A fun, low-pressure holiday gift exchange, with a twist.

You’ll choose the vibe of the gift you want to give (funny, cozy, practical, thoughtful, or wildcard), and the kind of person you’d love to gift to.

We handle the matching, buying, and shipping. No addresses are ever shared.

On reveal day, you’ll find out:
who you gifted 🎁
who gifted you
why they chose that gift vibe

You’ll walk away with:
a small holiday gift
two new connections
and a fun reason to say hi

This isn’t networking.
It's a cozy holiday exchange designed to spark new, meaningful connections.

🎁 Choose your experience

Classic ($25): For a fun, festive exchange
Curated holiday gift
Matched with two new people
Matching based on gift vibe + basic preferences
Reveal + intros included

Spark Mode ($39): For a little more intention (and chemistry 😏)
Everything in Classic, plus:
Matching prioritizes shared interests & life stage
More intentional pairing — with room for a little ✨ spark ✨

Want to meet more people? You can buy more gifts (each entry is matched separately).

Deadline: Monday, Dec 22, 12pm
Reveal day: Friday, Dec 26

You are the cheerleader who believes in everyone’s potential, celebrating every milestone with genuine excitement

The Nurturer/Cheerleader

National University of Singapore

Supermomos

Assistant General Manager, New York

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

A fun, low-pressure holiday gift exchange, with a twist. You’ll choose the vibe of the gift you want to give (funny, cozy, practical, thoughtful, or wildcard), and the kind of person you’d love to gift to. We handle the matching, buying, and shipping. No addresses are ever shared. On reveal day, you’ll find out:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">who you gifted 🎁</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">who gifted you</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">why they chose that gift vibe</li></ul> You’ll walk away with:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">a small holiday gift</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">two new connections</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">and a fun reason to say hi</li></ul> This isn’t networking.It's a cozy holiday exchange designed to spark new, meaningful connections. 🎁 Choose your experience Classic ($25): For a fun, festive exchange<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Curated holiday gift</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Matched with two new people</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Matching based on gift vibe + basic preferences</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Reveal + intros included</li></ul> Spark Mode ($39): For a little more intention (and chemistry 😏)Everything in Classic, plus:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Matching prioritizes shared interests &amp; life stage</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">More intentional pairing — with room for a little ✨ spark ✨</li></ul> Want to meet more people? You can buy more gifts (each entry is matched separately). Deadline: Monday, Dec 22, 12pmReveal day: Friday, Dec 26

For a fun, festive exchange.
- Curated holiday gift
- Matched with two new people
- Matching based on gift vibe + basic preferences
- Reveal + intros included

Classic

For a little more intention (and chemistry 😏)
Everything in Classic, plus:
- Matching prioritizes shared interests & life stage
- More intentional pairing — with room for a little ✨ spark ✨

Spark Mode

🎄 Supermomos Secret Santa Holiday Gift Exchange 🎁

New York City

Startup Grind
 is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators and creators. We help startups get the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies.

This is the 
holiday edition 
of the monthly Startup Grind social mixer. It's a low-key way to 
connect with the NYC tech and startup community
 to explore areas for collaboration or 
find your next co-founder or key hire.

It's a casual happy hour to build connections. 
No pitches. No presentations. No agenda.

​🧑‍🎄 Santa hats optional, but highly encouraged.

This happy hour is for:
Startup Founders & Employees
Technologists, Developers & Tech Workers
Product Managers & Designers
Investors, VCs, Advisors & Mentors

Agenda:
5:00 PM: Happy Hour starts. Come and go as you please.

We're at the brand new 
Time Out Market at Union Square
. It features a selection of the city's best food and drink together under one roof, offering a wide variety of excellent options to choose from throughout the event.

Look for Startup Grind table signs toward the back near the outdoor patio.

University of North Texas

Startup Grind

Executive Director

<a href="http://startupgrind.com/new-york-city" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: inherit;">Startup Grind</a>&nbsp;is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators and creators. We help startups get the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies. This is the&nbsp;holiday edition of the monthly Startup Grind social mixer. It's a low-key way to&nbsp;connect with the NYC tech and startup community&nbsp;to&nbsp;explore areas for collaboration or find your next co-founder or key hire. It's a casual happy hour to build connections.&nbsp;No pitches. No presentations. No agenda. ​🧑‍🎄 Santa hats optional, but highly encouraged. This happy hour is for:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Startup Founders &amp; Employees</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Technologists, Developers &amp; Tech Workers</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Product Managers &amp; Designers</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Investors, VCs, Advisors &amp; Mentors</li></ul> Agenda:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">5:00 PM: Happy Hour starts. Come and go as you please.</li></ul> We're at the brand new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timeout.com/time-out-market-union-square" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: inherit;">Time Out Market at Union Square</a>. It features a selection of the city's best food and drink together under one roof, offering a wide variety of excellent options to choose from throughout the event. Look for Startup Grind table signs toward the back near the outdoor patio.

General Admission

Holiday Tech Happy Hour by Startup Grind

Time Out Market Union Square

Startup Grind
 is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators and creators. We help startups get the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies.

Go beyond the deck and 
see the best live tech
 from New York's emerging startups.

We skip the fluff and get 
a live look at real products
.

This pitch & demo showcase gives you a first look at new technology from startups that are actively building and shipping product — 
sometimes even before VCs have seen them!

The format is fast-paced and interactive. After each demo, the floor is open for questions, ideas, and feedback from the audience.

We welcome investors who want an unfiltered look at new technology and early-stage teams.

📅 
Date
:
 Thursday, December  18th
🕓 
Time
:
 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
📍 
Venue
: 
The Yard: Herald Square
🎫 
Tickets
:
 Only $5 (
includes happy hour refreshments)
📑 
Founders
: 
Sign up here to pitch
 at an upcoming event

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Startups
 ready to demo a real product and get honest feedback
Engineers, PMs, and designers
 who love seeing new tech in action
Investors
 looking for a ground-floor, early look at local startups

AGENDA
5:30 PM: Tech Builder Networking
6:00 PM: Startup Pitches & Demos
7:00 PM: Meet the Startups

FORMAT
Pitch + Demo - 5 minutes
Audience Q&A - 5 minutes
Pitch deck AND product demo are required


<a href="http://startupgrind.com/new-york-city" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38);">Startup Grind</a>&nbsp;is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators and creators. We help startups get the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies. Go beyond the deck and see the best live tech&nbsp;from New York's emerging startups. We skip the fluff and get&nbsp;a live look at real products. This pitch &amp; demo showcase gives you a first look at new technology from startups that are actively building and shipping product —&nbsp;sometimes even before VCs have seen them! The format is fast-paced and interactive. After each demo, the floor is open for questions, ideas, and feedback from the audience. We welcome investors who want an unfiltered look at new technology and early-stage teams. <ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">📅&nbsp;Date: Thursday, December&nbsp; 18th</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">🕓&nbsp;Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">📍&nbsp;Venue: The Yard: Herald Square</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">🎫&nbsp;Tickets: Only $5 (includes happy hour refreshments)</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">📑&nbsp;Founders:&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.gle/A7LsswmLwwrQi3Jh7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 121, 138);">Sign up here to pitch</a>&nbsp;at an upcoming event</li></ul> WHO SHOULD ATTEND<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Startups&nbsp;ready to demo a real product and get honest feedback</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Engineers, PMs, and designers&nbsp;who love seeing new tech in action</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Investors&nbsp;looking for a ground-floor, early look at local startups</li></ul> AGENDA<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">5:30 PM: Tech Builder Networking</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">6:00 PM: Startup Pitches &amp; Demos</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">7:00 PM: Meet the Startups</li></ul> FORMAT<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Pitch + Demo - 5 minutes</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Audience Q&amp;A - 5 minutes</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Pitch deck AND product demo are required</li></ul>

The Startup Pitch: Demo Showcase

The Yard: Herald Square Coworking Office Space Manhattan

Has networking gotten a bit tiring? Tired of the same panels, advice, and intros? Yeah us too. That's why we're building a community that goes further by diving deep in on ideas.


Our forum night is a biweekly event that brings ambitious doers and thinkers together into a regular evening discussion where everyone gets to participate. Cut straight to the signal by digging into the passionate ideas that change the world, and build genuine relationships that lead to real community, support, and the great projects that grow from them.

------------------
​BRING
​An idea, question, or artifact that you’ve been obsessing on. What is it and why does it matter?
​(Stuck? Dont worry we’ll have a grab bag of ideas for you to choose from.)
------------------
​SCHEDULE
​6:00–6:15
 — Introductions.
​6:15–8:15 
— Discussion. We’ll explore different ideas as we move through all participants, and give room to get deeper.
​8:15-8:30
 -- Asks & offers, concrete help you need from or can give to the community
​Afterwards
 -- Want to continue the conversation? Break bread together at one of the great local restaurants in the area.
------------------
​Rules
​Come with an open mind. 
Contribute to the conversation.
Respect each other. 
Respect time rules. 
No pitches or selling services.

We pick different locations around the city so participants also get a chance to explore different businesses around the city. We encourage you to please patron the business and try what they have to offer!
------------------
​About Cohort
​
“Ambitious people are rare… when you take people like this and put them together with other ambitious people, they bloom like dying plants given water.” 
-Paul Graham

We believe that ambitious people thrive with other ambitious people who fuel their passions, ideas, and journey and build hard things together.

We're a community of ambitious, passionate, and curious people—founders, creatives, builders, researchers, professionals, operators, thinkers, and more—who believe that when we're surrounded by like-minded people, our ambitions flourish. We provide each other with new ideas, learning opportunities, collaboration, and support that help turn bold ideas into reality.

​NYC is our campus. We hold regular events throughout the city that help us genuinely connect, explore, and build. We see the city's diversity of backgrounds, ideas, cultures, and industries as fuel for the next generation of great startups, research, art, and more.

------------------
​Questions? DM the host or reply to your invite.

Carnegie Mellon University

cohort.build

Founder

Has networking gotten a bit tiring? Tired of the same panels, advice, and intros? Yeah us too. That's why we're building a community that goes further by diving deep in on ideas. Our forum night is a biweekly event that brings ambitious doers and thinkers together into a regular evening discussion where everyone gets to participate. Cut straight to the signal by digging into the passionate ideas that change the world, and build genuine relationships that lead to real community, support, and the great projects that grow from them. ------------------<h2>​BRING</h2><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​An idea, question, or artifact that you’ve been obsessing on. What is it and why does it matter?</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​(Stuck? Dont worry we’ll have a grab bag of ideas for you to choose from.)</li></ul>------------------<h2>​SCHEDULE</h2>​6:00–6:15&nbsp;— Introductions.​6:15–8:15 — Discussion. We’ll explore different ideas as we move through all participants, and give room to get deeper.​8:15-8:30 -- Asks &amp; offers, concrete help you need from or can give to the community​Afterwards -- Want to continue the conversation? Break bread together at one of the great local restaurants in the area.------------------<h2>​Rules</h2>​Come with an open mind.&nbsp;Contribute to the conversation.Respect each other.&nbsp;Respect time rules.&nbsp;No pitches or selling services. We pick different locations around the city so participants also get a chance to explore different businesses around the city. We encourage you to please patron the business and try what they have to offer!------------------<h2>​About Cohort</h2>​“Ambitious people are rare… when you take people like this and put them together with other ambitious people, they bloom like dying plants given water.” -Paul Graham We believe that ambitious people thrive with other ambitious people who fuel their passions, ideas, and journey and build hard things together. We're a community of ambitious, passionate, and curious people—founders, creatives, builders, researchers, professionals, operators, thinkers, and more—who believe that when we're surrounded by like-minded people, our ambitions flourish. We provide each other with new ideas, learning opportunities, collaboration, and support that help turn bold ideas into reality. ​NYC is our campus. We hold regular events throughout the city that help us genuinely connect, explore, and build. We see the city's diversity of backgrounds, ideas, cultures, and industries as fuel for the next generation of great startups, research, art, and more. ------------------​Questions?&nbsp;DM the host or reply to your invite.

Cohort Forum Night - Anti Networking - Ideas with Founders, Creatives, Builders, Researchers, and other Thinkers.

To be shared on approval

Join the watercolor workshop for a relaxing holiday season with Sunday Studio 

🎨 Watercolor Painting Workshop — Create, Relax, and Bring Art Home

📍 Midtown Manhattan

Room 2-4

134 W 29th St floor 2, New York, NY 10001, USA

🗓 Sunday, December 14, 2025

🕑 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Dive into a vibrant afternoon of creativity and relaxation at our Watercolor Painting Workshop in Midtown Manhattan! Whether you're picking up a brush for the first time or you’re a seasoned painter, we promise a delightful escape filled with color and inspiration.

Join us as professional artists guide you through the mesmerizing world of watercolors. You’ll master techniques like blending, layering, and creating dreamy textures. All materials are provided, and you’ll even take home your own watercolor tool set to continue your artistic journey. It's the perfect way to unwind, embrace your creative side, and leave with your own masterpiece. Grab your spot today—space is limited!

Pratt

Pratt Institute

Interior Designer

Join the watercolor workshop for a relaxing holiday season with Sunday Studio&nbsp;<div> </div><div>🎨 Watercolor Painting Workshop — Create, Relax, and Bring Art Home</div><div> </div><div>📍 Midtown Manhattan</div><div> </div><div>Room 2-4</div><div> </div><div>134 W 29th St floor 2, New York, NY 10001, USA</div><div> </div><div>🗓 Sunday, December 14, 2025</div><div> </div><div>🕑 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM</div><div> </div><div>Dive into a vibrant afternoon of creativity and relaxation at our Watercolor Painting Workshop in Midtown Manhattan! Whether you're picking up a brush for the first time or you’re a seasoned painter, we promise a delightful escape filled with color and inspiration.</div><div> </div><div>Join us as professional artists guide you through the mesmerizing world of watercolors. You’ll master techniques like blending, layering, and creating dreamy textures. All materials are provided, and you’ll even take home your own watercolor tool set to continue your artistic journey. It's the perfect way to unwind, embrace your creative side, and leave with your own masterpiece. Grab your spot today—space is limited!</div>

Watercolor for Holiday

Cre8ive NYC - Multipurpose Office/Studio/Rehearsal Spaces

Join us on Thursday, 12/11 at 6pm for the December Kubernetes NYC meetup 👋 

Our guest speaker is Mofi Rahman, Senior Developer Relations Engineer at Google and part of the Kubernetes 1.29 and 1.28 Release Team. Bring your questions :)

Schedule:

6:00pm - door opens
6:30pm - intros (please arrive by this time!)
6:40pm - speaker programming
7:20pm - networking 
8:00pm - event ends

We will have food and drinks during this event. Please arrive no later than 6:30pm so we can get started promptly. Invites are non-transferable.

--

About: Plural is a platform for managing the entire software development lifecycle for Kubernetes. Learn more at https://www.plural.sh/

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

Join us on Thursday, 12/11 at 6pm for the December Kubernetes NYC meetup 👋&nbsp;<div> </div><div>Our guest speaker is Mofi Rahman, Senior Developer Relations Engineer at Google and part of the Kubernetes 1.29 and 1.28 Release Team. Bring your questions :)</div><div> </div><div>Schedule: </div><div>6:00pm - door opens</div><div>6:30pm - intros (please arrive by this time!)</div><div>6:40pm - speaker programming</div><div>7:20pm - networking&nbsp;</div><div>8:00pm - event ends</div><div> </div><div>We will have food and drinks during this event. Please arrive no later than 6:30pm so we can get started promptly. Invites are non-transferable.</div><div> </div><div>--</div><div> </div><div>About: Plural is a platform for managing the entire software development lifecycle for Kubernetes. Learn more at https://www.plural.sh/</div>

Kubernetes NYC December Meetup by Plural, with guest speaker Mofi Rahman (Google)

Invite & approval only: Founders and VCs with $500k-$10M+ in revenue or funding 

Make meaningful connections with other like-minded founders and VCs over a complimentary full, hearty breakfast. Expect a morning filled with new learnings, curated connections, and impactful conversations that will leave you inspired (and well-fed!). 

We will have a short panel session and Q&A with our speakers. You’ll have the chance to ask them questions and gain valuable insights.

We’ll have a private room reserved exclusively for this event, where discussions will be facilitated at your table over breakfast. There will also be ample time to network and meet other Founders and VCs in attendance. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and connect with peers in an intimate, engaging environment!

Assistant General Manager

Head of Startup and VC Partnerships

Baruch College

Strategic Programs Lead

Invite &amp; approval only: Founders and VCs with $500k-$10M+ in revenue or funding&nbsp; Make meaningful connections with other like-minded founders and VCs over a complimentary full, hearty breakfast. Expect a morning filled with new learnings, curated connections, and impactful conversations that will leave you inspired (and well-fed!).&nbsp; We will have a short panel session and Q&amp;A with our speakers. You’ll have the chance to ask them questions and gain valuable insights. We’ll have a private room reserved exclusively for this event, where discussions will be facilitated at your table over breakfast. There will also be ample time to network and meet other Founders and VCs in attendance. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and connect with peers in an intimate, engaging environment!

Intel Capital focuses on equity investments in technology startups across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, data centers, cloud computing, 5G, next-generation computing, and semiconductor manufacturing.

With a mission to support Intel’s ecosystem, Intel Capital has invested over $20 billion globally and has a presence in North America, Western Europe, Israel, and Asia Pacific. The firm actively invests in AI and has backed notable companies such as SambaNova Systems and AI21 Labs. Intel Capital not only provides capital but also offers extensive support through programs like the Intel Capital Embedded Expert Program, which connects startups with Intel experts to assist in product development and scaling. 

Partner

Lyzr is an enterprise agent framework that helps businesses build reliable and self-learning AI agents that can work in a deterministic way. Enterprises & SMBs can build custom AI agents or adopt prebuilt AI agents like Jazon - The AI SDR (https://www.lyzr.ai/jazon/) and Skott - The AI Marketer (https://www.lyzr.ai/skott/) to get started with their AI agent adoption.

Founder and CEO

December Private Founders Breakfast in NYC feat. Partner at Intel Capital ($5B AUM) and Founder & CEO of Lyzr.ai (Series A)

Running ecommerce now involves more moving parts than ever. Stacks shift, tools update, and options multiply. The winners are not chasing every feature. They are simplifying, automating, and measuring what matters. AI is no longer optional—it’s the multiplier for speed, accuracy, and smarter decision-making. This session focuses on practical ways to increase speed, improve accuracy, and lower operating cost so you spend less time on busywork and more time on growth.
 
🎯 Why You Should Attend
Hear first hand from operators who run large scale ecommerce programs and know what works today
See the latest AI-driven tools and practices that actually improve speed, accuracy, and margin
Learn step by step actions—including AI workflows—you can apply next week and next month
Meet founders who are scaling without breaking things and learn how they structure teams and workflows
Build connections with investors and ecosystem partners for collaboration beyond the room
 
🙋 Who You’ll Meet
Ecommerce founders and operators actively optimizing fulfillment, service, and analytics with AI
Investors and advisors focused on commerce, logistics, and automation
Ecosystem enablers including agencies, 3PLs, workflow and AI platform partners, data and finance tools
 
🎤 Who’s on the Panel
Brian O'Connor
 - CEO of Aevisor Solutions
Brian O’Connor is the founder of Aevisor Solutions, where he serves as a fractional COO to $1–30M DTC and omnichannel brands. A former operations leader at Uncommon Goods and World of Books, Brian helps founders fix what’s broken, scale what works, and prepare for what’s next. His work focuses on turning operations into a self-funding growth engine. Freeing up cash, improving margins, and building investor-ready systems.

Mat Kaliski
 - Principal at Acronym Venture Capital
Mat is a Principal at Acronym Venture Capital and focuses on sourcing and evaluating early stage companies, conducts diligence on potential investments and supports Acronym's portfolio companies and fund operations. Prior to joining Acronym, Mat was a Principal at Rubicon Venture Capital and an Investment Banking Analyst in the TMT Group at Cowen, a growth-focused investment bank where he worked on financings and mergers and acquisitions for technology focused companies.
 
Frank Pacheco
 - Amazon Guru at Nearly Natural
Frank has been an Amazon insider since Day One. Led go-to-market strategy at Kindle, launched 20+ brands for Amazon Accelerator. Drove strategy for Stanley Black & Decker, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein. Built brands with Steve Harvey and Dr. Kellyann. Now scaling Nearly Natural. Harvard, Columbia. He doesn't follow best practices—he writes them. 

Moderator:
Manish Chowdhary
 - Founder & CEO of Cahoot
Manish Chowdhary is the Founder & CEO of Cahoot, the most comprehensive post-purchase logistics platform for ecommerce brands. We help merchants scale profitably with a bundled suite of services that includes:
- Fast, cost-effective fulfillment (1-day and 2-day nationwide coverage)
- AI-powered multi-warehouse shipping software that selects the cheapest label automatically
- An industry-first peer-to-peer returns solution that eliminates return shipping and restocking costs

With over 100 warehouses and advanced shipping automation, we help brands maintain control, boost speed, and cut logistics costs without the overhead of traditional 3PLs. I’m passionate about helping ecommerce businesses grow smarter. If you’re looking to improve your margins, delight customers, and future-proof your logistics, let’s connect.

My work has been recognized with multiple industry accolades, most recently winning the SaaStock USA Global Pitch Competition 2024. I’m passionate about using technology and collaboration to push the boundaries of ecommerce and logistics and create new opportunities for merchants worldwide.
 
💬 What We’ll Talk About
The highest leverage improvements to make in the next seven and thirty days
Common mistakes teams make while scaling and how to avoid them
How to choose the right tool for the job and avoid tool sprawl
Ways to adapt to constant product updates without endless retraining
Practical AI workflows and prompts for order management, support, merchandising, and reporting
How to measure the impact of improvements using a simple scorecard for speed, accuracy, and cost
Hiring and vendor decisions that keep operations lean and resilient

🤝 Partner Brand
Organizely
 helps Shopify sellers save time and money with AI-powered inventory forecasting, automated purchase orders, barcode tracking, and powerful warehouse management tools.
Exclusive Offer To Ugly Talk Members 
Use coupon code 
UGLYTALK
 for 50% off any plan for 6 months!
[Claim Yours Here]

🤝 Co-hosted With
Cahoot
 is not just another post-purchase platform—we’re a movement. One built on peer-to-peer power, AI precision, and profit-first thinking. You don’t need more tools. You need control.
 
🤝 Supported By
GREY Journal
 – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
 
🤝 Venue Partner
Nomadworks
 
- We are dedicated to providing innovative solutions that empower our members and drive success. Nomadworks is a hub for innovation, incubating companies new and tenured across New York City. Our commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and flexibility sets us apart in the industry.

Exclusive Offer To Ugly Talk Members 
Get up to 2 months free for Nomadworks!
[
Claim Yours Here
]

⭐ 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
 
🎥 Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy:
 




discover GREY

Business

Director

Running ecommerce now involves more moving parts than ever. Stacks shift, tools update, and options multiply. The winners are not chasing every feature. They are simplifying, automating, and measuring what matters. AI is no longer optional—it’s the multiplier for speed, accuracy, and smarter decision-making. This session focuses on practical ways to increase speed, improve accuracy, and lower operating cost so you spend less time on busywork and more time on growth.&nbsp;<h4>🎯 Why You Should Attend</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Hear first hand from operators who run large scale ecommerce programs and know what works today</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">See the latest AI-driven tools and practices that actually improve speed, accuracy, and margin</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Learn step by step actions—including AI workflows—you can apply next week and next month</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Meet founders who are scaling without breaking things and learn how they structure teams and workflows</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Build connections with investors and ecosystem partners for collaboration beyond the room</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🙋&nbsp;Who You’ll Meet</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Ecommerce founders and operators actively optimizing fulfillment, service, and analytics with AI</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Investors and advisors focused on commerce, logistics, and automation</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Ecosystem enablers including agencies, 3PLs, workflow and AI platform partners, data and finance tools</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🎤&nbsp;Who’s on the Panel</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sabir-76-1-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir (76)" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandtc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Brian O'Connor</a>&nbsp;- CEO of Aevisor SolutionsBrian O’Connor is the founder of Aevisor Solutions, where he serves as a fractional COO to $1–30M DTC and omnichannel brands. A former operations leader at Uncommon Goods and World of Books, Brian helps founders fix what’s broken, scale what works, and prepare for what’s next. His work focuses on turning operations into a self-funding growth engine. Freeing up cash, improving margins, and building investor-ready systems. <img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sabir-77-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir (77)" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matkaliski/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">Mat Kaliski</a>&nbsp;- Principal at Acronym Venture CapitalMat is a Principal at Acronym Venture Capital and focuses on sourcing and evaluating early stage companies, conducts diligence on potential investments and supports Acronym's portfolio companies and fund operations. Prior to joining Acronym, Mat was a Principal at Rubicon Venture Capital and an Investment Banking Analyst in the TMT Group at Cowen, a growth-focused investment bank where he worked on financings and mergers and acquisitions for technology focused companies.&nbsp;<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sabir-79-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir (79)" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fpacheco/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">Frank Pacheco</a>&nbsp;- Amazon Guru at Nearly NaturalFrank has been an Amazon insider since Day One. Led go-to-market strategy at Kindle, launched 20+ brands for Amazon Accelerator. Drove strategy for Stanley Black &amp; Decker, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein. Built brands with Steve Harvey and Dr. Kellyann. Now scaling Nearly Natural. Harvard, Columbia. He doesn't follow best practices—he writes them.&nbsp; Moderator:<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Copy-of-Copy-of-Dominic-4-300x300.jpg" alt="Copy of copy of dominic (4)" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/manish-chowdhary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Manish Chowdhary</a>&nbsp;- Founder &amp; CEO of CahootManish Chowdhary is the Founder &amp; CEO of Cahoot, the most comprehensive post-purchase logistics platform for ecommerce brands. We help merchants scale profitably with a bundled suite of services that includes:- Fast, cost-effective fulfillment (1-day and 2-day nationwide coverage)- AI-powered multi-warehouse shipping software that selects the cheapest label automatically- An industry-first peer-to-peer returns solution that eliminates return shipping and restocking costs With over 100 warehouses and advanced shipping automation, we help brands maintain control, boost speed, and cut logistics costs without the overhead of traditional 3PLs. I’m passionate about helping ecommerce businesses grow smarter. If you’re looking to improve your margins, delight customers, and future-proof your logistics, let’s connect. My work has been recognized with multiple industry accolades, most recently winning the SaaStock USA Global Pitch Competition 2024. I’m passionate about using technology and collaboration to push the boundaries of ecommerce and logistics and create new opportunities for merchants worldwide.&nbsp;<h4>💬&nbsp;What We’ll Talk About</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">The highest leverage improvements to make in the next seven and thirty days</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Common mistakes teams make while scaling and how to avoid them</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">How to choose the right tool for the job and avoid tool sprawl</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Ways to adapt to constant product updates without endless retraining</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Practical AI workflows and prompts for order management, support, merchandising, and reporting</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">How to measure the impact of improvements using a simple scorecard for speed, accuracy, and cost</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Hiring and vendor decisions that keep operations lean and resilient</li></ul> <h4>🤝 Partner Brand</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/light-mode-organizely-logo-300x76.png" alt="Light mode organizely logo" height="76" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://organizely.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">Organizely</a>&nbsp;helps Shopify sellers save time and money with AI-powered inventory forecasting, automated purchase orders, barcode tracking, and powerful warehouse management tools.Exclusive Offer To Ugly Talk Members&nbsp;<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Use coupon code&nbsp;UGLYTALK&nbsp;for 50% off any plan for 6 months!</li></ul><a href="https://uglytalk.com/perks/organizely/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[Claim Yours Here]</a> <h4>🤝 Co-hosted With</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/bfeb23e3-55c6-4611-ac96-7d1d22417a4d-0-2company_logo-Cahoot-Logo-Tagline-980-300x106.png" alt="Bfeb23e3 55c6 4611 ac96 7d1d22417a4d 0 2company logo cahoot logo tagline 980" height="106" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.cahoot.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Cahoot</a>&nbsp;is not just another post-purchase platform—we’re a movement. One built on peer-to-peer power, AI precision, and profit-first thinking. You don’t need more tools. You need control.&nbsp;<h4>🤝 Supported By</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GREY-Journal-Logo-apple-news-300x90.png" alt="Grey journal logo apple news" height="90" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://greyjournal.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">GREY Journal</a>&nbsp;– Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).&nbsp;<h4>🤝 Venue Partner</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/unnamed-1-300x40.jpg" alt="Unnamed (1)" height="40" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://nomadworks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Nomadworks</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;We are dedicated to providing innovative solutions that empower our members and drive success. Nomadworks is a hub for innovation, incubating companies new and tenured across New York City. Our commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and flexibility sets us apart in the industry. Exclusive Offer To Ugly Talk Members&nbsp;<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Get up to 2 months free for Nomadworks!</li></ul>[<a href="https://uglytalk.com/perks/nomadworks/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Claim Yours Here</a>] <h4>⭐ About Ugly Talk:</h4>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:&nbsp;<a href="http://uglytalk.com/?__hstc=149698537.02d3a3067355aeed59c3216c338d3fd4.1759237887972.1761055113913.1761062249823.38&amp;__hssc=149698537.9.1761062249823&amp;__hsfp=2013047872" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">UglyTalk.com</a>&nbsp;<h4>🎥 Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy:</h4><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7370925768924663808?compact=1" height="399" width="504"></iframe>&nbsp;<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7360758363997016064?compact=1"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7373430354923167744?compact=1"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/moMfGsBPjpE" height="557" width="990"></iframe>

UGLY TALK: LEVERAGING AI TO OPTIMIZE ECOMMERCE LOGISTICS AND PROFITS

Invite & approval only: 
Founders who have 
$10M–100M+ in revenue or funding
. 

A complimentary exquisite dinner will be provided at an upscale private dining room. It will be a great time – expect to come away with new learnings, impactful connections, inspiring conversations with like-minded founders and funders, and a full stomach!

This dinner will feature 
Elliot Robinson, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP)
, 
who will be hosting a short AMA session. BVP 
helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer’s global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has more than $18 billion of assets under management. 

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!

Invite &amp; approval only:&nbsp;Founders who have&nbsp;$10M–100M+ in revenue or funding.&nbsp; A complimentary exquisite dinner will be provided at an upscale private dining room. It will be a great time – expect to come away with new learnings, impactful connections, inspiring conversations with like-minded founders and funders, and a full stomach! This dinner will feature&nbsp;Elliot Robinson, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP),&nbsp;who will be hosting a short AMA session. BVP&nbsp;helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer’s global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has more than $18 billion of assets under management.&nbsp; 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!

Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer’s global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has more than $18 billion of assets under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, London, Boston, and Bangalore. Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemer’s storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio).

December Private Founders Dinner in NYC feat. Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners ($18B+ AUM)

GitHub Social Club is a small hangout for devs, builders, and tinkerers. No agenda, no slides, no “networking session.” Just a room full of people who like shipping things, breaking things, and talking about both.

Drop in (space permitting) or grab a slot if you want some guaranteed focus time. We’ll have free coffee and cookies from our friends at Bibliotheque and limited-run holiday GitHub swag, a few copies of 
Frictionless
 
signed by 
Nicole Forsgren
, and a few low-stakes games (the kind you can play one-handed while debating editor configs).

We'll also have some folks from our teams hanging out too—like GitHub Next, Copilot, the GitHub Fund, and the Startups team as well as Product and Eng leaders including:
Aaron Paskin
 - Engineering Leader - GitHub Copilot Coding Agent
Nhu Do
 - Product Leader - GitHub Copilot Auto and Agents
Rahul Zhade
 - 
Product Security Engineer - GitHub
 
Copilot
Terkel Gjervig
 - Staff Research Engineer - GitHub Next
Maya Ross
 - VP of Product - GitHub Developer Productivity
Kevin Crosby
 - Sr. Director - GitHub Fund
Morgan Ersery
 - Program Leader - GitHub Education
Garrett Wood
 - Program leader - GitHub for Startups

Whether for coding or conversation, come join us to sketch ideas on napkins, chat about a weird bug you solved, share your latest Copilot discovery, or just casually mingle.

See you there!

GitHub

Sr. Director GitHub Fund

GitHub Social Club is a small hangout for devs, builders, and tinkerers. No agenda, no slides, no “networking session.” Just a room full of people who like shipping things, breaking things, and talking about both. Drop in (space permitting) or grab a slot if you want some guaranteed focus time. We’ll have free coffee and cookies from our friends at Bibliotheque and limited-run holiday GitHub swag, a few copies of <a href="https://developerexperiencebook.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Frictionless</a> signed by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolefv/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nicole Forsgren</a>, and a few low-stakes games (the kind you can play one-handed while debating editor configs). We'll also have some folks from our teams hanging out too—like GitHub Next, Copilot, the GitHub Fund, and the Startups team as well as Product and Eng leaders including:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-paskin-442610141/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aaron Paskin</a> - Engineering Leader - GitHub Copilot Coding Agent</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nhudo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nhu Do</a> - Product Leader - GitHub Copilot Auto and Agents</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-zhade/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rahul Zhade</a> - Product Security Engineer - GitHub Copilot</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terkelg/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Terkel Gjervig</a> - Staff Research Engineer - GitHub Next</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayaross/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maya Ross</a> - VP of Product - GitHub Developer Productivity</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinanthonycrosby/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kevin Crosby</a> - Sr. Director - GitHub Fund</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-ersery/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Morgan Ersery</a> - Program Leader - GitHub Education</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-wood-49a94681/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Garrett Wood</a> - Program leader - GitHub for Startups</li></ul> Whether for coding or conversation, come join us to sketch ideas on napkins, chat about a weird bug you solved, share your latest Copilot discovery, or just casually mingle. See you there!

GitHub Social Club - NYC | SoHo

Hype is grounded in history. Whether you fear AI will replace you or believe it could radically empower you, this workshop is a rare combination of both the history of 70 years (!) of AI development and a hands-on application for how it can be used today to empower today's digital product builders.

This workshop combines theory and practice in a beginner-friendly primer to catch you up on all the AI topics you've heard about and are afraid to ask. 

By attending this workshop, you will walk away with:
A clear understanding of how AI evolved across 3 "AI summers" and 2 "AI winters", and how that history shows up in today's modern tools (machine learning, gen AI, LLMs, etc)
A practical, guided walkthrough of AI prototyping, with the tools, workflows, and resources to vibe-code your own app during and after the workshop
Forward-looking critical context for how AI impacts the future of work/cognitive development (aka brain rot)

Whether you are AI-curious, AI-skeptical, or are just AI-overwhelmed, this workshop will catch you up to the challenges, dangers, and rewards of building the future with AI and contextualize what all the hype is about.

Jenny Fan
 is a product builder and NYU adjunct professor with a background in information science. She has designed and shipped products at Ramp, Palantir, and multiple AI-native startups. Her academic work at Harvard focused on how the design of technical systems shape society, from social media to disinformation.

Prerequisites 
We highly recommend bringing: 
•⁠  ⁠A fully charged laptop
•⁠  ⁠Create an account with v0 (we will have credits for attendees too!)
﻿
•⁠ A simple project idea (optional)

Dinner, drinks, and workshop materials will be provided. 

6 - 6:30 pm
: Dinner and networking
6:30 - 8:45 pm:
 Workshop
8:45 - 9 pm:
 Workshop ending

Trampoline is a consulting company dedicated to providing personalized coaching services and upleveling the next generation of leaders. Trampoline works with both individuals and businesses to reach their full potential. At Trampoline, we help leaders Bounce Back. Lift Up. Thrive Forward.

UCLA

TPM / Investor / Coach

Google

Policy Lead

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)

jennyfan.com

Designer

Hype is grounded in history. Whether you fear AI will replace you or believe it could radically empower you, this workshop is a rare combination of both the history of 70 years (!) of AI development and a hands-on application for how it can be used today to empower today's digital product builders. This workshop combines theory and practice in a beginner-friendly primer to catch you up on all the AI topics you've heard about and are afraid to ask.&nbsp; By attending this workshop, you will walk away with:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">A clear understanding of how AI evolved across 3 "AI summers" and 2 "AI winters", and how that history shows up in today's modern tools (machine learning, gen AI, LLMs, etc)</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">A practical, guided walkthrough of AI prototyping, with the tools, workflows, and resources to vibe-code your own app during and after the workshop</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Forward-looking critical context for how AI impacts the future of work/cognitive development (aka brain rot)</li></ul> Whether you are AI-curious, AI-skeptical, or are just AI-overwhelmed, this workshop will catch you up to the challenges, dangers, and rewards of building the future with AI and contextualize what all the hype is about. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyjfan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jenny Fan</a> is a product builder and NYU adjunct professor with a background in information science. She has designed and shipped products at Ramp, Palantir, and multiple AI-native startups. Her academic work at Harvard focused on how the design of technical systems shape society, from social media to disinformation. Prerequisites&nbsp;We highly recommend bringing:&nbsp;•⁠&nbsp; ⁠A fully charged laptop•⁠&nbsp; ⁠Create an account with v0 (we will have credits for attendees too!)﻿•⁠&nbsp;A simple project idea (optional) Dinner, drinks, and workshop materials will be provided.&nbsp; 6 - 6:30 pm: Dinner and networking6:30 - 8:45 pm: Workshop8:45 - 9 pm: Workshop ending Trampoline is a consulting company dedicated to providing personalized coaching services and upleveling the next generation of leaders. Trampoline works with both individuals and businesses to reach their full potential. At Trampoline, we help leaders Bounce Back. Lift Up. Thrive Forward.

Intro to AI and Vibe Coding Tools Workshop with Jenny Fan

Most early-stage founders treat hiring as a fire drill, especially in the era of AI. They hire fast in order to fill gaps, only to face 
culture cracks and churn
 six months later.

Richard Hughes
 doesn't work that way. 🙅

As Operating Partner at 
Gutter Capital
, he rolls up his sleeves and recruits directly alongside his portfolio companies. As a result, Gutter portcos see more than 80% employee retention at 18 months (
significantly higher than the industry average
).

On 
December 9th
, we’re sitting down with Richard to 
dismantle the standard startup recruiting playbook
. We’ll cover his philosophy on hiring fewer people, hiring them better, and keeping them longer.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Cross-Functional Evaluation: 
How to assess and validate candidates in areas outside your own expertise (e.g., a non-technical founder hiring their first AI engineer).
The Closing Framework: 
A structured approach for decision-making during late-stage negotiations to secure top prospects without losing leverage.
Lo-Fi Talent Magnets: 
Scrappy, low-cost methods to position your company as a destination for top-tier talent, even before you have the brand recognition.
The "Curve of Excellence": 
How to structure an interview process that builds conviction over time rather than just checking functional boxes.

Special Focus: The Elbow Grease Accelerator.
 Richard is also spearheading 
Gutter's new AI accelerator, 
Elbow Grease
, which offers 
$300k in funding
 and runs locally in NYC.

If you are building in AI
 and looking for more than just cash, you need to be in the room to hear what they are looking for as they start recruiting for cohort #2.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Pre-seed/Seed founders
 building their founding teams.
Operators
 looking to transition into high-growth startup roles.
AI builders
 interested in the Elbow Grease AI accelerator program.

Tickets for this event include food and drinks
, as well as exclusive access to this VC who will change the way you're building teams.

You'll also meet dozens of other high-performing entrepreneurs who are creating their next big thing. 
Seriously, it's some of the best founder networking in the city.

Getting a ticket guarantees admission.
 No waitlisting.

AGENDA
6:00 PM: Networking, Food & Drinks
7:00 PM: Fireside Chat with Richard Hughes
8:00 PM: Meet the Speaker

Most early-stage founders treat hiring as a fire drill, especially in the era of AI. They hire fast in order to fill gaps, only to face&nbsp;culture cracks and churn&nbsp;six months later. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardphughes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(118, 97, 210);">Richard Hughes</a>&nbsp;doesn't work that way. 🙅 As Operating Partner at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gutter.cc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(118, 97, 210);">Gutter Capital</a>, he rolls up his sleeves and recruits directly alongside his portfolio companies. As a result, Gutter portcos see more than 80% employee retention at 18 months (significantly higher than the industry average). On&nbsp;December 9th, we’re sitting down with Richard to&nbsp;dismantle the standard startup recruiting playbook. We’ll cover his philosophy on hiring fewer people, hiring them better, and keeping them longer. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Cross-Functional Evaluation:&nbsp;How to assess and validate candidates in areas outside your own expertise (e.g., a non-technical founder hiring their first AI engineer).</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">The Closing Framework:&nbsp;A structured approach for decision-making during late-stage negotiations to secure top prospects without losing leverage.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Lo-Fi Talent Magnets:&nbsp;Scrappy, low-cost methods to position your company as a destination for top-tier talent, even before you have the brand recognition.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">The "Curve of Excellence":&nbsp;How to structure an interview process that builds conviction over time rather than just checking functional boxes.</li></ul> Special Focus: The Elbow Grease Accelerator.&nbsp;Richard is also spearheading Gutter's new AI accelerator,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elbowgrease.gutter.cc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(118, 97, 210);">Elbow Grease</a>, which offers&nbsp;$300k in funding&nbsp;and runs locally in NYC. If you are building in AI&nbsp;and looking for more than just cash, you need to be in the room to hear what they are looking for as they start recruiting for cohort #2. WHO SHOULD ATTEND<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Pre-seed/Seed founders&nbsp;building their founding teams.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Operators&nbsp;looking to transition into high-growth startup roles.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">AI builders&nbsp;interested in the Elbow Grease AI accelerator program.</li></ul> Tickets for this event include food and drinks, as well as exclusive access to this VC who will change the way you're building teams. You'll also meet dozens of other high-performing entrepreneurs who are creating their next big thing.&nbsp;Seriously, it's some of the best founder networking in the city. Getting a ticket guarantees admission.&nbsp;No waitlisting. AGENDA<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">6:00 PM: Networking, Food &amp; Drinks</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">7:00 PM: Fireside Chat with Richard Hughes</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">8:00 PM: Meet the Speaker</li></ul>

NYC tech events, NYC startup events, communities, events, tech, networking

Events

Past Events