Strangers to Friends - Networking Doesn't Have to be Tough

​Most startup networking events put you in a room with strangers and a badge on, hoping you'll figure out what to say. This one puts a knife in your hand instead.

​Strangers to Friends is a new networking experience for people building things in Boston — founders, operators, investors, and others shaping the startup and tech ecosystem.

​And since we're launching the first one during Tough Tech Week, it seemed like a good time to prove that networking doesn't have to be tough.

​A small group of us will cook a dish together from start to finish, with some guidance along the way. It’s not a cooking class, and no experience is needed — though you’ll probably pick up a few techniques while you’re at it.

​Then we sit down, open some wine, and eat what we made.

​No panels. No pitches. No slides. No awkward standing around wondering who to approach. Everyone has something to do from the moment they walk in, which makes getting to know each other a lot more natural.

​What to expect:

• ​Cook a shared dish together — guided, no experience required

• ​Sit down and eat what we made, family-style

• ​~16 people from across Boston’s startup and tech ecosystem

​Details:

• ​Wed, Oct 28, 5:30 PM · VETTii Showroom, 526 Tremont St, Boston

• ​$75/seat — ingredients, wine, and fun included

• ​Seats are intentionally limited to keep it a table, not a room

• ​At sign-up, you’ll answer a quick allergy question, optionally opt in to LinkedIn-based match suggestions, and check off a short waiver (knives and stovetops are involved) — under a minute total

​Hosted by Marita Genebashvili — who has spent a decade building food businesses and founder communities across two continents, and whose kitchen is where many of her closest friendships in Boston actually started.