When I moved to London, I found that it had no shortage of events. What it lacked was intentional space for people who don't fit neatly into one box: the founders who are also creatives, the professionals who are also community builders, the curious, multidisciplinary folks who deserved a room built for them.

So I built it.

Do it all in the yard

DO IT ALL IN THE YARD.

DO IT ALL IN THE YARD.

The Yard was a pop-up community event series I founded in 2022 to fill that gap. Across panels, networking mixers, dining clubs, and more, The Yard created space for founders, professionals, and creatives from all sorts of backgrounds to connect, collaborate, and be in community with people who actually get it.

We hosted 35+ gatherings across London for 2000+ people, averaging a 4.8/5 feedback score and locking in partners including Red Bull, Twitter, Somerset House, Mediabrands, GUAP, and more. A time was had.

Awujo

Our flagship free networking mixer for interesting people doing interesting things. Curated conversation, intentional space, dope DJs. Both editions sold out, with 200+ on the waitlist each time. Proceeds were donated to charity.

Brag Better

A panel on the art of self-promotion, and why it hits differently for people from underrepresented backgrounds. 150 attendees and one attendee walked away with a job offer.

Gathered

An intimate dining club series where a shared meal became the grounds for real connection, leveraging our matchmaking algorithm. Our first edition brought together VCs, musicians, mental health practitioners, and athletes around one table.

Some final ramblings…

The Yard gave me so much as I navigated London in my early days. I expanded my social circle, honed my leadership skills by building a team, tested my creativity by exploring event formats, played around with building a matchmaking algorithm, and gained mentors along the way. I could go on.

Whenever someone tells me they met someone at a Yard event, or that they remember me from one, my heart fills up. Because the truth is, I love connection. As humans, it's arguably one of the greatest gifts we have: to connect with someone and really see them, be seen. It's a blessing. So to have played a role in creating space for that feels like such an honor.

The Yard is currently on an indefinite pause, but I hope to one day continue building spaces with intention and connectivity at their core.

Thanks for reading,

C