Espresso Yourself ☕ — A Coffee & Connect Session by Startup Grind Nairobi

Let's be honest, building (or backing, or supporting) a startup is hard. Between the fundraising conversations, the late nights, the pivots, the "we'll figure it out" moments, and the endless to-do lists, founders and ecosystem players rarely get a moment to just... talk. No deck. No deadline. No demo day.

That's exactly what Espresso Yourself is for.

This is a relaxed, informal coffee and networking session bringing together founders, startups, investors, VCs, ecosystem enablers, and everyone in between for one simple purpose: to connect, unwind, and have real conversations about the journey we're all on.

Whether you're heads-down building your MVP, scaling your Series A, writing checks, mentoring founders, or simply curious about the startup world , this space is for you.

What to expect:

☕ Good coffee, good company, zero pressure

🤝 Organic networking — talk to whoever you want, about whatever you want

💡 Honest conversations about the ecosystem — what's working, what's not, and what needs to change

🛠️ A chance to find collaborators, mentors, or even your next co-founder

🌍 A reminder that you're not building (or investing, or hustling) alone

This isn't a pitch session. It's not a panel. There's no agenda forcing you into small talk about your "elevator pitch." It's simply a space to take a breather from the hustle, meet like-minded people in the community, and reconnect with why you got into this ecosystem in the first place.

So bring your business cards, bring your stories, bring your questions — and let's talk about the journey, the wins, the challenges, and the future of Africa's startup ecosystem, one cup at a time.

📍 Venue: The Republic of Everyone, Bishan Plaza, Mpaka Road, Westlands, Nairobi

💰 Cost: Free to attend (coffee's on you).

🎯 Who should attend: Founders, co-founders, startup teams, VCs, angel investors, ecosystem builders, hub/accelerator reps, and anyone plugged into Nairobi's tech & entrepreneurship space

Grab a seat, grab a cup, and Espresso Yourself.

THE NETWORKING STARTS BEFORE THE COFFEE DOES

We've added something rather exciting, and no, it's not a robot barista (though we considered it).

Powered by Cardtag, our AI Networking Arena is now LIVE. Before you even walk in, you can set up your profile, see who's coming, find your people, and start the conversation early, maybe even ask someone to save you a seat.

Think of it as the networking pre-game: smarter, faster, and a great deal less awkward than working a room cold.

👉 Join here: https://www.cardtag.io/arena/join/G9V5KLYE

Come ready to connect, be inspired, and leave empowered. See you over a cup.