I've been to hundreds of San Diego events and tracked many more. I keep noticing a trend when the panel is about to start.
Folks want to keep connecting. Some spending the entire time outside with each other.
This observation could go a few ways. Respect the speakers, totally true.
Also, people might just want to mingle and smash into each other.
I'm all for education and up-skilling. It’s the best. But panels are often so structured they often feel safe and predictable. Plus, with the internet in our pockets, safe isn't really why we're showing up anymore.
What I tend to push back on is formality for formality's sake. Connecting should be really fun.
We wanted to run an experiment and strip away all of the standard pieces of a “networking” event. Remove name tags, panels, selling ourselves, and passing out cards, and instead build an event around getting to know each other as San Diegans.
Then add in DJs, bevs, a side quest hour, and a few other surprises.
If this leads to deals, excellent, let’s grow together.
If this leads to new friends, super excellent!
If this leads to a great time? Mission accomplished
The main point is to get as many of us together as we can, celebrate the wrapping of San Diego first summer (we have two, if you’re new here) and have a great time.
Dawn tickets are live for a few more days, and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who jumped in early (and helped us throw down deposits to get things rolling). Price goes up at the end of the week.
Let me know what you think. See you at Howl House 🌴
Howl at me with questions.
What we’re howling about this week: |
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Monday, July 27
Teeing Up Success at 4:00 PM - Sorrento Valley
Wednesday, July 29
AI Open Office Hours at 9:00 AM - Mission Bay … meet Andy
Founders Fire: Secret Sauce Edition at 6:00 PM - Little Italy
Thursday, July 30
($) SD Defense Tech Meetup at 8:00 AM - Mission Valley
AI Happy Hour July - Jalapeño! at 6:30 PM - North Park … Meet Adam 🐾
Friday, July 31
SDxAI Coffee (sold out) at 9:00 AM - Sorrento Valley
Saturday, August 1
North County AI Coffee Chat at 8:30 AM - Oceanside
Social Impact HackAIthon: 2-day event - Rancho Bernardo … Meet Alex
Super Coyote Curious? |
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San Diego is easier to navigate when you know someone who already has. Even better when you find a whole pack of people who want to help you do it.
If you've been building something here and haven't found your people yet, that's what this is for.
If that's you, apply to join the pack.
What we’re howling about next week: |
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Monday, August 3
($) StartupSD 1st Mondays Networking & Startup Event at 5:30 PM - UCSD … code: coyote30
Thursday, August 6
San Diego | Claude Impact Lab at 6:00 PM - La Jolla (register for exact location)
Friday, August 7
Founder Fridays at 7:30 AM - Solana Beach
Into the Den Pod: Sam Hodgson - Uptown 11 Studios |
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“Tell me a story about one of these 3: Bernie Sanders, Tiger Woods, or a wild card that you choose…”
Sam moved to San Diego when he was three and a half years old. He has lived here ever since, except for four years in New York covering the country for the Times. He came back when his first kid was born.
He founded Uptown 11 Studios in 2024. It is a creative agency that helps community organizations in San Diego tell their own stories.
Before that, he ran the photo and video team at the Union Tribune. The photo department had 47 people when he was born. It had 6 when he took over.
We also talked about what it costs a city when nobody is watching, why the tech world in San Diego has some of the best stories that nobody is telling yet, and what it would look like if the Howl got a little bit of growl.
That’s enough howling out of me. See you in the wild!
Jonah 🐺
the Howl Guy
LinkedIn
TheCoyote.co - San Diego, Beyond the Events
