize what you build.</div><div><br></div><div>Next up, we will have <b>⚡ Lightning Talks </b>from several veteran community builders &amp; events hosts. Please welcome to the mic:</div><div><br></div><div><b>🎤 Lenny An</b>, Founder, 5 Borough Games &amp; Dumpling Dude</div><div>🎤<b> Erica Hanson</b>, Founder, Coffee &amp; Career Transitions NYC</div><div><b>🎤 Max Rivera</b>, Global Agency Partnerships, Microsoft AI</div><div><b>🎤 Sabrina Romviel</b>, NY Community Manager, Chief</div><div><br></div><div>Then, the event will conclude with by a <b>craft &amp; connect </b>session, because everyone needs a moment to just make something with their hands :)</div><div><br></div><div>📣 Who this is for:</div><div><br></div><div>✅ You've hosted events before, or have an idea for one, and want to make them more intentional</div><div>✅ You want to build partnerships and collaborations with other hosts &amp; brands</div><div>✅ You care about the quality of connection that your events create, and want that to translate into something sustainable</div><div><br></div><div>🗓️ Flow of our day:</div><div><br></div><div>9:00 - 9:20 am: arrivals, networking &amp; breakfast treats</div><div>9:20 - 9:30 am: introductions</div><div>9:30 - 10:30 am: workshop with Umama Kibria</div><div>10:40 - 11:10 am: lightning talks</div><div>11:10 - 11:30 am: guided networking</div><div>11:30 - 12:00 pm: Craft &amp; Connect time with Samantha Brunson</div><div>*** schedule subject to change</div><div><br></div><div>About GoSadi</div><div>This event is brought to you by GoSadi: a community platform designed by makers, for makers. Skip the AI-driven feeds and discover a space where fiber artists connect with designers, track their creative journey, and build their craft &amp; community in one thoughtful, intentional place. Spend more time stitching and less time scrolling or searching!</div><div><br></div><div>About Umama</div><div>Umama Kibria is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who's hosted 200+ events nationwide with brands like Nike, Adidas, Bumble, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. She built her career turning one-off gatherings into communities people keep showing up for. Connect with Umama on Instagram and check out her company Play.</div><div><br></div><div>About Lenny</div><div>Lenny A channels his community building between two worlds: Chinese heritage and a love of local civic engagement. He is the founder of Dumpling Dude, showcasing Chinese culture through in-person dumpling making, mahjong teaching, and cultural events. He is also an avid local political junkie, having previously worked on Yuh-Line Niou's 2022 congressional campaign. Lenny serves as on his local community board, Brooklyn CB2, and found his political home with New Kings Democrats and CAAAV (Communities Against Asian American Violence). He hopes to help others impact their local neighborhoods and communities.</div><div><br></div><div>About Erica</div><div>Erica Hanson is the founder of Coffee &amp; Career Transitions NYC, a community for people who have been laid off or are job searching. She also hosts events for fellow community builders as the co-lead of CMX NYC. Erica spent her career building developer communities at Google and FlutterFlow. She is training for the NYC marathon and spending a lot of time at the playground with her toddler, baby, and husband.</div><div><br></div><div>About Sabrina</div><div>Sabrina Romviel is the New York Community Manager at Chief, a leading professional network for women executives. She builds the playbook for IRL connection in New York, including weekly programming that enables members to meet the right people and expand their leadership. Prior to Chief, Sabrina was a strategy consultant at Vivaldi Group and a Programming Lead at Women In Innovation, a global nonprofit dedicated to increasing the impact and influence of women innovators.</div><div><br></div><div>PRESENTED BY:</div><div><br></div><div><b>Fidelity Private Shares</b> is a trusted equity management platform for growing private companies. From early rounds to IPO, they bring clarity to complex ownership – connecting cap tables, 409A valuations, data room, and modeling tools for next-round and exit planning. Backed by Fidelity’s reputation for trust and long-term reliability, so you can scale confidently and focus on what’s next. Learn more.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Sapphire Labs</b> is a technology execution firm that partners with venture capital and private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies to deliver the technical work that drives value creation. Whether the need is shipping product and scaling engineering for a growth-stage company, or modernizing platforms and integrating systems post-acquisition, Sapphire Labs operate as the execution arm teams bring in when an initiative needs senior engineering leadership. Their teams deliver on schedule, often taking initiatives from stalled to shipped in weeks, not quarters. From shipping net-new products to stabilizing and modernizing inherited systems with senior-only teams structured around outcomes rather than hours.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Yarnspirations</b> is your place for endless inspiration to spark creativity and fuel your passion for your next crochet, knitting, crafting, sewing, quilting, or embroidery project. Find your favorite craft brands in the Yarnspirations store – Aunt Lydia’s, Bernat, Caron, Coats &amp; Clark, Lily Sugar'n Cream, Patons, Phentex, Red Heart, and more – all under one roof. New and innovative craft products are added all the time – from classic wool yarn to novelty yarns, to even zippers and threads. You will always find what you need to craft something.</div><div><br></div><div>Heads up...</div><div><br></div><div>***This event will be photographed and GoSadi, Inc., and all partners reserve the right to use photos and video from the event for marketing and communications purposes. By attending the event, you consent to the use of your image for these purposes.</div><div><br></div><div>By registering, you agree that any contact or personal information may be shared with GoSadi and Joy Jing and Umama Kibria, their affiliates, event sponsors and other partners. You also consent to the event being recorded and your name, information, image, audio, and video being published and/or edited in any form. You will also be added to our mailing list to receive event updates, stories, and information about upcoming events. Unsubscribe anytime.</div>

If you are a founder (startup, small business, etc)

Community Builder

Other Guest

Crafting Community through Events: Workshop by Umama Kibria, Lightning Talks, and Crafting with GoSadi

​Winning big during the holiday shopping season starts long before shoppers hit checkout. Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) is won by the brands that prepare early, test early, and plan early, while everyone else is still pretending October is plenty of time.
​This Ugly Talk is the pre-game. A room for Shopify founders to talk honestly about how they are preparing for BFCM, what burned them in previous years, and which tools, AI workflows, and Shopify features are actually helping them get ahead.
​🎯 Why You Should Attend
​Get ahead of BFCM before the scramble. September gives founders enough runway to fix the plan before late October panic mode.
​Hear what actually worked. Shopify founders break down past BFCM wins, misses, and the moves they would never repeat.
​Pressure-test your prep. Offers, landing pages, inventory, email, SMS, retention, fulfillment, and the ugly operational gaps that show up when volume spikes.
​See what Shopify is shipping. A Shopify Sidekick or AI team member demos new tools and features tied to the latest Editions release.
​Leave with sharper decisions. Not theory. A cleaner checklist for what to build, test, and simplify before BFCM hits.
​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room
​Ecommerce and consumer brand founders from every stage across the greater New York area
​Ecommerce operators and community builders who know what it takes to turn attention into sales
​Marketing experts helping brands win the holiday shopping season before the scramble starts
​🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage
​
Seth Goldstein
 - Co-Founder
 of 
MASA Chips
​Seth is co-founder of Ancient Crunch, makers of MASA Chips, Vandy Crisps, and Perla Popcorn. Before co-founding Ancient Crunch, Seth was a private equity investor, after starting his career at BCG.
​
​
Quincy Moore
 - President & CEO of New York or Nowhere
​Quincy Moore is the founder, creative director, and CEO of New York or Nowhere (NYON), the lifestyle and apparel brand that has become synonymous with contemporary New York. A journalist by trade, and entrepreneur by destiny, Quincy coined “New York or Nowhere” in 2015 under his first brand, Knowlita, and spun NYON off into its own entity in 2020. Under his leadership, NYON has grown into an eight-figure business with no outside investment and zero dollars spent on paid advertising — a rarity in today’s DTC landscape. The brand operates a flagship retail store in Nolita, with a second location opening in late 2026, and has forged landmark partnerships with the New York Knicks, Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Saturday Night Live, and the TCS New York City Marathon. NYON has earned organic endorsements from Jalen Brunson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Aaron Judge, Hugh Jackman, and Tracy Morgan, among many others. Quincy lives in downtown NYC with his wife, Samantha, and their two kids.
​
​
Millie Blumka
 - Co-Founder
 of 
Stakt
​Millie Blumka is the Co-Founder of Stakt, a wellness brand redefining modern fitness through thoughtfully designed, multifunctional equipment. Since launching the company in 2020, she has helped grow Stakt into a category-defining brand known for its innovative products, strategic partnerships, and community-first approach. Millie leads the brand’s marketing, partnerships, and community strategy, with a passion for building authentic connections and creating experiences that inspire movement. She frequently speaks on entrepreneurship, brand building, strategic partnerships, and the evolving wellness industry.
​
​Moderator:

​
Brandon Blum
 - Managing Partner at New Edition
​Brandon is the Managing Partner of New Edition, a fractional Head of Content shop for eCommerce brands, thought-leaders and service providers looking to launch, maintain, grow and monetize their content marketing efforts.
​Brandon has spent over a decade in Digital Marketing, working at companies such as Atlantic Media, Meredith Corporation and Axios before starting his own ventures.
​Brandon possesses a blend of experiences spanning entrepreneurship, eCommerce, branding, digital marketing, digital media, content and storytelling.
​💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat
​What broke last BFCM - The campaign mistakes, inventory misses, tech issues, and rushed decisions founders wish they caught earlier.
​How founders are preparing now - What gets planned 10 weeks out. Offers, bundles, landing pages, lifecycle flows, retention plays, and team responsibilities.
​What tools are actually helping - Which Shopify features, apps, automations, and AI workflows are making prep cleaner instead of louder.
​Sidekick and Shopify AI in the real world - A practical demo of how founders can use new Shopify tools to move faster before peak season.
​What not to overbuild - The difference between smart prep and founder cosplay. What to simplify before traffic spikes.
​The BFCM runway - How to use September to test, fix, and sharpen the plan instead of scrambling in late October.
​
​Who's Backing This
​
Shopify New York
 – Powering millions of sellers around the world
​

​
New Edition
 – Fractional Head of Content for eComm brands & thought-leaders
​
​
GREY Journal
 – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
​
​​⭐ About Ugly Talk:
​Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
​With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
​Official Website: 
UglyTalk.com

discover GREY

Business

Director

<p style="margin: 0px;">​Winning big during the holiday shopping season starts long before shoppers hit checkout. Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) is won by the brands that prepare early, test early, and plan early, while everyone else is still pretending October is plenty of time.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​This Ugly Talk is the pre-game. A room for Shopify founders to talk honestly about how they are preparing for BFCM, what burned them in previous years, and which tools, AI workflows, and Shopify features are actually helping them get ahead.</p><h5>​🎯 Why You Should Attend</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Get ahead of BFCM before the scramble. September gives founders enough runway to fix the plan before late October panic mode.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Hear what actually worked. Shopify founders break down past BFCM wins, misses, and the moves they would never repeat.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Pressure-test your prep. Offers, landing pages, inventory, email, SMS, retention, fulfillment, and the ugly operational gaps that show up when volume spikes.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​See what Shopify is shipping. A Shopify Sidekick or AI team member demos new tools and features tied to the latest Editions release.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Leave with sharper decisions. Not theory. A cleaner checklist for what to build, test, and simplify before BFCM hits.</li></ul><h5>​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Ecommerce and consumer brand founders from every stage across the greater New York area</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Ecommerce operators and community builders who know what it takes to turn attention into sales</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Marketing experts helping brands win the holiday shopping season before the scramble starts</li></ul><h5>​🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage</h5><p style="margin: 0px;">​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethancientcrunch/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">Seth Goldstein</a> - Co-Founder<em> of </em>MASA Chips</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Seth is co-founder of Ancient Crunch, makers of MASA Chips, Vandy Crisps, and Perla Popcorn. Before co-founding Ancient Crunch, Seth was a private equity investor, after starting his career at BCG.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/quincymoore/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">Quincy Moore</a> - President &amp; CEO of New York or Nowhere</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Quincy Moore is the founder, creative director, and CEO of New York or Nowhere (NYON), the lifestyle and apparel brand that has become synonymous with contemporary New York. A journalist by trade, and entrepreneur by destiny, Quincy coined “New York or Nowhere” in 2015 under his first brand, Knowlita, and spun NYON off into its own entity in 2020. Under his leadership, NYON has grown into an eight-figure business with no outside investment and zero dollars spent on paid advertising — a rarity in today’s DTC landscape. The brand operates a flagship retail store in Nolita, with a second location opening in late 2026, and has forged landmark partnerships with the New York Knicks, Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Saturday Night Live, and the TCS New York City Marathon. NYON has earned organic endorsements from Jalen Brunson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Aaron Judge, Hugh Jackman, and Tracy Morgan, among many others. Quincy lives in downtown NYC with his wife, Samantha, and their two kids.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillerblumka/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">Millie Blumka</a> - Co-Founder<em> of </em>Stakt</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Millie Blumka is the Co-Founder of Stakt, a wellness brand redefining modern fitness through thoughtfully designed, multifunctional equipment. Since launching the company in 2020, she has helped grow Stakt into a category-defining brand known for its innovative products, strategic partnerships, and community-first approach. Millie leads the brand’s marketing, partnerships, and community strategy, with a passion for building authentic connections and creating experiences that inspire movement. She frequently speaks on entrepreneurship, brand building, strategic partnerships, and the evolving wellness industry.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Moderator:</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/blumbrandon/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">Brandon Blum</a> - Managing Partner at New Edition</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Brandon is the Managing Partner of New Edition, a fractional Head of Content shop for eCommerce brands, thought-leaders and service providers looking to launch, maintain, grow and monetize their content marketing efforts.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Brandon has spent over a decade in Digital Marketing, working at companies such as Atlantic Media, Meredith Corporation and Axios before starting his own ventures.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Brandon possesses a blend of experiences spanning entrepreneurship, eCommerce, branding, digital marketing, digital media, content and storytelling.</p><h5>​💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​What broke last BFCM - The campaign mistakes, inventory misses, tech issues, and rushed decisions founders wish they caught earlier.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​How founders are preparing now - What gets planned 10 weeks out. Offers, bundles, landing pages, lifecycle flows, retention plays, and team responsibilities.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​What tools are actually helping - Which Shopify features, apps, automations, and AI workflows are making prep cleaner instead of louder.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Sidekick and Shopify AI in the real world - A practical demo of how founders can use new Shopify tools to move faster before peak season.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​What not to overbuild - The difference between smart prep and founder cosplay. What to simplify before traffic spikes.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​The BFCM runway - How to use September to test, fix, and sharpen the plan instead of scrambling in late October.</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;">​</p><h5>​Who's Backing This</h5><p style="margin: 0px;">​<a href="https://shopifyny.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">Shopify New York</a> – Powering millions of sellers around the world</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;">​<a href="https://neweditionconsulting.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">New Edition</a> – Fractional Head of Content for eComm brands &amp; thought-leaders</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​<a href="https://greyjournal.net/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">GREY Journal</a> – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​</p><h5>​​⭐ About Ugly Talk:</h5><p style="margin: 0px;">​Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">​Official Website: <a href="https://uglytalk.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(82, 151, 198);">UglyTalk.com</a></p>

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