Founders Mesh: The Match | Startup Founders & Investors Networking
Good conversations, by design.
We’re starting 2026 with a simple idea:
networking works better when you don’t leave everything to chance.
Founders Mesh: The Match is our first flagship edition of the year, hosted at Lowlander, bringing together 120+ tech founders, investors, and operators for a night that’s social, relaxed, and just structured enough to make your time actually well spent.
New to Founders Mesh? Scroll down to read more about us.
So… what’s “The Match”?
We love organic conversations.
We just don’t love wasting half the night in the wrong ones.
For this edition, we’re introducing light, human matching to help people find each other faster. Nothing mandatory, nothing awkward, nothing that feels like a dating app for startups.
You’ll have the option to signal what you’re curious about or who you’d like to meet. We’ll suggest a few thoughtful overlaps, and then we’ll get out of the way.
What awaits you
A Crowd That Makes Sense
Founders who are actually building, investors who are actually investing, and operators who know what they’re doing. Curated, balanced, and refreshingly low on ego.
Better First Conversations
Less “so, what do you do?” and more “oh, that’s actually interesting.” A few subtle nudges and a well-curated crowd make it easier to find conversations that click early.
Short & Sweet Pitches
Our signature beer-crate moments. No decks, no judges, just 2-minute bursts of startup energy and real stories.
Lowlander Doing What Lowlander Does Best
Good beer, good snacks, good views, and a space that doesn’t rush you out the door.
Music With Social Skills
A DJ that understands the assignment: set the mood, not steal the spotlight.
The Essentials
Date: Thursday, February 26
Time: 18:30 onward
Location: Lowlander Bar & Brewery, Amsterdam
Vibe: Smart networking disguised as a good night out.
Why you’ll want to be there
Because this is Founders Mesh at its most intentional.
A flagship edition (#22) of a format people already love, with a carefully curated, diverse, and gender-balanced crowd that actually shows up.
Because your ticket isn’t just a ticket.
Attendance is approved (usually within 24 hours), and the room is shaped by cool builders. Including some light, hand-made matchmaking by yours truly, to help the right conversations happen naturally.
Because networking doesn’t have to feel like work.
Expect a few well-placed pitches, good drinks, great views, music that understands the assignment, and a night designed to make meeting people feel easy, useful, and genuinely fun.
Because sometimes the best way to build is to put the thinking down and let the room do its thing.
New here? Founders Mesh is...
Founders Mesh is an international founder community and platform connecting Seed to Series A tech founders, investors, and a carefully selected group of partners.
Founded in Amsterdam over four years ago, we’ve grown into a trusted European network of 750+ founders and investors, with events expanding across cities like Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin (coming soon), and Los Angeles.
Known for our distinctive atmosphere, thoughtfully curated crowd, and characterful venues, Founders Mesh has become one of the most-loved founder gatherings in the ecosystem, with consistently full rooms and a high rate of returning founders, investors, and partners.