Build IRL SF Newsletter #10
build-with-thon, be like Sven, Join or Die, measuring social connection, RSVP for our Jun 27 showcase in SF - spots are filling up fast!
👋 Hey fam!
Saum & Colt from Build IRL 🛠️ here!
Can you believe it? Our first cohort wraps up next week. 😲
But this is just the beginning. 🚀
We need spaces where many more builders can support each other, access resources and make lifelong friends. Why? Because building together is WAY more fun, way less tough, and the only way to create a real community.
That’s the dream. How will we make it happen? 🤷♂️ One small step at a time.
We experienced the power of collective action first hand at our builder hackathon (aka ‘build-with-thon’) this week! 🛠️
Curious about what we learnt? 👀
First, RSVP for our first ever IRL showcase in SF 🌉:
In this edition:
🚀Build-with-thon at Noisebridge (Recap)
👑 Lost art and skill of community building w/ Kat Vellos
Be like Sven. Say no.
Be the platonic match maker.
📊Measuring social connection w/ Juliana Schroeder
🎬 An evening to remember - Join or Die screening
🥂Join us at our SF Build IRL Showcase (Jun 27th)
01/ Build-with-thon at Noisebridge Recap 🚀
✨ We're still buzzing from the excitement of building together! 🤝
Our builders collaborated on whatever their community needed – from event programming and SOPs, to website design, outreach, calendar planning, rituals, rules, and more! 🌐🎨📈
🗺️ Huge thanks to Noisebridge for hosting us – this spot truly inspires everyone to dream big and build even bigger! 🎉🌟
Building together is more fun and less hard! More of this please.
02/ Lost art (and skill) of community building
The incredible Kat Vellos blew our minds 🤯 with simple yet powerful tactics that create deeper friendships and communities! 🌟
In a world flooded with tips and best practices for everything under the sun, we wonder why its still so difficult to find actionable tips for IRL community building.
Thankfully, folks like Kat Vellos and Priya Parker are making the science of community building accessible.
Here are a few of our favorites that Kat shared:
01 / Be like Sven. Say no.
Boundaries can be tough because we all want to be liked, but saying 'no' is key to keeping our community spaces sacred.
Meet Sven, the epic bouncer at Berghain, Berlin's hottest techno spot. He's mastered the art of saying 'no' to maintain the vibe inside. Embrace your inner Sven. Say "no" when needed, offer alternatives when possible.
02 / Be the platonic match maker
Bringing people together is not enough.
When a new member enters your space, take the extra effort - greet them with a smile, warmly welcome them into the community, ask their name, introduce them to others, and set norms for others to do the same.
Those first 90 seconds are crucial—make them count.
Be a bouncer and a welcoming host.
03 / Meaningful Metrics
What is measured, gets done. But how do we measure social connection? Should we?
Juliana Schroeder shared simple ways to collect data on social connections in a group. There are many measurement tools but most are built for researchers, and not practitioners. We discussed the challenges of real-world measurement like survey fatigue, Hawthorne effect, and the risk of objectification of relationships.
😱 Fun fact from Juliana’s research: You are probably wrong about NOT talking to strangers. Give it a shot—you might be pleasantly surprised! 🤝
04/ Join or Die Screening at Manny’s
As we watched "Join or Die," goosebumps spread through the room. Is this really the world we have created?
“Be a joiner. Be a builder.” Our room buzzed with excitement. This powerful message is brought to life by Pete and Rebecca Davis. This film is a game-changer.
Watch the film. Join a club. Because the fate of America (and your health) depends on it!
04 / Join our IRL Showcase in SF (Jun 27th)
First, RSVP for our first ever IRL showcase in SF 🌉. Spots are filling up fast!
Join us for the capstone showcase for Build IRL Accelerator's founding cohort, where we will celebrate 24 IRL communities and social clubs that are rewriting the social fabric of this city we love.
You will get an opportunity to get to know these incredible builders, join and support their communities.
Huge thanks to Hinge for your gift to support this event! You have our hearts ❤️
That’s it for this week!
Keep building 🛠️
Until next week,
Saum & Colt