Join an intimate group of senior HR leaders for a private dinner featuring 
Jeff Joseph, President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
. Jeff 
successfully challenged the State Department’s worldwide
 visa ban 
and the
 DOL’s H-1B wage rule
, both of which had direct implications for how U.S. employers hire global talent.

Jeff will lead an interactive fireside chat and Q&A, followed by dinner and curated networking with fellow 
CHROs
, 
Chief People Officers
, 
HR Directors
, 
Heads of Talent
, and other senior HR leaders at high-growth companies.

Join us for an intimate, off-the-record conversation over an upscale private dinner in Manhattan with the leaders shaping the future of their workforce.


New York University

Supermomos

NYC Market Lead

Baruch College

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

Head of Startup and VC Partnerships

Join an intimate group of senior HR leaders for a private dinner featuring Jeff Joseph, President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Jeff successfully challenged the State Department’s worldwide visa ban and the DOL’s H-1B wage rule, both of which had direct implications for how U.S. employers hire global talent. Jeff will lead an interactive fireside chat and Q&amp;A, followed by dinner and curated networking with fellow CHROs, Chief People Officers, HR Directors, Heads of Talent, and other senior HR leaders at high-growth companies. Join us for an intimate, off-the-record conversation over an upscale private dinner in Manhattan with the leaders shaping the future of their workforce.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is a prominent nonpartisan, not-for-profit voluntary bar association in the United States, dedicated to immigration law. Founded on October 14, 1946, and headquartered in Washington, D.C., AILA unites over 18,000 attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and international legal practitioners who specialize in immigration and nationality law. The organization focuses on promoting justice, advancing immigration law, and supporting the professional development of its members.

President

General Admission

August Private HR Leaders Dinner

To be shared on approval

Tech Gather NYC's August meetup is for anyone and everyone in NYC Tech. This month we celebrate our three year anniversary (and nearly 9,900+ members)!

Join us for drinks and, as always, here’s what we’re all about:'

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

Tech Gather NYC's August meetup is for anyone and everyone in NYC Tech. This month we celebrate our three year anniversary (and nearly 9,900+ members)! Join us for drinks and, as always, here’s what we’re all about:' 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?

Tech Gather NYC August Meetup

The Irish American Pub

Join us on Tuesday, 8/25 at 6pm for a special collab between Plural and Elastic for our August Kubernetes meetup 👋

Our two speakers are Michael Guarino, CTO of Plural and Eric Mustin, Senior Customer Architect at Elastic.

Michael's topic is "Elasticsearch and Agentic Ops: A Perfect Match"

Session Abstract: This talk discusses the ways we've used Elasticsearch at Plural to implement e2e agentic SRE workflows.  Examples include using agents to manage your ES clusters themselves, to leveraging it as a low cost log storage engine for deep application root cause analysis, enabling you to reduce observability cost without sacrificing developer experience while maintaining realistic operational total cost of ownership.

Eric's topic is "Telemetry’s Long Way Home: A Kubernetes Odyssey with Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and Elastic"

Session Abstract: This talk explores how Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and Elastic can work together to give Kubernetes metrics, logs, and traces a reliable path home. We’ll look at practical collection architectures, Prometheus-native metrics, OpenTelemetry processing and routing, and how Elastic can bring the resulting signals together. We’ll also discuss resiliency, duplication, architectural tradeoffs, and how to avoid getting lost at sea in an increasingly complex observability ecosystem.

Schedule:
6:00pm - door opens
6:30pm - intros
6:40pm - speaker programming
7:30pm - networking 
8:00pm - event ends

We will have food and drinks during this event. Please arrive no later than 6:15pm so we can get started promptly. Invites are non-transferable.

--

About the host: Plural manages the entire software development lifecycle for Kubernetes and and delivers AI-native Kubernetes management at enterprise scale. Bring AI into day-2 operations, automate complex upgrades, and manage Kubernetes fleets across any cloud, data center, or edge all fully under your control. 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 Tuesday, 8/25 at 6pm for a special collab between Plural and Elastic for our August Kubernetes meetup 👋<div> </div><div>Our two speakers are Michael Guarino, CTO of Plural and Eric Mustin, Senior Customer Architect at Elastic.</div><div> </div><div>Michael's topic is "Elasticsearch and Agentic Ops: A Perfect Match"</div><div> </div><div>Session Abstract: This talk discusses the ways we've used Elasticsearch at Plural to implement e2e agentic SRE workflows. Examples include using agents to manage your ES clusters themselves, to leveraging it as a low cost log storage engine for deep application root cause analysis, enabling you to reduce observability cost without sacrificing developer experience while maintaining realistic operational total cost of ownership.</div><div> </div><div>Eric's topic is "Telemetry’s Long Way Home: A Kubernetes Odyssey with Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and Elastic"</div><div> </div><div>Session Abstract: This talk explores how Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, and Elastic can work together to give Kubernetes metrics, logs, and traces a reliable path home. We’ll look at practical collection architectures, Prometheus-native metrics, OpenTelemetry processing and routing, and how Elastic can bring the resulting signals together. We’ll also discuss resiliency, duplication, architectural tradeoffs, and how to avoid getting lost at sea in an increasingly complex observability ecosystem.</div><div> </div><div>Schedule:</div><div>6:00pm - door opens</div><div>6:30pm - intros</div><div>6:40pm - speaker programming</div><div>7:30pm - 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 6:15pm so we can get started promptly. Invites are non-transferable.</div><div> </div><div>--</div><div> </div><div>About the host: Plural manages the entire software development lifecycle for Kubernetes and and delivers AI-native Kubernetes management at enterprise scale. Bring AI into day-2 operations, automate complex upgrades, and manage Kubernetes fleets across any cloud, data center, or edge all fully under your control. Learn more at https://www.plural.sh/</div>

Plural x Elastic x Kubernetes August Meetup, with speakers Michael Guarino and Eric Mustin

The founder journey can get lonely, especially when you're carrying a million decisions by yourself.

If you're stuck on something, bring it.

We’ll pair AI founders into small groups where everyone gets a turn in the hot seat: share one challenge you’re facing, give the group context, and use the room to brainstorm, pressure-test ideas, problem-solve, or simply talk through what’s been weighing on you.

You don’t need to come with a polished pitch or even a problem that needs “fixing.” Sometimes you just need other founders who can empathize.

Come with one thing on your mind. Leave with a fresh perspective, next steps, and a few people who know what you’re working through.

We’ll also have light check-ins and opportunities to meet again IRL, so the conversation doesn’t end when the event does.

American Express

AI Product Manager

The founder journey can get lonely, especially when you're carrying a million decisions by yourself.<div> </div><div>If you're stuck on something, bring it.</div><div> </div><div>We’ll pair AI founders into small groups where everyone gets a turn in the hot seat: share one challenge you’re facing, give the group context, and use the room to brainstorm, pressure-test ideas, problem-solve, or simply talk through what’s been weighing on you.</div><div> </div><div>You don’t need to come with a polished pitch or even a problem that needs “fixing.” Sometimes you just need other founders who can empathize.</div><div> </div><div>Come with one thing on your mind. Leave with a fresh perspective, next steps, and a few people who know what you’re working through.</div><div> </div><div>We’ll also have light check-ins and opportunities to meet again IRL, so the conversation doesn’t end when the event does.</div>

NYC AI Founders Think Tank: Get Unstuck

Online

Join us as we close out the 
2026 NYC VC Internship Program
 with our 
Final Showcase
, bringing this year's intern cohort together with their VC host firms, program partners, and the wider ecosystem that made this program possible.

Over the summer, 
32 CUNY students
 were placed into paid internships across 
21 NYC-based venture capital firms
. At the showcase, our interns will present the work they took on inside their firms.

The event will open with a welcome and remarks from our program partners, including 
NYCEDC and
 
CUNY IAR
, followed by a celebration of the students, VC host firms, and city stakeholders behind this initiative.

The showcase will then feature a 
speaker panel
 with 
Sunil Rao, COO, CFO & Partner at Plum Alley Ventures
,  
Rob Rush, Investor at Rebalance Capital and Josef Najm Principal Investor at Thomson Reuters Ventures
. They will share how they broke into venture, what they look for in emerging talent, and where they see the industry heading.

There will be time to connect, celebrate, and hear directly from the cohort about their summer. Lunch will be provided.

About the 
NYC VC Internship Program
: The NYC VC Internship Program connects NYC-based venture capital firms with pre-screened and pre-trained students from CUNY and other NYC schools for 10-week work experiences. The 2026 program will place approximately 30 students in internships across VC host firms. Our mission is to create a more inclusive and thriving startup and venture capital ecosystem in NYC, by empowering the next generation of diverse young talent. Check out our Forbes piece
 
here

*Invite and approval only

Join us as we close out the 2026 NYC VC Internship Program with our Final Showcase, bringing this year's intern cohort together with their VC host firms, program partners, and the wider ecosystem that made this program possible. Over the summer, 32 CUNY students were placed into paid internships across 21 NYC-based venture capital firms. At the showcase, our interns will present the work they took on inside their firms. The event will open with a welcome and remarks from our program partners, including NYCEDC and&nbsp;CUNY IAR, followed by a celebration of the students, VC host firms, and city stakeholders behind this initiative. The showcase will then feature a speaker panel with Sunil Rao, COO, CFO &amp; Partner at Plum Alley Ventures, Rob Rush, Investor at Rebalance Capital and Josef Najm Principal Investor at Thomson Reuters Ventures. They will share how they broke into venture, what they look for in emerging talent, and where they see the industry heading. There will be time to connect, celebrate, and hear directly from the cohort about their summer. Lunch will be provided. About the <a href="https://edc.nyc/program/nyc-vc-internship-program" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);">NYC VC Internship Program</a>: The NYC VC Internship Program connects NYC-based venture capital firms with pre-screened and pre-trained students from CUNY and other NYC schools for 10-week work experiences. The 2026 program will place approximately 30 students in internships across VC host firms. Our mission is to create a more inclusive and thriving startup and venture capital ecosystem in NYC, by empowering the next generation of diverse young talent. Check out our Forbes piece <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenkaufman/2025/04/01/american-cities-can-help-propel-the-us-tech-industry-forward/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);">here</a> *Invite and approval only

Plum Alley is a venture firm investing in early stage, high growth technology and healthcare companies with at least one woman founder from the STEM fields. Plum Alley invests in advanced technologies and medical breakthroughs disrupting huge markets and driving exponential value for people, the planet, markets and the economy. The firm invests both via the Plum Alley Venture Fund I LP as well as through Plum Alley Syndicates.


Partner, COO & CFO

Rebalance Capital is a New York based venture capital firm founded in 2020, investing at Series A and B in FinTech and WorkforceTech companies. The firm backs founders reinventing how 80 million low and middle income households earn, save, and build wealth, a market it sizes at roughly $4 trillion and one it argues has been overlooked by traditional venture. Its focus sits on B2B and B2B2C businesses in financial services and human resources, often in regulated and complex markets where deep operating knowledge matters. Rebalance takes a high conviction approach, working closely with founders on corporate finance, human capital, and impact rather than writing a check and stepping back. The team pairs venture experience with careers built inside financial services and workforce development, and it is anchored in New York, where it convenes founders, investors, and public sector leaders around the city's innovation economy.

Investor

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

NYC Venture Capital Internship Program: Closing Showcase

Five hours. You leave with a live app and a plan to get real users.
​This is not a lecture and it is not a demo day. It is a working Sunday. You come in with an idea, or you pick one up in the first thirty minutes. You leave with something running in production, a database standing up behind it, and a go-to-market plan you built yourself.

​How the day runs
​Hour 1, strategy. Scope one thing worth shipping and pressure-test it before you write a line of code.
​Hour 2, stand up your prorotype. Everyone has a design prototype made by the end of this block.
​Hours 3 and 4, vibe code. Build it, with Alisha working alongside you.
​Hour 5, ship it. Launch to production, get your first users, and walk out with a draft GTM outline.
​
Who it's for
​Designed for all baddies - women, non-binary and male allies. Just bring your inner baddie in full force. If that's you and you want to ship, come.
​Already in tech or brand new to it, technical or not. If you have never launched anything, you are exactly who this is built for. If you ship for a living, you will still leave with something new running.
​
What you leave with
​A live app in production
​A user testing and go-to-market plan
​Feedback from your peers and from me
​A follow-up session after the event so you keep going
​
Bring
​A laptop, a charger, and one idea you would be slightly embarrassed to say out loud. Food and drinks are covered.
​
Joining online
​This one runs hybrid. Remote builders get the same scaffold, the same checkpoints, and live help in the channel. The join link goes out the morning of.
​
Tickets are just $30 which covers the day, instruction, lunch + beverages thanks to our sponsors Trampoline & Singapore Global Network (SGN).

​
About Alisha:
Alisha Outridge is founder and lead instructor of 
AIFounderPlaybook.com
 and runs Byte&Chord, a venture studio building AI products, companies, and the teams behind them. A serial entrepreneur with two exits (FlyBy, acquired by Apple with tech in ARKit; KickApps, acquired by Brightspot), she's been CPO at Reuters TV and CTO+CPO at TuneCore, with senior product innovation roles at Meta and iHeartRadio and co-invented AI/ML patents including one still active at Meta. Today she packages that 15+ year operator experience and parallel academic career as a Professor (Brown University + Hunter College CUNY) into hands-on AI product and systems-thinking workshops, and runs hackathon-style labs across the country. More at 
http://alishaoutridge.com

​Brought to you by:
​Trampoline is dedicated to 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

Manager

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Google

Global Head, Workspace AI Safety Policy, Google

You are the compassionate listener who holds space for everyone’s secrets and offers wisdom that runs deep

The Therapist/Confidante

Columbia University

Human Ventures

Product Lead (VC)

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)

Five hours. You leave with a live app and a plan to get real users.​This is not a lecture and it is not a demo day. It is a working Sunday. You come in with an idea, or you pick one up in the first thirty minutes. You leave with something running in production, a database standing up behind it, and a go-to-market plan you built yourself. ​How the day runs<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Hour 1, strategy. Scope one thing worth shipping and pressure-test it before you write a line of code.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Hour 2, stand up your prorotype. Everyone has a design prototype made by the end of this block.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Hours 3 and 4, vibe code. Build it, with Alisha working alongside you.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Hour 5, ship it. Launch to production, get your first users, and walk out with a draft GTM outline.</li></ul>​Who it's for​Designed for all baddies - women, non-binary and male allies. Just bring your inner baddie in full force. If that's you and you want to ship, come.​Already in tech or brand new to it, technical or not. If you have never launched anything, you are exactly who this is built for. If you ship for a living, you will still leave with something new running.​What you leave with<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​A live app in production</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​A user testing and go-to-market plan</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Feedback from your peers and from me</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​A follow-up session after the event so you keep going</li></ul>​Bring​A laptop, a charger, and one idea you would be slightly embarrassed to say out loud. Food and drinks are covered.​Joining online​This one runs hybrid. Remote builders get the same scaffold, the same checkpoints, and live help in the channel. The join link goes out the morning of.​Tickets are just $30 which covers the day, instruction, lunch + beverages thanks to our sponsors Trampoline &amp; Singapore Global Network (SGN). ​About Alisha:Alisha Outridge is founder and lead instructor of <a href="https://aifounderplaybook.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(129, 113, 129);">AIFounderPlaybook.com</a> and runs Byte&amp;Chord, a venture studio building AI products, companies, and the teams behind them. A serial entrepreneur with two exits (FlyBy, acquired by Apple with tech in ARKit; KickApps, acquired by Brightspot), she's been CPO at Reuters TV and CTO+CPO at TuneCore, with senior product innovation roles at Meta and iHeartRadio and co-invented AI/ML patents including one still active at Meta. Today she packages that 15+ year operator experience and parallel academic career as a Professor (Brown University + Hunter College CUNY) into hands-on AI product and systems-thinking workshops, and runs hackathon-style labs across the country. More at <a href="http://alishaoutridge.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(129, 113, 129);">http://alishaoutridge.com</a> ​Brought to you by:​Trampoline is dedicated to 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.

Ship Like a Baddie Hackathon: Vibe Code a Startup to Ship to Market

Cre8ive NYC - Multipurpose Office/Studio/Rehearsal Spaces

​Returns are not “ops.”
​Returns are the invoice for every decision you made upstream. Your fit. Your quality. Your promises. Your marketing. Your policy. The new game is not “free returns” vs “paid returns.” It is a margin defense plan that does not spook your best customers. And does not invite the worst ones. You can tighten the screws. But customers keep score. They punish confusion faster than they punish fees.
​This panel is about the line. Where protecting margin stops being smart and starts costing you trust.
​🎯 Why You Should Attend
​When charging a fee works. And when it tanks conversion.
​How to push exchanges without making customers feel trapped.
​What “VIP policy” actually means in practice.
​How to fight abuse without accusing your best customers.
​What to say when you change the rules. And how not to say it.
​Where final sale is a weapon. And where it becomes a PR problem.
​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room
​DTC and ecommerce founders
​Heads of CX, Ops, and Product
​Growth teams who know returns are a conversion lever
​People cleaning up the mess after “free returns” became a default
​🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage
​
Jay Harris 
- CEO
 of 
Komar Distribution Services
​As CEO of Komar Distribution Services, Jay Harris has spent more than 25 years helping brands balance margin protection with customer loyalty. At KDS, returns are treated as the outcome of upstream decisions and addressed through clean data, integrated systems, and true strategic partnership rather than transactional logistics. I have guided our team to not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations through innovative solutions that grow companies from millions to billions. These include amazing supply chain management tools, integrated drayage, actionable inventory demand management, and proactive compliance management. At KDS, we harness collaborative synergy to achieve results that exceed the sum of our efforts, thus driving sustainable growth and “pencils never down” operational excellence.
​

​
Gabrielle Kerins 
- Marketing Director
 at 
Kulfi
​Gabrielle Kerins is a beauty marketing leader and author, most recently spending three years scaling NYC-based cosmetics brand Kulfi. Fluent in both performance and brand marketing, she operates with the conviction that every touchpoint is an opportunity to engage with community and build equity.​


​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 Do Not Sugarcoat
​Return fees. Flat vs dynamic. When it works.
​Exchanges over refunds. How to nudge without coercion.
​Fraud and abuse. Red flags. Hard rules. Soft rules.
​VIP vs high-risk policies. Segmentation without brand damage.
​Return windows. Shorter windows, smarter windows, or both.
​Final sale strategy. What it does to trust and repeat purchase.
​Store credit incentives. The difference between a win and a scam.
​CX scripts. The exact language that lowers heat instead of raising it.
​
​Who's Backing This
​
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.

​
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
]

​
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

​Returns are not “ops.”​Returns are the invoice for every decision you made upstream. Your fit. Your quality. Your promises. Your marketing. Your policy. The new game is not “free returns” vs “paid returns.” It is a margin defense plan that does not spook your best customers. And does not invite the worst ones. You can tighten the screws. But customers keep score. They punish confusion faster than they punish fees.​This panel is about the line. Where protecting margin stops being smart and starts costing you trust.<h4>​🎯 Why You Should Attend</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​When charging a fee works. And when it tanks conversion.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​How to push exchanges without making customers feel trapped.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​What “VIP policy” actually means in practice.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​How to fight abuse without accusing your best customers.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​What to say when you change the rules. And how not to say it.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Where final sale is a weapon. And where it becomes a PR problem.</li></ul><h4>​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​DTC and ecommerce founders</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Heads of CX, Ops, and Product</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Growth teams who know returns are a conversion lever</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​People cleaning up the mess after “free returns” became a default</li></ul><h4>​🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage</h4>​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-harris-102a103/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(106, 150, 175);">Jay Harris </a>- CEO of Komar Distribution Services​As CEO of Komar Distribution Services, Jay Harris has spent more than 25 years helping brands balance margin protection with customer loyalty. At KDS, returns are treated as the outcome of upstream decisions and addressed through clean data, integrated systems, and true strategic partnership rather than transactional logistics. I have guided our team to not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations through innovative solutions that grow companies from millions to billions. These include amazing supply chain management tools, integrated drayage, actionable inventory demand management, and proactive compliance management. At KDS, we harness collaborative synergy to achieve results that exceed the sum of our efforts, thus driving sustainable growth and “pencils never down” operational excellence.​ ​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellekerins/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(106, 150, 175);">Gabrielle Kerins </a>- Marketing Director at Kulfi​Gabrielle Kerins is a beauty marketing leader and author, most recently spending three years scaling NYC-based cosmetics brand Kulfi. Fluent in both performance and brand marketing, she operates with the conviction that every touchpoint is an opportunity to engage with community and build equity.​ ​Moderator:​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/manish-chowdhary/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(31, 150, 229);">Manish Chowdhary</a> - Founder &amp; CEO of Cahoot​Manish 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.​<h4>​💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Return fees. Flat vs dynamic. When it works.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Exchanges over refunds. How to nudge without coercion.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Fraud and abuse. Red flags. Hard rules. Soft rules.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​VIP vs high-risk policies. Segmentation without brand damage.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Return windows. Shorter windows, smarter windows, or both.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Final sale strategy. What it does to trust and repeat purchase.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Store credit incentives. The difference between a win and a scam.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​CX scripts. The exact language that lowers heat instead of raising it.</li></ul>​<h4>​Who's Backing This</h4>​<a href="https://www.cahoot.ai/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(31, 150, 229);">Cahoot</a> 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. ​<a href="https://nomadworks.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(78, 152, 198);">Nomadworks</a> - 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<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/?__hstc=149698537.02d3a3067355aeed59c3216c338d3fd4.1759237887972.1763060385875.1763395305374.75&amp;__hssc=149698537.2.1763395305374&amp;__hsfp=331823229&amp;utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(78, 152, 198);">Claim Yours Here</a>] ​<a href="https://greyjournal.net/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(31, 150, 229);">GREY Journal</a> – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).​<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: <a href="https://uglytalk.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(31, 150, 229);">UglyTalk.com</a>

CPG/DTC Founders

Ugly Talk: How Brands Are Rethinking Returns Without Killing Customer Trust

Most product teams have OKRs & goals to hit. Far fewer can still draw the line from a top-level business objective down to the specific projects and tasks they're shipping, and back up again to prove it moved the number. 
Why?

No roadmap. 
No headcount. 
6 months of work now ships in 3 days.

Nothing gets enough runway to prove value before the next thing ships, so all you or your boss sees is output with unclear impact & ROI. That is the gap between an IC doing performance theater & a leader who can show what the AI work is worth. It's also why AI has a bad rep for not delivering value.

Join Alisha Outridge (ex-Meta, current Chief Product & Technology Officer at Byte&Chord) online, or in person in NY with dinner+drinks included.

What we'll do
An interactive workshop to level up your product strategy and master the frameworks required to set defensible OKRs and goals using a Product Strategy Prioritization Map, one of the flagship frameworks from the AI Founder Playbook.

You'll take a real business goal, map it down through strategic pillars into the concrete projects underneath each one, and prove every initiative ladders back up to a measurable outcome. 

I'll also share my tools for setting up the evals and measurement systems that make your KPIs honest, especially for AI/ML products. 
You leave with an AI-enabled product roadmap you can defend.

You'll learn how to:
▪ Break a high-level objective into strategic pillars your team can act on day to day
▪ Define quantifiable, durable metrics that hold up against the uncertainty baked into AI products
▪ Set up evals so AI features get credit for what they actually moved
▪ Build a roll-up that aligns cross-functional teams around one shared picture, where every project traces to a core outcome
▪ Run the framework again on your own, turning vague ambition into a repeatable goal-setting rhythm

Who it's for
For both founders and employees, operators including corporate intrapreneurs, and product or engineering leaders who own a goal and have to prove progress against it.

This is for those who need a structured, tested way to turn business goals into durable strategy, with special attention to the metrics problem that makes AI products harder to plan than traditional software.

Come with: 
a product or feature in mind and your laptop. No concrete idea yet? No problem. We'll supply real-world sample cases so you can practice adapting the framework to any industry or challenge you hit next.

Agenda
6:30 – 7:00 · Networking over dinner and drinks
7:00 – 8:30 · Workshop
8:30 – 9:00 · Post-event networking

A virtual meeting link will be sent to registered and approved attendees prior to the event.

About Alisha:
Alisha Outridge is founder and lead instructor of AIFounderPlaybook.com and runs Byte&Chord, a venture studio building AI products, companies, and the teams behind them. A serial entrepreneur with two exits (FlyBy, acquired by Apple with tech in ARKit; KickApps, acquired by Brightspot), she's been CPO at Reuters TV and CTO+CPO at TuneCore, with senior product innovation roles at Meta and iHeartRadio and co-invented AI/ML patents including one still active at Meta. Today she packages that 15+ year operator experience and parallel academic career as a Professor (Brown University + Hunter College CUNY) into hands-on AI product and systems-thinking workshops, and runs hackathon-style labs across the country. More at 
http://alishaoutridge.com

Brought to you by:

Trampoline
 is dedicated to 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.

Singapore Global Network
: Singapore Global Network connects over 220,000 members worldwide, creating opportunities and fostering connections with Singapore and the region at the heart. SGN’s diverse and inclusive community supports growth and collaboration across borders.Join SGN today to get access to member benefits: 
https://go.gov.sg/tp1eng

Byte&Chord

Most product teams have OKRs &amp; goals to hit. Far fewer can still draw the line from a top-level business objective down to the specific projects and tasks they're shipping, and back up again to prove it moved the number. Why? No roadmap.&nbsp;No headcount.&nbsp;6 months of work now ships in 3 days. Nothing gets enough runway to prove value before the next thing ships, so all you or your boss sees is output with unclear impact &amp; ROI. That is the gap between an IC doing performance theater &amp; a leader who can show what the AI work is worth. It's also why AI has a bad rep for not delivering value. Join Alisha Outridge (ex-Meta, current Chief Product &amp; Technology Officer at Byte&amp;Chord) online, or in person in NY with dinner+drinks included. What we'll doAn interactive workshop to level up your product strategy and master the frameworks required to set defensible OKRs and goals using a Product Strategy Prioritization Map, one of the flagship frameworks from the AI Founder Playbook. You'll take a real business goal, map it down through strategic pillars into the concrete projects underneath each one, and prove every initiative ladders back up to a measurable outcome.&nbsp; I'll also share my tools for setting up the evals and measurement systems that make your KPIs honest, especially for AI/ML products.&nbsp;You leave with an AI-enabled product roadmap you can defend. You'll learn how to:▪ Break a high-level objective into strategic pillars your team can act on day to day▪ Define quantifiable, durable metrics that hold up against the uncertainty baked into AI products▪ Set up evals so AI features get credit for what they actually moved▪ Build a roll-up that aligns cross-functional teams around one shared picture, where every project traces to a core outcome▪ Run the framework again on your own, turning vague ambition into a repeatable goal-setting rhythm Who it's forFor both founders and employees, operators including corporate intrapreneurs, and product or engineering leaders who own a goal and have to prove progress against it. This is for those who need a structured, tested way to turn business goals into durable strategy, with special attention to the metrics problem that makes AI products harder to plan than traditional software. Come with: a product or feature in mind and your laptop. No concrete idea yet? No problem. We'll supply real-world sample cases so you can practice adapting the framework to any industry or challenge you hit next. Agenda6:30 – 7:00 · Networking over dinner and drinks7:00 – 8:30 · Workshop8:30 – 9:00 · Post-event networking A virtual meeting link will be sent to registered and approved attendees prior to the event. About Alisha:Alisha Outridge is founder and lead instructor of AIFounderPlaybook.com and runs Byte&amp;Chord, a venture studio building AI products, companies, and the teams behind them. A serial entrepreneur with two exits (FlyBy, acquired by Apple with tech in ARKit; KickApps, acquired by Brightspot), she's been CPO at Reuters TV and CTO+CPO at TuneCore, with senior product innovation roles at Meta and iHeartRadio and co-invented AI/ML patents including one still active at Meta. Today she packages that 15+ year operator experience and parallel academic career as a Professor (Brown University + Hunter College CUNY) into hands-on AI product and systems-thinking workshops, and runs hackathon-style labs across the country. More at <a href="https://http://alishaoutridge.com" title="">http://alishaoutridge.com</a> Brought to you by: Trampoline is dedicated to 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. Singapore Global Network: Singapore Global Network connects over 220,000 members worldwide, creating opportunities and fostering connections with Singapore and the region at the heart. SGN’s diverse and inclusive community supports growth and collaboration across borders.Join SGN today to get access to member benefits: <a href="https://go.gov.sg/tp1eng" title="">https://go.gov.sg/tp1eng</a>

Ticket

WTF Are My OKRs & KPIs When a 6 Month Roadmap Is Now a 3 Day Sprint? (in-person + remote) #AIFounderPlaybook

Four Ugly Talk alumni. Each with a you-cannot-make-this-up story that changed the way they build. The miss. The mess. The call that looked right until it absolutely was not. These are the stories that come out after the third drink. The ones with enough detail to be true and enough embarrassment to be useful.
​You sit back. You laugh. Maybe even wince. Then you catch yourself nodding, and you don’t even know when you started.
​Somewhere in between, the strangers stopped being strangers. By the time the mixer starts, your go-to networking dance doesn’t work here anymore. You’re just catching up with old friends.
​🎯 Why You Should Attend
​Hear the version founders do not post, polish, or save for the panel circuit.
​Get the lesson without paying full tuition for the mistake.
​Feel the room loosen up in real time. Once one person tells the truth, everybody else can stop auditioning.
​Stay for a mixer that actually works, because the small talk is already dead by then.
​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room
​Founders who are actively building. Not circling the idea. Not talking about someday.
​People at an inflection point. Ready to make a move, make a decision, or change something real.
​Builders who believe collaboration still matters, and that the best shortcut is someone telling the truth.
​Founders who are open-handed with what they have learned and curious enough to learn from someone else
​
​📋 Run of Show
​30 minutes, Check-in
​Arrive, grab a drink, and settle into the room
​45 minutes, Ugly Talk Solo
​Four alumni stories, 7 minutes each
​Short audience Q&A between stories
​15 minutes, Transition
​Let the room reset before the mixer kicks in
​60 minutes, Mixer
​The real conversations start once the stories land
​
​Host:
​
Jesse Multani
 - Founder
​Jesse Multani is a founder based in NYC building to support creators.
​
​Who's Backing This
​
Brooklyn Art Haus
​Brooklyn Art Haus (BAH), is an arts organization that premiers new and innovative productions. For our artistic community, our mission is to serve as an incubator, social environment, and performance space built for the longevity and success of artists and companies that maintain high standards and take risks with their projects. Audiences will experience the best of Brooklyn art, as well as the beauty of our international community of artists and production companies. From inspiring artistic experiences, to delicious food and drink, to events and devising space, we invite you to make Brooklyn Art Haus your new home for the arts in New York City!
​
​
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


Four Ugly Talk alumni. Each with a you-cannot-make-this-up story that changed the way they build. The miss. The mess. The call that looked right until it absolutely was not. These are the stories that come out after the third drink. The ones with enough detail to be true and enough embarrassment to be useful.​You sit back. You laugh. Maybe even wince. Then you catch yourself nodding, and you don’t even know when you started.​Somewhere in between, the strangers stopped being strangers. By the time the mixer starts, your go-to networking dance doesn’t work here anymore. You’re just catching up with old friends.<h5>​🎯 Why You Should Attend</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Hear the version founders do not post, polish, or save for the panel circuit.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Get the lesson without paying full tuition for the mistake.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Feel the room loosen up in real time. Once one person tells the truth, everybody else can stop auditioning.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Stay for a mixer that actually works, because the small talk is already dead by then.</li></ul><h5>​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Founders who are actively building. Not circling the idea. Not talking about someday.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​People at an inflection point. Ready to make a move, make a decision, or change something real.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Builders who believe collaboration still matters, and that the best shortcut is someone telling the truth.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Founders who are open-handed with what they have learned and curious enough to learn from someone else</li></ul>​<h5>​📋 Run of Show</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​30 minutes, Check-in</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">​Arrive, grab a drink, and settle into the room</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​45 minutes, Ugly Talk Solo</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">​Four alumni stories, 7 minutes each</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">​Short audience Q&amp;A between stories</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​15 minutes, Transition</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">​Let the room reset before the mixer kicks in</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​60 minutes, Mixer</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">​The real conversations start once the stories land</li></ul>​​Host:​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessemultani?utm_source=share_via&amp;utm_content=profile&amp;utm_medium=member_ios" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(86, 148, 209);">Jesse Multani</a> - Founder​Jesse Multani is a founder based in NYC building to support creators.​<h5>​Who's Backing This</h5>​<a href="https://www.bkarthaus.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(86, 148, 209);">Brooklyn Art Haus</a>​Brooklyn Art Haus (BAH), is an arts organization that premiers new and innovative productions. For our artistic community, our mission is to serve as an incubator, social environment, and performance space built for the longevity and success of artists and companies that maintain high standards and take risks with their projects. Audiences will experience the best of Brooklyn art, as well as the beauty of our international community of artists and production companies. From inspiring artistic experiences, to delicious food and drink, to events and devising space, we invite you to make Brooklyn Art Haus your new home for the arts in New York City!​​<a href="https://greyjournal.net/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(86, 148, 209);">GREY Journal</a> – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).​<h5>​​⭐ About Ugly Talk:</h5>​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: <a href="https://uglytalk.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(86, 148, 209);">UglyTalk.com</a><img src="https://images.lumacdn.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,fit=cover,dpr=2,quality=75,width=800,height=420/uploads/z7/27d34f2d-bd06-488e-a043-ecec7b3fcd34.jpg" alt="User Uploaded Image" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;">

Creators and Brands Open Mic & Mixer

Behind every creator brand, content engine, and social commerce win that looks inevitable are bad bets, stalled launches, broken assumptions, and pivots that never made it into a LinkedIn post.
​Everyone talks about growth. Almost nobody talks about the experiments that bled money and went nowhere.
​This Ugly Talk is for the decisions that did not work. The tests that failed. The lessons that actually moved the business forward.
​🎯 Why You Should Attend
​Learn from founders building in content commerce, social commerce, and the creator economy right now.
​Hear what failed, what pivoted, and what finally worked.
​Walk away with practical moves for growth, content, community, and commerce.
​Get an honest conversation with no highlight reel.
​Meet builders dealing with the same messy problems you are.
​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room
​Founders building content, creator economy, and commerce businesses.
​Operators running growth, content, and acquisition.
​Creators turning audiences into real revenue.
​Investors, advisors, and ecosystem partners close to early-stage work.
​🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage
​
Harley Sutton 
- Founder & CEO
 of 
Thanks! Naturals
​Harley Sutton is the Founder & CEO of Thanks! Naturals, an all-natural beauty and wellness brand built around spreading gratitude, and Founder of H&H Studios, a creative agency helping brands grow through content and live stream selling. A third-generation wellness entrepreneur and attorney, Harley traded the courtroom for wellness and live selling, launching Thanks! Naturals during the final year of her JD/MBA at USC. She documents her founder journey daily on TikTok and Instagram, sharing unfiltered behind-the-scenes looks at everything from product development to live stream selling – building in public and bringing her audience along for every win.

​
Shea Daspin
 - Affiliate Marketing Supervisor at Miracle Miles Group Inc.
​Social commerce expert with a proven record of turning content, creators, and community into measurable revenue. Experienced in developing integrated strategies specialized in TikTok Shop and livestreaming. Builds high-performing creator partnerships, that leads to increased brand awareness, conversion, and customer loyalty. Combines cultural insight, trend fluency, and compelling storytelling with rigorous performance analysis to optimize and scale growth. Skilled in influencer recruitment, content development, merchandising, community engagement, attribution, and platform management, with a customer-first approach to creating seamless, engaging shopping experiences that consistently deliver sustainable commercial impact and long-term brand value.

​
Alda Karen Hjaltalin Lopez
 - Founder
 of 
Skinergy
​Alda Karen is a serial entrepreneur with two successful exits, she is the founder of Skinergy the first skincare focused energy drink matching Collagen with Caffeine. After closing $1M pre-seed round she’s now preparing a nationwide retail launch and opening a seed round.


Moderator:

​
Ethan Ma
 - Founder & CEO of AFM Agency
​Ethan is the Founder and CEO of AFM Agency, a leading AI-driven full-service marketing agency and social commerce partner headquartered in Times Square. Under his leadership, AFM has helped brands accelerate growth across TikTok Shop, creator marketing, live commerce, paid media, and offline activations. He has built a global team operating across six centers, developed a network of more than 10,000 U.S. creators, and scaled the agency to manage over $20 million in monthly GMV. In 2026, Ethan led AFM to become the only agency recognized with two TikTok Partner of the Year awards in the U.S. and Cross-Border categories.
​
​💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat
​The failures nobody posts about What experiments, launches, and growth bets did not deliver.
​The pivot point How founders knew it was time to change direction.
​Content, commerce, and community What is actually driving attention, trust, and growth today.
​Content commerce in practice Where content is generating revenue and where it falls short.
​What worked in the end The lessons, systems, and decisions founders would make again.
​
​Who's Backing This
​
AFM Agency
​AFM Agency is a New York–based full-service marketing agency and social commerce growth partner headquartered in Times Square, with six global operating centers connecting brands, creators, commerce, and culture.
​Driven by proprietary AI technology, AFM delivers end-to-end marketing solutions across strategy, creator marketing, livestreaming, social commerce, content production, paid media, PR, experiential events, and nationwide offline execution.
​As an official top-tier TikTok Shop certified service provider, AFM manages over 10,000 directly collaborated creators across the U.S. and more than $20 million in monthly GMV.
​Its livestreaming team ranked No.1 on TikTok, while its creator video business ranked No.2 through a network of L4+ high-converting creators.
​
​With a 20,000 sqft venue in Times Square and strong nationwide campaign execution capabilities, AFM helps brands turn cultural moments into measurable business growth — online, offline, and across every touchpoint.
​
​
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

Behind every creator brand, content engine, and social commerce win that looks inevitable are bad bets, stalled launches, broken assumptions, and pivots that never made it into a LinkedIn post.​Everyone talks about growth. Almost nobody talks about the experiments that bled money and went nowhere.​This Ugly Talk is for the decisions that did not work. The tests that failed. The lessons that actually moved the business forward.<h5>​🎯 Why You Should Attend</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Learn from founders building in content commerce, social commerce, and the creator economy right now.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Hear what failed, what pivoted, and what finally worked.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Walk away with practical moves for growth, content, community, and commerce.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Get an honest conversation with no highlight reel.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Meet builders dealing with the same messy problems you are.</li></ul><h5>​🙋 Who's Getting In This Room</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Founders building content, creator economy, and commerce businesses.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Operators running growth, content, and acquisition.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Creators turning audiences into real revenue.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Investors, advisors, and ecosystem partners close to early-stage work.</li></ul><h5>​🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage</h5>​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/harley-sutton-660a52271/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(81, 151, 197);">Harley Sutton </a>- Founder &amp; CEO of Thanks! Naturals​Harley Sutton is the Founder &amp; CEO of Thanks! Naturals, an all-natural beauty and wellness brand built around spreading gratitude, and Founder of H&amp;H Studios, a creative agency helping brands grow through content and live stream selling. A third-generation wellness entrepreneur and attorney, Harley traded the courtroom for wellness and live selling, launching Thanks! Naturals during the final year of her JD/MBA at USC. She documents her founder journey daily on TikTok and Instagram, sharing unfiltered behind-the-scenes looks at everything from product development to live stream selling – building in public and bringing her audience along for every win. ​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheadaspin/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(104, 148, 189);">Shea Daspin</a> - Affiliate Marketing Supervisor at Miracle Miles Group Inc.​Social commerce expert with a proven record of turning content, creators, and community into measurable revenue. Experienced in developing integrated strategies specialized in TikTok Shop and livestreaming. Builds high-performing creator partnerships, that leads to increased brand awareness, conversion, and customer loyalty. Combines cultural insight, trend fluency, and compelling storytelling with rigorous performance analysis to optimize and scale growth. Skilled in influencer recruitment, content development, merchandising, community engagement, attribution, and platform management, with a customer-first approach to creating seamless, engaging shopping experiences that consistently deliver sustainable commercial impact and long-term brand value. ​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aldakarenh/?skipRedirect=true&amp;utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(98, 149, 190);">Alda Karen Hjaltalin Lopez</a> - Founder of Skinergy​Alda Karen is a serial entrepreneur with two successful exits, she is the founder of Skinergy the first skincare focused energy drink matching Collagen with Caffeine. After closing $1M pre-seed round she’s now preparing a nationwide retail launch and opening a seed round. Moderator: ​<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-ma-afmagency?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(104, 148, 189);">Ethan Ma</a> - Founder &amp; CEO of AFM Agency​Ethan is the Founder and CEO of AFM Agency, a leading AI-driven full-service marketing agency and social commerce partner headquartered in Times Square. Under his leadership, AFM has helped brands accelerate growth across TikTok Shop, creator marketing, live commerce, paid media, and offline activations. He has built a global team operating across six centers, developed a network of more than 10,000 U.S. creators, and scaled the agency to manage over $20 million in monthly GMV. In 2026, Ethan led AFM to become the only agency recognized with two TikTok Partner of the Year awards in the U.S. and Cross-Border categories.​<h5>​💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat</h5><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​The failures nobody posts about What experiments, launches, and growth bets did not deliver.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​The pivot point How founders knew it was time to change direction.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Content, commerce, and community What is actually driving attention, trust, and growth today.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​Content commerce in practice Where content is generating revenue and where it falls short.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">​What worked in the end The lessons, systems, and decisions founders would make again.</li></ul>​<h5>​Who's Backing This</h5>​<a href="https://afmagency.net/contact/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(81, 151, 197);">AFM Agency</a>​AFM Agency is a New York–based full-service marketing agency and social commerce growth partner headquartered in Times Square, with six global operating centers connecting brands, creators, commerce, and culture.​Driven by proprietary AI technology, AFM delivers end-to-end marketing solutions across strategy, creator marketing, livestreaming, social commerce, content production, paid media, PR, experiential events, and nationwide offline execution.​As an official top-tier TikTok Shop certified service provider, AFM manages over 10,000 directly collaborated creators across the U.S. and more than $20 million in monthly GMV.​Its livestreaming team ranked No.1 on TikTok, while its creator video business ranked No.2 through a network of L4+ high-converting creators.​​With a 20,000 sqft venue in Times Square and strong nationwide campaign execution capabilities, AFM helps brands turn cultural moments into measurable business growth — online, offline, and across every touchpoint.​​<a href="https://greyjournal.net/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(81, 151, 197);">GREY Journal</a> – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).​<h5>​⭐ About Ugly Talk:</h5>​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: <a href="https://uglytalk.com/?utm_source=luma" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(81, 151, 197);">UglyTalk.com</a><img src="https://images.lumacdn.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,fit=cover,dpr=2,quality=75,width=800,height=420/uploads/z7/27d34f2d-bd06-488e-a043-ecec7b3fcd34.jpg" alt="User Uploaded Image" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;">

Ugly Talk: Winners & Wipeouts in Social Commerce

Join Tech Gather NYC for our Women in Tech mixer!

This is an awesome opportunity to connect and vibe with women from all corners of the tech universe, whether you’re a developer, founder, product or anything in between, you belong in our [she, her, they] array.

Sign up now to meet like-minded women, share stories, and spark new collaborations.

Join Tech Gather NYC for our Women in Tech mixer! This is an awesome opportunity to connect and vibe with women from all corners of the tech universe, whether you’re a developer, founder, product or anything in between, you belong in our [she, her, they] array. Sign up now to meet like-minded women, share stories, and spark new collaborations.

Women In Tech Gather Mixer

The Dynamo Room

NYC Venture Capital Internship Program: A Day in the Life of an Investor

We're bringing our 2026 cohort from the NYC VC Internship Program (in partnership with NYCEDC, Everywhere Ventures, CUNY IAR, and Kauffman Fellows) together for 
A Day in the Life of an Investor
, an insider session with 
Brandon Corts, VP of Startup Pipeline, Product & Ventures at Newlab
.

This is the final professional development event of the 2026 program. After a summer working alongside investors across NYC's top VC firms, our cohort will hear what the job looks like a few years further down the path.

Newlab is a venture platform that helps critical technology startups commercialize faster by aligning infrastructure, pilots, and capital. Brandon sits at the front of that funnel, evaluating the companies Newlab backs with first checks through Series A. He will dig into what the work actually looks like day to day, how he assesses founders and technology, and what he wishes he had known earlier in his own path into venture. After the conversation, we will open the room up for an AMA.

There will be ample time for mingling, peer exchange, and conversations as we celebrate a summer of growth and close it out together!

Invite and approval only

About the 
NYC VC Internship Program
: 
The NYC VC Internship Program connects NYC-based venture capital firms with pre-screened and pre-trained students from NYC-based colleges for internship experiences. The 2026 program will place approximately 33 students in summer internships across VC host firms. Our mission is to create a more inclusive and thriving startup and venture capital ecosystem in NYC, by empowering the next generation of diverse young talent.

NYC Venture Capital Internship Program: A Day in the Life of an Investor We're bringing our 2026 cohort from the NYC VC Internship Program (in partnership with NYCEDC, Everywhere Ventures, CUNY IAR, and Kauffman Fellows) together for A Day in the Life of an Investor, an insider session with Brandon Corts, VP of Startup Pipeline, Product &amp; Ventures at Newlab. This is the final professional development event of the 2026 program. After a summer working alongside investors across NYC's top VC firms, our cohort will hear what the job looks like a few years further down the path. Newlab is a venture platform that helps critical technology startups commercialize faster by aligning infrastructure, pilots, and capital. Brandon sits at the front of that funnel, evaluating the companies Newlab backs with first checks through Series A. He will dig into what the work actually looks like day to day, how he assesses founders and technology, and what he wishes he had known earlier in his own path into venture. After the conversation, we will open the room up for an AMA. There will be ample time for mingling, peer exchange, and conversations as we celebrate a summer of growth and close it out together! Invite and approval only About the <a href="https://edc.nyc/program/nyc-vc-internship-program" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: rgb(0, 71, 178);">NYC VC Internship Program</a>: The NYC VC Internship Program connects NYC-based venture capital firms with pre-screened and pre-trained students from NYC-based colleges for internship experiences. The 2026 program will place approximately 33 students in summer internships across VC host firms. Our mission is to create a more inclusive and thriving startup and venture capital ecosystem in NYC, by empowering the next generation of diverse young talent.

Newlab, founded in 2016 and based in Brooklyn, New York, is a venture platform and innovation hub dedicated to advancing critical technologies. Located in a repurposed naval shipyard, Newlab aims to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs, engineers, corporate partners, and investors to tackle global challenges through advanced technologies such as robotics, AI, and material science.

The company offers a range of services, including membership access to shared workspaces and prototyping tools, as well as a venture studio that helps develop and scale startups. Newlab collaborates with major corporations like Ford, Verizon, and IBM, as well as civic partners such as the New York City Economic Development Corporation. It also supports underrepresented urban tech founders through its Founder Fellowship program, focusing on equity and inclusion. Newlab's technology initiatives cover areas like energy systems, mobility, and sustainable urban development.

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