There, they collaborate with investors, partners and mentors in an intimate, outdoor environment. It’s interactive, it’s purposeful and it’s the new way to build a community while networking. They’re in for a weekend of stimulating activities, lively parties and curated talks. The Survive and Thrive Today team believes that there are four essential elements to hosting an event that genuinely connects people beyond a mere weekend. Some guests are at the top level, while others are just beginning, which can create a lack of community and intimacy.” Survive and Thrive Today focuses on mid-level, mission-driven entrepreneurs who haven’t fully scaled but have a strong foundation. Someone who will add value to a community,” explains Majumdar. “Whether through written materials, informative content, or one-on-one meetings, an event should give attendees tools that address their specific needs and lead them toward their goals. In Allen’s experience, many business events lack an intentional agenda and schedule. “It’s interactive and experiential.” Beyond team-building events, Majumdar recommends offering mentorships, one-on-one conversations, and time with investors. For the Survive and Thrive team, it’s about looking beyond the event itself and building a lasting community.
How one weekend boot camp aims to build a lifelong business community.
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Eighty-five percent of jobs are filled through networking, yet traditional networking events can be cringeworthy ordeals. From impersonal talks to anxiety-inducing meet and greets, it’s rare that long-term, impactful relationships are forged.
Enter Survive and Thrive Today, the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Sachin Narode, assisted by business award-winner Marva Allen, and venture capitalist Swatick Majumdar.
In its second year, this weekend-long boot camp invites mission-driven entrepreneurs to trade conference rooms for comfortable wood cabins. There, they collaborate with investors, partners and mentors in an intimate, outdoor environment. It’s interactive, it’s purposeful and it’s the new way to build a community while networking.
Majumdar knows about the struggle of networking while bootstrapping. “As a venture capitalist, mentor and advisor to several startups, I’ve witnessed the trials and tribulations that entrepreneurs face at the ground level—including meeting like-minded people who can provide real value.”
This year, 300 carefully chosen attendees will come together to the picturesque Hess Kramer Camp in Malibu, California, to exchange just that: real value. They’re in for a weekend of stimulating activities, lively parties and curated talks. The speaker lineup ranges from MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe to best-selling author Erik Qualman and Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour, the first African-American female combat pilot.
But if guests think the weekend is just about speeches and mixers, they should think again. The mission of Survive and Thrive Today isn’t just to throw a one-time event: It’s to cultivate a lifelong community. “Once you’re in, you can’t get out,” quips Majumdar. “We’re here to support your whole journey.”
The Survive and Thrive Today team believes that there are four essential elements to hosting an event that genuinely connects people beyond a mere weekend.
1. Start with the setting.
“Most conferences are in hotels and convention centers with thousands of attendees. This encourages an alienating, rapid-fire environment with no follow-up,” explains Allen. Entrepreneurs end up adopting the “spray and pray” approach: meeting a ton of strangers and then praying something comes of it. “By creating a relaxed, recreational environment, you…
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