First Round Salons
Salons are intimate dinners for senior operators from a common industry or function who are interested in meeting and learning from their peers. We host salons in private rooms at highly-rated restaurants or in private spaces with a personal chef.
Why should I attend?
Every salon experience is centered around conversations on key topics or challenges facing the group and tactical advice sharing that can help everyone walk away with new frameworks to apply to their role and company’s work. Salons also facilitate meaningful opportunities for guests to build connections and continue the conversation with each other following the experience.
If you want to meet exciting leaders in your industry or function, get advice from folks who have been around the corner before and build your network, Salons are a fit for you.
Past Salons
First Round has hosted dozens of Salon dinners, gathering top leaders in sales, engineering, finance, product, AI/ML, HR, DEIB, wellness/fitness, real estate, retail, and several others industries.
What Makes Salons Different?
This isn't your run-of-the-mill tech event. After running over 300 salons and bringing almost 5,000 folks together over the last decade, we've cracked the code on what it takes to pull together a truly special evening. From the shape of the table to the size of the guest list to the questions that will drive the most impactful conversation, we leave no stone unturned to make sure it's a 10/10 experience.
Whether you come out with a new contact, a new tool recommendation, a new put-to-use-right-away kind of tactic, or that warm-and-fuzzy feeling from connecting with your kind of people, we guarantee it'll be time well-spent.
Here's what attendees have shared about our previous Salons:
“I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with everyone, and I learned a ton. First Round clearly has a knack for pulling together very smart people.”
CTO + Co-Founder
“I had an awesome time. The conversation and people were top notch.”
Chief Data Officer
“I was truly blown away by the community of people at this dinner.”
Managing Director
“I’ve attended a lot of dinners / networking events and I must say this was one of the BEST! Hands down, no question, executed flawlessly.“
CEO + Co-Founder
“Really insanely great event! I've been to many AI dinners and this was by far the best! First Round’s magic touch of authenticity and taste made the event!“
Head of Product
“I appreciated how thoughtfully curated the evening was. The prompts were a very successful way of generating engaging conversation.”
Chief Revenue Officer
“It was a good mix of people, great organization that helped with conversations, super friendly vibe, very exciting and fun.“
SVP, Finance
“Great conversation from credible attendees, incredibly high-quality and classy event.“
VP Engineering
“It was a delicious dinner, meeting amazing people- what more could you ask for?!“
Head of Recruiting
Some of the companies represented at Salons
Some of our favorite Salon moments
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to attend a First Round Salon?
Nothing! They’re free. All you need is an invite.
There’s gotta be a catch. What’s in it for First Round?
No catch! We’re committed to building an amazing ecosystem of founders and operators, building amazing companies. The more fantastic folks who are able to share and receive from that network, the better!
How many people can attend a First Round Salon?
We generally host 12- 15 guests depending on the venue.
Can I bring a friend/colleague?
We accept referrals and are happy to extend additional invites if there’s room.
Am I going to be pitched or solicited at a First Round Salon?
Absolutely not. These gatherings are meant for organic convo, tactics sharing, and fun!
Is there anything I need to do to prepare for a First Round Salon?
Nothing major! Please be mindful and quick to respond to emails for info such as your dietary restrictions and top-of-mind topics you’d like to discuss.
What’s one thing I should know about attending salons at First Round?
Once you accept an invite, your attendance is crucial. We keep the group small to allow for deeper discussion and connection between guests. Last minute cancellations have a significant impact of the attendee experience.