Founded in 2021, Startup+ connects founders, investors, operators, builders, and tech professionals through in-person networking events and community initiatives.

Today, our community has grown to 27K+ members, making Startup+ one of NYC’s most active startup and tech networks.

Why Do We Do This?

NYC is full of founders building companies, investors looking for the next big idea, operators scaling teams, and talented professionals looking for their next opportunity.

But meaningful connections don’t always happen online.

That’s why we bring people together in the same room.

Our goal is simple: create a space where people can meet beyond LinkedIn, have real conversations, exchange ideas, discover opportunities, and build relationships that actually last.

No awkward cold DMs. No endless LinkedIn scrolling.

Just good people, interesting conversations, and a room full of opportunities.

🙌 Want to Be Part of the Team?

We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers who want to help create these experiences from the inside.

As a Startup+ volunteer, you won’t just attend the event, you’ll help make it happen.

Apply Now

Why Volunteer with Startup+?

As part of the volunteer team, you’ll:

• 🤝 Meet founders, investors & top operators in a more personal setting.

• 🎟️ Get behind-the-scenes access to our networking events and help make them happen.

• 🚀 Expand your network naturally by connecting with people before and during the event.

• 🧠 Gain real event experience working in a fast-paced startup community.

• 🎫 Get access to exclusive tech conference perks, including free or discounted tickets to select NYC conferences through Startup+ partnerships.*

👥 Who Comes to Startup+?

You’ll find a mix of people from across NYC’s startup and technology ecosystem, including:

• Founders & co-founders

• Investors & VCs

• Startup operators

• Product managers & engineers

• AI & tech professionals

• Marketing & growth leaders

• Entrepreneurs & builders

• Students & aspiring founders

• People exploring their next startup opportunity

The common denominator?
They’re curious, ambitious, and looking to meet other people building what’s next.

*Conference perks depend on individual partnerships and availability. Past partnerships have included AI, marketing, startup, and major big-tech conferences, including both single-day and multi-day events.

Looking forward to meet you,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

After another incredible networking event, we’re excited to announce our next Startup+ Networking Mixer. As always, our Substack community gets first access before anyone else. RSVP Now.

Over the past few events, 500+ founders, investors, operators, and startup professionals have joined Startup+ to build meaningful connections, discover new opportunities, and meet the people building NYC’s most exciting startups.

Once registrations open on Meetup, Eventbrite, and our partner communities, free tickets tend to disappear quickly. Get your subscriber exclusive tickets.

Reserve your spot before registrations open to the public. We’d much rather see you inside than on the waitlist.

Looking forward to kicking off October with another incredible evening of networking.

Reserve your spot now

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

You’ve probably seen the same posts over and over:

“AI is going to change everything.”

“You need to learn AI.”

“10 AI tools you need to use right now.”

Cool.

But here’s a better question:

What happens when you actually sit down and build something?

A startup.
A product.
An AI agent.

A tool that solves a problem you’ve been dealing with for years.

Maybe even something you thought would require a team of 10 people.

That’s where things are getting interesting.

You can use AI to explore a codebase, write and modify code, debug problems, build features, and iterate.

Not perfectly.
Not magically.
But fast enough to experiment.
And experimentation is where startups get interesting.

Because you don’t need to ask: “Would people use this?”

You can build a rough version and ask them.

The new startup advantage might be speed.

Think about what this means.

Someone has an idea at 10 AM.

By dinner, there’s a prototype.
The next day, they show it to 10 people.
They get feedback.
They change it.
They test again.

That’s a very different startup-building loop.

And it’s not limited to people with “Founder” in their LinkedIn headline.

Developers are building faster.
Designers are turning ideas into working prototypes.
Product managers are experimenting without waiting for a six-week roadmap.
Students are launching projects.
Founders are testing ideas before raising money.

And people who never considered themselves technical are suddenly realizing:

“Wait… I can actually build this.”

Join Startup+ Community

So… what are YOU building?

That’s the conversation we want to have.

Not another conversation about whether AI is overhyped.

Not another debate about whether AI will replace developers.

Not another list of the “Top 50 AI Tools.”

Show us what you’re building. Or tell us what you want to build.

Maybe you’ll meet someone who can help you build it.
Maybe you’ll find your next co-founder.
Maybe you’ll meet a developer who sees your idea differently.
Maybe you’ll discover a startup you didn’t know existed.
Or maybe you’ll walk into the room with one idea and walk out with a completely different one.

That’s the point of getting people in the same room.

Join the Room - Sept 3 (Thursday)

Come with a startup.
Come with an idea.
Come with a laptop.
Come with questions.
Or come with absolutely nothing except curiosity.

You don’t need to know anyone. That’s literally why we’re doing this.

Your next idea could come from a conversation you haven’t had yet.

See you there.

Reserve your spot now

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

You can spend hours sending LinkedIn messages, commenting on posts, and trying to get noticed online, but nothing replaces meeting someone face-to-face.

A quick conversation over a drink. A shared idea. A founder talking about a challenge they are solving. An investor discovering a company before everyone else. An operator meeting someone who changes the direction of their career.

That is what happens when the right people are in the same room.

Join the room

On Sept 03rd in NYC, Startup+ is bringing together founders, investors, operators, builders, and ambitious professionals for another evening of meaningful conversations, new connections, and unexpected opportunities.

Sept 3rd | NYC

Why Do People Keep Coming Back to Startup+ Events?

Because networking is not about collecting LinkedIn connections. It is about building relationships.

Over the years, Startup+ events have become a place where people come to:

🚀 Meet founders building the next generation of companies
💡 Discover new ideas, products, and technologies
🤝 Find potential collaborators, teammates, and partners
💰 Connect with investors and people actively involved in the startup ecosystem
🌎 Expand their professional network beyond their immediate circles

Many meaningful conversations begin with something simple:

“What are you working on?”

That one question can lead to a partnership, an investment opportunity, a new job, a customer introduction, or even a new company idea.

Meet like-minded tech people

A Room Full of Builders, Investors & Operators

Startup+ events are designed for people who are actively shaping the tech ecosystem.

Whether you are:
- A founder looking to meet investors, potential hires, customers, or fellow entrepreneurs.
- An investor looking to discover promising startups and connect with ambitious builders.
- An operator looking to exchange ideas, learn from others, and find new opportunities.
- A tech professional looking to build relationships that go beyond online interactions.

You will be surrounded by people who are creating, investing, and contributing to the future of technology.

RSVP Now

The Value of Being in the Room

The startup world moves fast.

New companies are being built every day. New technologies are changing industries. New opportunities are created through relationships.

But many of the best opportunities are never publicly announced.

They happen through conversations:

• A founder meets an early supporter.

• An investor hears about a startup before it becomes widely known.

• A talented operator finds their next opportunity through a connection.

• Two people meet and decide to build something together.

Being present matters.

Join the Room

Join Us on Sept 03 in NYC

If you have been meaning to expand your network, meet more people in tech, or get closer to the NYC startup ecosystem, this is the room to be in.

Come meet the people behind the ideas, companies, and technologies shaping the future.

Save your spot

RSVP for the Startup+ Tech Networking Event on September 03.

Seats are limited, and the room fills up quickly.

👉 RSVP now and join hundreds of founders, investors, and operators building connections in NYC.

Looking forward to kicking off September with another incredible evening of networking.

Reserve your spot now

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

After another incredible networking event, we’re excited to announce our next Startup+ Networking Mixer. As always, our Substack community gets first access before anyone else. RSVP Now!

Over the past few events, 500+ founders, investors, operators, and startup professionals have joined Startup+ to build meaningful connections, discover new opportunities, and meet the people building NYC’s most exciting startups.

Once registrations open on Meetup, Eventbrite, and our partner communities, free tickets tend to disappear quickly. Get your subscriber exclusive tickets.

Reserve your spot before registrations open to the public. We’d much rather see you inside than on the waitlist.

Looking forward to kicking off September with another incredible evening of networking.

Reserve your spot now

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

Today’s the day.

Tonight, hundreds of people from across the NYC startup ecosystem are coming together for an evening of meaningful conversations, new opportunities, and genuine connections.

Whether you’re:

• 🚀 Building a startup

• 💼 Looking for your next opportunity

• 💰 Investing in the next big thing

• 🤝 Looking for co-founders, clients, or collaborators

• 📈 Growing your career in tech

This is where you’ll meet people who can help make it happen.

Expect an evening filled with:

• Founders building exciting startups

• Investors and VCs

• Product, engineering, AI, and marketing leaders

• Operators from fast-growing companies

• Authentic conversations (no awkward networking)

Many attendees have found:

• New business partnerships

• Investors

• Co-founders

• Clients

• Job opportunities

• Lifelong friends in the startup ecosystem

Don’t spend another evening scrolling LinkedIn or sending cold DMs. Meet people in person.

Last Chance to RSVP

Registration closes today, and we expect a full house.

If you’re planning to come, secure your spot now and we’ll see you tonight at Sour Mouse, NYC (110 Delancey St, New York)

🙌 Volunteer With Us

Want to get even more out of the event? Volunteer with the Startup+ team! It’s a great way to meet speakers, founders, investors, and fellow community members while helping create an amazing experience for everyone. Volunteers receive behind-the-scenes access and have an easy way to build meaningful connections before the event even begins. DM or send us an email on jaynish.shah@startupplus.club

See you there 🚀
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

Every month, that group gets together to talk about fundraising, product, partnerships, and whatever’s happening in AI, SaaS, fintech, and healthcare right now.

Last Month’s Event, In Short

Jul 2nd, we had 127 founders, investors, and operators in the room at Sour Mouse, NYC.

If you were there, thanks for coming. If you weren’t, here’s your reminder that these fill up fast.

The next event we are hosting is on Aug 06th at Sour Mouse, NYC. Doors open at 5pm.

RSVP Now | Aug 06th

A few reasons people keep showing up:

The room is full of people actually building things, not just collecting business cards. A five-minute conversation here has turned into partnerships, hires, customer introductions, and fundraising conversations for past attendees.

The conversations tend to be real.
Founders talk about what’s actually hard right now.
Investors ask about the parts of the business that don’t make it into the pitch deck.
Nobody’s trying to close a LinkedIn connection and move on.

It works whether you’re building your first company or your third. Early-stage founders end up next to people who’ve already scaled and sold.
Investors get to meet founders before they’re on anyone else’s radar.

What to expect at an event: a room of founders and operators, conversations about where tech is headed, and a decent chance you leave with an introduction worth following up on.

A Few Notes

If you’re building something and looking for a technical co-founder or seed investors, reply to this email and we’ll try to make an introduction.

Know someone who should be part of this community? Forward this along or send them the RSVP link : https://luma.com/nyc-networking

See you at the next one.
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

The people getting the best opportunities treat it like a distribution channel.

Every week, founders meet customers through LinkedIn. Investors discover startups before Demo Day. Operators receive recruiter messages without applying. Job seekers land interviews because someone saw a post they wrote three weeks ago.

The platform has quietly become one of the highest-ROI professional networks in the world.

Yet most profiles still look like this:

• Generic headline

• Empty About section

• Experience copied directly from a resume

• No featured content

• No consistent posting

• A profile photo from five years ago

If that’s you, the good news is this:

You don’t need to become a LinkedIn influencer.

You simply need to become easier to discover, easier to trust, and easier to contact.

Today, we’ll walk through how to do exactly that, with the help of AI.

Why LinkedIn Matters More Than Ever

LinkedIn is no longer just where people update their jobs. It’s where opportunities begin.

Whether you’re:

• Building a startup

• Raising funding

• Hiring employees

• Looking for your next role

• Growing your personal brand

• Finding advisors

• Meeting customers

...people will almost always Google your name.

Your LinkedIn profile is usually the first result they click.

Think about the last time someone introduced you to a founder or investor.
Didn’t you immediately search them on LinkedIn?
Everyone else does the same.

Your profile is often your first impression before you’ve even had a conversation.

Stop Writing Like a Resume

One of the biggest mistakes professionals make is copying their resume onto LinkedIn.

A resume tells employers what you did.
A LinkedIn profile should tell people:

✅ Why you’re interesting.
✅ What problems you solve.
✅ Why someone should reach out.
- Instead of listing responsibilities, highlight outcomes.

Instead of saying: Managed marketing campaigns.

Write:

Built growth campaigns that generated over 12,000 qualified users while reducing acquisition costs by 31%.

Numbers build credibility.
Specificity builds trust.

Your Headline Is Your Billboard

Most headlines waste valuable space.

Instead of: Founder at XYZ

Try something like:

Helping healthcare clinics automate patient communication | Founder @ XYZ | AI • SaaS • Growth

Or:

Product Manager helping B2B SaaS companies build products customers actually love.

Or:

Early-stage investor backing AI and B2B founders | Previously operator at Series B startups.

The About Section Formula

Think of your About section as your personal landing page.

A simple framework:

1. Start with a hook.

What problem excites you?
Why do you do what you do?

2. Tell your story.

How did you get here?

3. Share credibility.

Years of experience.
Industries.
Results.
Not buzzwords.

4. End with a call-to-action.

Tell people exactly why they should message you.

Example:

If you’re building AI products, scaling a startup, or looking to collaborate, I’d love to connect.

Simple. Clear. Actionable.

Optimize Your Experience Section

Instead of writing job descriptions, write achievements.

Each role should answer:

• What problem existed?

• What did you do?

• What happened?

Example:

❌ Led SEO initiatives.

✅ Increased organic traffic from 8,000 monthly visitors to 140,000 through technical SEO, content strategy, and programmatic landing pages.

The second version immediately demonstrates impact.

Don’t Ignore the Featured Section

This is one of the most underused parts of LinkedIn.

Use it to showcase:

• Your website

• Startup

• Product demo

• Newsletter

• Podcast appearances

• Press coverage

• Best-performing LinkedIn posts

• Pitch deck

• Open-source projects

• Portfolio

Think of it as your “proof” section.

Skills Matter More Than People Think

Recruiters and LinkedIn search rely heavily on keywords.

Choose skills that align with your goals, not just your past.

For example:

Use Claude as Your Personal LinkedIn Coach

AI won’t replace your story.

But it can dramatically improve how you tell it.

Here are prompts you can copy directly into Claude.

Prompt 1: Rewrite Headline

You are an executive branding consultant.
Rewrite my LinkedIn headline.

My background: [Paste resume]
Target audience: Recruiters, startup founders, investors and hiring managers.
Create 10 headline options.
Keep each under 220 characters.
Focus on outcomes, keywords and curiosity.

Prompt 2: Rewrite About Section

Act as one of the world's best executive branding experts.

Using my resume below, write a compelling LinkedIn About section.

Requirements:

• Conversational
• First person
• Maximum 400 words
• Focus on achievements instead of responsibilities
• Include measurable results
• End with a call-to-action

Here's my resume:

[Paste Resume]

Prompt 3: Turn My Resume into LinkedIn Experience

Convert every position in my resume into LinkedIn-friendly experience entries.

For every job:

• Write a short overview
• Create 4–6 bullet points
• Focus on measurable achievements
• Add metrics wherever possible
• Make it recruiter-friendly
• Use action verbs

Do not copy the resume word-for-word.

Prompt 4: Find Missing Keywords

I'm targeting Product Manager roles.
Below is my LinkedIn profile.
Also below are five Product Manager job descriptions.
Compare them.
Tell me:
• Missing keywords
• Missing skills
• Weak sections
• ATS improvements
• LinkedIn search improvements
Then rewrite the profile.

Prompt 5: Content Ideas That Attract Opportunities

Act as my LinkedIn content strategist.

My background:

[Paste background]

Target audience:

Startup founders, operators and investors.

Generate:

• 50 post ideas
• 20 storytelling posts
• 20 educational posts
• 10 personal branding posts

Each should encourage conversations instead of likes.

The Comment Strategy Most People Ignore

Posting helps.

Commenting often helps even more.

Thoughtful comments on posts from founders, investors, operators, and industry leaders can dramatically increase your visibility.

Avoid comments like:

Great post!

Instead, add value:

• Share a relevant experience.

• Offer another perspective.

• Ask a thoughtful question.

• Add supporting data or an example.

Over time, people begin to recognize your name and expertise—often before you ever send a connection request.

Build a Simple Weekly LinkedIn Habit

You don’t need to spend hours online.

Even 15–20 minutes a day can compound into meaningful visibility over time.

A Few Small Changes That Make a Big Difference

• Use a professional, high-quality profile photo.

• Add a custom banner that reflects your work or industry.

• Customize your LinkedIn URL.

• Turn on “Open to Work” or “Providing Services” if appropriate.

• Add your newsletter, website, portfolio, or startup to your profile.

• Keep your profile updated every few months as your experience evolves.

Final Thoughts

People often think opportunities come from applying to more jobs, attending more networking events, or sending more cold emails.

Sometimes they do.
But many of the best opportunities start much earlier, with someone discovering your profile, reading your story, and deciding you’re worth contacting.

Your LinkedIn profile is working even when you’re offline.

Invest a few hours to improve it today, and it may continue opening doors for months or even years.

The best opportunities often don’t come from searching. They come from being discoverable.

What We’re Curious About

What’s the best opportunity LinkedIn has ever brought you?

A new job?
A customer?
A co-founder?
An investor?
DM us or Reply to this newsletter, we’d love to feature some of your stories in a future Startup+ edition.

Talk soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

Connecting founders, operators, investors, and builders across New York’s startup ecosystem.

We’re excited to bring you an exclusive opportunity to join one of NYC’s most valuable gatherings for developers, founders, product leaders, and tech community builders.

DevRelCon NYC 2026 is coming to Brooklyn this July, and Startup+ members get an exclusive $100 OFF their tickets. 🎟️

DevRelCon is a leading conference focused on the future of Developer Relations, Developer Experience (DevX), Developer Marketing, Product Growth, and building stronger relationships with developer communities.

This isn’t just another tech conference, it’s a place where people building the future of technology come together to share ideas, learn from real-world experiences, and connect with the people shaping developer ecosystems.

Why Attend DevRelCon NYC 2026?

✨ Learn from industry experts
Hear from leaders working across developer platforms, AI tools, APIs, open-source communities, and modern developer marketing strategies.

🤖 Explore the future of AI & Developer Experience
Discover how AI is changing the way companies build products, support developers, create documentation, and grow technical communities.

🤝 Meet NYC’s developer ecosystem
Connect with developers, founders, engineers, product managers, DevRel professionals, and technology leaders from across the industry.

🛠️ Hands-on sessions & practical insights
Go beyond theory with workshops, discussions, and conversations focused on strategies you can apply immediately.

🎁 Exclusive Startup+ Community Benefit

We’ve partnered with DevRelCon to bring our community a special discount:

Whether you’re building a startup, growing a developer community, launching a technical product, or simply want to stay ahead of where technology is heading, this is an event worth attending.

Claim your Startup+ discounted ticket

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

After another sold-out networking event, we’re excited to announce our next Startup+ Networking Mixer and as always, our Substack community gets first access before anyone else.

Over the past few events, 500+ founders, investors, operators, and startup professionals have joined Startup+ to build meaningful connections, discover opportunities, and meet the people behind NYC’s fastest-growing startups.

This event is private for Substack subscribers until tomorrow at 11:00 AM.
RSVP Now

Once registrations open on Meetup, Eventbrite, Luma, and our partner communities, free tickets tend to disappear quickly.

Why Startup+?

✔️ One of NYC’s fastest-growing startup networking communities
✔️ 500+ professionals joined our recent events
✔️ Founders, investors, operators & builders under one roof
✔️ Curated networking with zero awkward icebreakers
✔️ Great conversations, new opportunities, and plenty of ping-pong

Whether you’re building your first startup, scaling a company, investing in founders, or simply looking to meet ambitious people, you’ll find your tribe here.

🎟️ Claim Your Free Ticket

Reserve your spot before registrations open to the public. We’d much rather see you inside than on the waitlist.

RSVP Now

Looking forward to kicking off August with another incredible evening of networking.

Reserve your spot for July 2nd

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

Tonight’s the night.

101+ founders, investors, operators, and builders have already registered to join us in NYC - and we’re down to the final spots. RSVP Now

If you’ve been thinking about coming, this is your sign. Don’t miss one of the best opportunities to meet ambitious people building the next big thing.

Whether you’re a founder looking for your next hire, an operator expanding your network, an investor meeting promising startups, or simply looking to break into the NYC startup ecosystem, you’ll find your people here.

Get your tickets now

Most attendees come solo, making it one of the easiest and most welcoming networking events to meet new people and build meaningful connections.

RSVP on Luma | Final spots remaining.

See you tonight,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

💻 Coding skills
☕ Unlimited coffee
😴 A complete disregard for sleep

Fortunately, times have changed.

One of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is that you need to be a software engineer before you can start a company.

You don’t.

In fact, some of the most successful startups weren’t started by programmers. They were started by people who identified a problem worth solving.

And that’s where every startup begins.

💡 Startups Are About Problems, Not Code

Customers don’t buy code.
They buy solutions.

Nobody cares how elegant your database is.

They care whether your product saves them time, makes them money, solves a headache, or improves their life.

The job of a founder isn’t necessarily to write code.

The job of a founder is to understand customers.

That’s why many successful founders started with:

• A Google Form

• A Notion page

• A landing page

• A spreadsheet

• A prototype

• Conversations with potential users

Long before they built actual software.

🤖 Welcome to the No-Code & AI Era

Today, it’s easier than ever to turn an idea into something real.

With tools like AI assistants, no-code builders, website platforms, and automation software, one person can accomplish what once required an entire team.

You can:

✅ Build a website
✅ Create a prototype
✅ Collect customer feedback
✅ Design a brand
✅ Automate workflows
✅ Launch an MVP

Without writing a single line of code.

Will coding help?
Absolutely.

Is it required to start?
Not anymore.

🎯 What You Actually Need

Most first-time founders don’t fail because they can’t code.

They fail because they never start.

The founders who make progress are usually the ones who:

• Talk to customers early

• Test ideas quickly

• Build simple solutions

• Learn continuously

• Surround themselves with ambitious people

🌱 The Best Startup Resource Isn’t Technology

It’s people.

A mentor can save you months of mistakes.
A co-founder can help bring your vision to life.
A customer can validate your idea.
A single conversation can completely change your trajectory.

That’s why communities matter.

And it’s exactly why Startup+ exists.

🤝 You’re Not Supposed to Build Alone

Since 2021, Startup+ has helped founders, builders, students, creators, professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs connect with people who are building the future.

Today, our community includes 25,000+ members across New York City and beyond.

Every month, people join Startup+ looking for:

• Co-founders

• Mentors

• Startup advice

• Career opportunities

• Accountability partners

• New friendships

And often leave with much more.

Because the right community can accelerate your journey faster than almost anything else.

💬 Join Our WhatsApp Community

The conversations don’t stop when the event ends.

Our members stay connected through our private Startup+ WhatsApp community where founders, builders, creators, and startup enthusiasts share:

🚀 Startup ideas
💼 Opportunities
🎯 Resources
🤝 Introductions
💡 Advice & feedback
📅 Event updates

Whether you’re building your first startup or simply exploring entrepreneurship, you’ll find people on the same journey.

Join WhatsApp community

🎉 Join Us on July 2nd

If you’ve been waiting until you’re “ready” to start, consider this your sign.
You don’t need to know everything.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.

You just need to take the first step.

Startup+ hosts networking events on the first Thursday of every month, bringing together founders, creators, investors, operators, students, and future entrepreneurs.

Come meet people who are building.
Come ask questions.
Come find your community.

RSVP Now

Your startup journey doesn’t begin with code.
It begins with a conversation.
And your next conversation could happen on July 2nd.

Reserve your spot for July 2nd

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

Person A: “What do you do?”
Person B: “AI for X”
Person A: “Nice nice” (has no idea what was said)
Both: never speak again

Next week is NOT that.

Startup+ is bringing together founders, investors, and operators actually building in NYC tech, not people who are “exploring ideas” for the 19th month in a row.

And yes… the room is already shaping up exactly how it should.

Join us on July 2nd

🔥 What This Actually Is

A high-signal NYC tech room.

Not:

❌ “let’s catch up soon” energy
❌ LinkedIn connection collectors
❌ stealth startups that have been stealth since 2021
❌ people pitching “Uber for AI for blockchain for pets”

But:

✅ founders shipping real products
✅ investors who actually deploy capital
✅ operators who have seen things (and survived them)

and people who understand that timing matters more than tweets

We’ve been hosting Startup+ events since 2021, which means we’ve seen:

• ideas die politely

• ideas explode unexpectedly

• and people realize networking is not a personality trait, it’s a strategy.

Date: July 2nd (Thursday)
Door Open: 5pm
Venue: Sour Mouse, NYC 🐀 (110 Delancey StNew York, NY 10002)

RSVP NOW - SECURE YOUR SPOT

(If you’re thinking “I’ll decide later,” that usually becomes “I saw the recap on LinkedIn.”)

Shoutout to Lauren @_laurengiuliani

⚡ Why This Room Hits Different

In NYC tech, there are two types of nights:

1. Content nights
   You meet people. You forget them. You scroll later.

2. Compounding nights
   You meet someone. Something happens. Then something else happens.

This is the second type.

No stage. No forced icebreakers. No “everyone introduce your startup in 30 seconds” chaos.

Just real conversations that tend to turn into:

• hires

• funding conversations

• cofounders

• or “we should definitely talk tomorrow” (that actually happens)

RSVP Now

🧠 A Quick Reality Check

Every NYC tech person falls into one of two groups after nights like this:

Group A:
Shows up → meets interesting people → something happens later

Group B:
Says: “I was going to go to that Startup+ thing…”
for the next 3 months

We’ve been seeing this pattern since 2021. It does not evolve. It just repeats.\

Join Group A

📲 Join the Startup+ WhatsApp Insider Community

Most people only see the event.

The real network is what happens around it.

We run a private Startup+ WhatsApp Insider Community where:

• events get dropped first

• founders + investors + operators get introduced

• opportunities move fast (like actually fast)

• and yes, occasional chaos + memes are part of the ecosystem

If you’re serious about being in the loop, this is where it starts.

Join WhatsApp Community

⚠️ Final Thought

You don’t “network” your way into NYC tech.

You show up in the right rooms enough times that things start recognizing you.

Next week is one of those rooms.

Not mandatory.

Just heavily recommended if you like momentum.

RSVP Now - July 2nd - NYC

See you there,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

P.S. Want complimentary front-row access to Startup+ energy? Volunteer with us! We’re looking for awesome humans to help us run the show. Email: contact@startupplus.club

Let’s talk about networking.

Most networking advice sounds like it was generated by an AI trained on LinkedIn posts from 2018. 🤖

The startup ecosystem runs on connections. Every successful founder has a story that starts with a simple conversation. A chance introduction. A coffee meeting. A random event they almost didn’t attend.

That’s why we’re excited to bring together founders, investors, operators, creators, marketers, developers, and startup enthusiasts for another incredible Startup+ networking evening.

📅 Next Networking Event

Venue: Sour Mouse, NYC (110 Delancey St, New York, NY)
Doors Open: July 2, 2026 (Thurs) | 5:00 PM

RSVP Now!!

🎯 First Things First: Show Up

You miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t attend.

Your future co-founder, first customer, next hire, investor, advisor, or friend probably won’t accidentally appear in your Slack DMs.

They’ll be in the room.

Join the room

The Best Opportunities Usually Don’t Arrive in Your Inbox

In the startup world, some of the most valuable opportunities happen between the scheduled meetings.

A founder meets their first customer while waiting for a drink.

An investor hears a great idea during a casual conversation.

A startup finds its next hire while discussing product challenges.

A partnership is born from two people realizing they’re solving different pieces of the same problem.

The reality is that startup growth isn’t just about building products. It’s about building relationships.

And that’s exactly what Startup+ is designed for.

🎯 Networking Tip #1: Be Curious, Not Salesy

Nobody wants to attend a networking event and feel like they’re being targeted by a cold outreach campaign in human form. 😂

Instead of leading with a pitch, lead with curiosity.

Ask people what they’re building.

Ask what problem they’re trying to solve.

Ask what keeps them awake at 2 AM besides server outages and runway calculations.

The best conversations start with genuine interest, not rehearsed elevator pitches.

🤝 Networking Tip #2: Focus on Real Conversations

A common mistake founders make is trying to meet everyone in the room.

You don’t need 100 LinkedIn connections by the end of the night.

You need a handful of meaningful conversations.

The person you spend twenty minutes speaking with could become your next customer, advisor, collaborator, or investor.

Quality beats quantity every single time.

🚀 Networking Tip #3: Think Long-Term

One of the biggest myths in networking is that every conversation should produce an immediate outcome.

That’s not how startup communities work.

The founder you meet next week might not need your help today.

But six months from now? They might become your customer, refer an investor, join your team, or introduce you to someone who changes everything.

The best networkers don’t collect contacts.

They build relationships.

🧠 The Startup+ Challenge

When you walk into the event, challenge yourself to meet:

✅ One founder building something ambitious
✅ One investor or startup advisor
✅ One operator who’s scaled a company
✅ One person completely outside your industry

Innovation happens when different perspectives collide.

Sometimes the most valuable conversation you’ll have is with someone who knows absolutely nothing about your space.

Join us on July 2nd

🍻 Why We Love These Events

There’s something special about being in a room filled with people who are building.

People who understand the excitement of launching a product.

The stress of fundraising.

The challenge of finding product-market fit.

The thrill of seeing your first customer sign up.

And the occasional panic of discovering a bug five minutes before a demo. 😅

Startup+ exists because entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, but building alongside a community makes the ride a whole lot better.

Whether you’re a first-time founder, a seasoned entrepreneur, an investor, a startup employee, or someone simply curious about innovation, you’ll find people here who speak your language.

Meet Like-minded people

🎉 See You at Sour Mouse

The best startup stories often begin with a simple conversation.

— Your next customer could be there. ✅

— Your next co-founder could be there. ✅

— Your next investor could be there. ✅

Or maybe you’ll just leave with a few great connections, new ideas, and a renewed sense of motivation.

Either way, it’s a win. 🚀

Come for the networking. Stay for the conversations. Leave with opportunities.

RSVP Now

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

At almost every Startup+ event, we hear some version of the same question:

“I’ve got an idea. I’ve started working on it after hours. But how do I know if it’s just a side hustle... or the beginning of a startup?”

It’s a great question.

And the answer is simpler than most people think.

💡 First, let’s define the difference.

A side hustle is usually designed to generate income.

A startup is designed to create growth.

Both are great paths. Neither is better than the other.

The difference lies in your goal.

If you’re freelancing, consulting, selling a product, or earning extra income on the side, you’re building a side hustle.

If you’re trying to solve a problem for a large market, create systems that scale, hire people, raise capital, or build something that can grow beyond yourself, you’re building a startup.

🤔 The question isn’t “Which one should I build?”

The question is:

What kind of life do you want?

A side hustle can give you freedom, flexibility, and additional income.

A startup can create massive opportunities but often comes with greater uncertainty, longer hours, and more risk.

Many successful companies actually started as side hustles.

The founders didn’t quit their jobs on day one.

They tested ideas.
Talked to customers.
Built small.
Learned quickly.

Then they made the leap when the timing was right.

🚧 Most people are stuck before they even begin.

Not because they lack talent.
Not because they lack ideas.
Because they’re waiting for certainty.

They want to know the outcome before taking the first step.

But startups don’t work that way.

The best founders start before they feel ready.

✅ They attend events.
✅ Meet people.
✅ Ask questions.
✅ Validate ideas.
✅ Build relationships.

And slowly, momentum starts to compound.

🌱 Your next opportunity is probably a conversation away.

A future co-founder.
A mentor.
A first customer.
An investor.
A job opportunity.
A friend who introduces you to the right person.

Most of these opportunities don’t come from sitting behind a laptop.

They come from showing up.

🎉 Join Us on July 2nd in NYC

Whether you’re exploring a side hustle, building your first startup, looking for a co-founder, or simply curious about entrepreneurship, we’d love to meet you.

📅 Thursday, July 2, 2026
🕔 Doors Open: 5:00 PM
📍 Sour Mouse, NYC

July 2nd | 5pm

Startup+ hosts networking events on the first Thursday of every month, and every event brings together incredible people from across the startup ecosystem.

You never know who you’ll meet.
But you do know one thing:
You won’t meet them by staying home.

RSVP Now!!

Come meet founders, builders, creators, investors, and future collaborators from across NYC.

Your next opportunity might be one conversation away.

Reserve your spot for July 2nd

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

Work hard. Get good grades. Land a spot at a prestigious university. Win at life.

But what if the story is more complicated than that?

We recently came across an upcoming talk by author, professor, and Emmy-winning creator Evan Mandery that asks a provocative question: “Are Ivy Leagues Evil?”

Before you dismiss it as another academic lecture, it sounds like the exact opposite.

Every once in a while, we come across an event that sparks a genuinely interesting question. This week, it’s this one: Are Ivy Leagues Evil? Hosted by PhDs & Pints, this discussion explores the intersection of elite education, privilege, ambition, and opportunity in America today.

Topics include:

• Why college admissions became so competitive

• The hidden advantages wealthy families quietly use

• Whether elite schools actually create success

• Why even successful parents feel trapped in the admissions race

• What all of this says about status, success, and modern America

Whether you’re a founder, parent, student, educator, or simply someone curious about how institutions shape opportunity, this looks like a fascinating discussion.

Event Details

📍 Sugar Mouse NYC, New York, NY

📅 Wednesday, June 10

🕖 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

🎤 Hosted by PhDs & Pints

View Details

We thought this would be valuable for members of the Startup+ community, so we’re passing it along.

While we’re sharing interesting events happening around NYC, don’t forget that our next Startup+ gathering is just around the corner.

Startup+ Networking Night returns on July 2nd, bringing together founders, investors, operators, and ambitious professionals from across the ecosystem.

If you’re looking to meet great people, exchange ideas, and become part of a growing community of builders, we’d love to see you there.

Reserve your spot for July 2nd

Reserve your spot for July 2nd

See you soon,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

This is the second and final drop of complimentary subscriber-only tickets for our upcoming Startup+ networking event.

As always, our newsletter subscribers get first access before tickets are released publicly. RSVP Now!!!

Once these complimentary tickets are claimed, the event will go live on public platforms, and this ticket tier will be permanently closed.

RSVP Now

Why this matters

Last chance for complimentary access

In just a few hours, the event will be released publicly. Once that happens, complimentary subscriber tickets will no longer be available.

Subscriber advantage

This early-access window is reserved exclusively for our newsletter community before the broader NYC startup ecosystem gets access.

Limited capacity

Our previous networking events have reached capacity quickly, and we expect this one to fill up even faster.

Get your seat reserved today

What to Expect

• Meaningful networking with founders, investors, operators, and creators

• High-quality conversations without the typical event fluff

• New connections, opportunities, and collaborations

• A relaxed venue designed for genuine relationship-building

Ready to Join?

Claim Your Complimentary Ticket Now

Only registrations through our official event page will be honored at the door.

Thank you for being part of the Startup+ community. Early access starts here, and this is your final opportunity to secure a complimentary ticket before public release.

See you on July 2nd. 🚀
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

We’re giving Startup+ subscribers first access to our next networking mixer on July 2nd in NYC before tickets go public.

RSVP Now

Over the last few events, we’ve brought together hundreds of founders, investors, operators, and builders for meaningful conversations and valuable connections.

Subscriber-only tickets are available now. Once we open registrations publicly, complimentary spots tend to disappear quickly.

Claim your spot before everyone else.

RSVP Now →

See you on July 02nd,
Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

The only question is whether you’ll be there to meet them.

This is your last call.

Over 100+ founders, investors, operators, and builders have already confirmed their attendance.

Tomorrow’s room will be packed with people building companies, making investments, hiring talent, exploring opportunities, and creating partnerships. The conversations, introductions, and opportunities will happen whether you’re there or not.

We’ve seen people meet future co-founders, investors, clients, employees, advisors, and lifelong friends at Startup+ events.

RSVP Now

By this time tomorrow, the event will be underway. If you’ve been meaning to get more connected to the startup ecosystem, this is the room.

Final chance to secure your spot before registration closes.

RSVP Now

See you in the room,

Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club

Not just collect LinkedIn connections.
Not just attend another “business event.”
But genuinely build relationships, opportunities, friendships, startups, careers, and communities.

And somehow… it grew into something much bigger than we ever imagined. 🚀

25,000+ NYC Tech Community Members ❤️

Today, Startup+ has grown into one of NYC’s largest tech communities.

Over the past few years:

• We’ve hosted events across New York City 🗽

• Helped founders meet investors 💰

• Connected startups with talent 👩‍💻

• Helped creators, freelancers, developers, designers, and operators find their people

• Created thousands of real-world connections that started from a simple conversation

And the best part?

People keep coming back because the vibe feels real.

No corporate energy.
No fake networking.
No awkward rooms.

Just ambitious people helping each other grow.

Join The Community 🚀

Officially Recognized as a Meetup Super Organizer 🏆

We’re incredibly grateful to share that Startup+ has been recognized as a Super Organizer on Meetup.

That badge isn’t just about hosting events.

It represents:
✨ consistency
✨ community trust
✨ great experiences
✨ and years of bringing people together

We genuinely appreciate every single person who has shown up, supported, volunteered, collaborated, or simply invited a friend.

This community exists because of YOU. ❤️

Be a part of Startup+, if not already

Why We Do This

Because one conversation can change everything.

A co-founder.
A client.
A job opportunity.
An investor introduction.
A friendship.
A completely new direction in life.

That’s the power of being in the room.

And honestly?

In a world full of endless scrolling and online noise… real human conversations matter more than ever.

Join us on June 04th

We’re Looking For Partners 🤝

As Startup+ continues to grow, we’re looking to collaborate with amazing people and brands in NYC.

📍 Looking for Venue Partners

Own or manage a cool venue in NYC?
We’d love to host future founder & tech community events there.

🎥 Looking for Local Creator Partners

If you create content around startups, tech, NYC culture, founders, business, or community, let’s collaborate.

We’re always excited to work with creators who genuinely love building communities.

Reach out to contact@startupplus.club

Thank you,

Aneesh Lal, Founder
Jaynish Shah, Community Lead
Team Startup+
🌐 www.startupplus.club