Founded in 2015, Modernist is an Intimate PRIVATE Members’ club with a mission to build an amazing life-long community in San Francisco and around the world. 

Member Events

Please View our Modernist Member App for More Details / RSVP

Non-Members, please reach out to a Modernist Member to come as their guest (Member must also be present)

Modernist AI & FARR Summit 2026

Tickets/More Info

This year we're partnering with the team behind TEDai to produce our next Summit, with a focus on Frontier AI, Autonomy, Research, & Robotics. (FARR)

​The FARR Summit, created & led by members Soha & Suzanne Zadeh, brings together a carefully curated group of founders, researchers, executives, investors, and global leaders shaping the next era of technology.

​The experience will feature keynotes, intimate conversations, technology demonstrations, and thoughtfully curated connections inside an immersive setting.

​Attendance is private, invitation-only, and subject to approval. Each registration is reviewed individually to preserve the quality and relevance of the community. Confirmations are non-transferable.

​We’re excited to share just some of the brilliant speakers, with more announcements to come.

​Each one brings a unique lens to our central theme: Origin to Orbit.

• ​Sam De Brouwer - Founder, TED AI Founder, XY AI Labs

• ​Peter Steinberger - Founder and Curator, OpenClaw

• ​Prem Akkaraju - CEO, Stability AI

• ​Ramin Hasani - Co-Founder and CEO, Liquid AI

• ​Touraj Parang - COO, Serve Robotics

• ​Emmett Shear - Founder/CEO Softmax, co-founder/former CEO Twitch, Partner Y Combinator, Interim CEO OpenAI

• ​Aparna Chennapragada - CPO, AI Experiences at Microsoft; Fortune’s 25 Most Powerful Women

• ​Mohsen Moazami - Vice Chairman, SambaNova Systems and DDN

• ​Bill Tai - Founding chairman of Hut8 and Venture Capitalist. Early Investor in Zoom and Canva

• ​Matthias Schaefer — CEO, ACC Group

• ​Lindsey Irvine - CMO, Nebius

• ​Mengdi Wang - Princeton Professor and AI Scientist

• ​Austin Nasso - Founder, Tech Roast Show; Stand-Up Comedian

• ​Louis Blankemeier - Co-Founder and CEO, Cognita

• ​Christina Cassotis — CEO, Pittsburgh International Airport, Founder, World Innovation Summit

• ​Betsy Barton — Data Scientist and Astrophysicist; Founder and CEO, Infiniscape Incorporated

• ​Azadeh Yazdan — Founder & AI Strategy Advisor, ex-Meta and Intel

Modernist Summit 2024

Curated In-Real-Life connections & experiences with fellow Modernist members, some of the most notable & respected in their fields!

Links to:

Schedule/Panels | Speaker bios | EVENT GALLERY

Chats: Panels & Fireside Chats

​AI | ​VC/Investing | ​Crypto/Web 3 | ​Founder/Leadership Stories | Healthcare

​Activities

Receptions, Mingling, Meals, Networking, Parties, Energy Healing & more

​Performances

Live musical performances & show

​Chill/Chat Breakout Sessions

Register to meet some of our speakers in a small group setting after their chats (limited availability)

Modernist Startup Founder Exhibit

A dedicated area where 10 early stage Modernist member-founded companies will display/demo their product

No additional cost other than the price of registration (1 ticket/person). Startups will also be featured in our newsletters and on websites. Message summit@modernist.club for details.

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THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBER SPONSORS!

December Events

• Wednesdays/Saturdays - Private Member/Community Dinner

• Thursdays - Energy Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen (AlbertEnergyHealer)

• 12.10 - “Western White House” White Party | Offsite Residence Event

• 12.13 - Modernist Venture Club - Ai Chat/Social w/Jeff Herbst | Shaping the Future of Ai (Ai VC, 20 years @ NVIDIA)

• 12.13 - Private Member Dinner with Jeff Herbst

• 12.15 - Modernist ‘Snow Globe’ Holiday Party

• 12.31 - Modernist New Year’s Party | Open Bar (@ Modernist)

• 12.31 - Modernist/GoodPeople: San Francisco Ài/爱 (LOVE) Themed New Year's Ball! (@ Madarae Lounge)

NOVEMBER Events

• Wednesdays/Saturdays - Private Member/Community Dinner

• Thursdays - Energy Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen (AlbertEnergyHealer)

• 11.01 - “Women in AI (WIA)” Female Founder Dinner

• 11.01 - Modernist Venture Club & “Women in AI (WIA)” Social

• 11.02 - Book Tour & Press

• 11.04 - HBS / IVY+ Social

• 11.08 - Modernist Venture Club: Startup Pitch Night

• 11.15 - Fireside Chat w/Stacey Wang (CEO Yu Ming Charter School)

• 11.16 - HBS Global Social

• 11.17 - GTM Exec Social

• 11.18 - Private AI/ML event & Birthday Soiree

• 11.29 - Ai Panel / Open Ai (Private Member Dinner w/Speakers before Panel)

• 11.30 - Flying Boat on SF Bay (Private Dinner after)

OCTOBER Events

• Wednesdays/Saturdays - Private Member/Community Dinner

• Thursdays - Energy Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen (AlbertEnergyHealer)

• 10.04 - “Women in AI (WIA)” Panel & Social

• 10.04/05 - Offiste event: ‘Vegas Tech Summit’ (Las Vegas, NV)

• 10.07 - “TOP GUN’ Fleet Week Party w/HBS & Ivy+

• 10.14 - “Love is Blind” Afterparty

• 10.18 - “TED AI” afterparty, hosted by Forbes 30u30 alumni

• 10.21 - Chat & Social w/Emmett Shear (Co-Founder & Former CEO Twitch)

  • 10.21 Private member dinner with Emmett before the chat

• 10.26 - “Climate Change” Discussion with Michael Terpin & John Balbach

• 10.28 - “Modernist Halloween Costume Bash” / Magician / DJs / Open Bar

September Events

• Wednesdays/Saturdays - Private Member/Community Dinner

• Thursdays - Energy Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen (AlbertEnergyHealer)

• 9.6 (Wed) - “AI Chat/Panel” w/Matthew Stepka (Founder Machina Ventures) & Rocky Yu (Founder AGI House)

• 9.7 (Thu) - “Asian Art Museum Annual Gala” afterparty host & friends gathering

• 9.13 (Wed) - “Asian Art Museum Annual Gala” afterparty hosted by Modernist @ Asian Art Museum (Pre-Party at Modernist for Ticket Holders)

• 9.15 (Fri) - Private Member Dinner/Reception & Fireside Chat w/Jay Xu, CEO Asian Art Museum

• 9.16 (Sat) - “Back to School” Themed Party w/HBS & IVY+

• 9.20 (Thu) - Cybersecurity Fireside Chat w/Andrew ‘Andy’ Manoske (Hashicorp)

• 9.23 (Sat) - Monthly Member’s Birthdays Party, Stephanie’s Going Away Party (Part 1)

• 9.27 (Wed) - Startup Pitch Night - Modernist founded & funded companies pitching a panel of VCs

• 9.29 (Fri) - Modernist Co-Founder Steve Chen, Sutana & Andrei Asiminov, Victoria Herlitz, Courtney Davis’ birthdays, Stephanie Porter’s going away party (Offsite Event @ Madarae)

• 9.29 (Fri) - San Francisco Fashion Community Week kickoff party (17th Season)

• 9.30 - Modernist Member Residence Event- Gatsby themed party at Private Historic Landmark

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AugUST Events

• Wednesdays/Saturdays - Private Member/Community Dinner

• Thursdays - Energy Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen (AlbertEnergyHealer)

• 8.2 (Wed) - “Ai Panel w/Women in Ai (WIA)”

• 8.2 (Wed) - “Love in Taipei’ private screening/premiere Afterparty

• 8.3 (Thu) - “Founder Footsteps” w/Linkedin Co-Founder (Palo Alto)

• 8.5 (Sat) - “HBS/Ivy+” Social/Party

• 8.09 (Wed) - “Burning Man” Panel & Social

• 8.16 (Wed) - Ai Chat/Panel

• 8.19 (Sat) - “Pre-Burn” themed party

• 8.23 (Wed) - WE❤️SF Panel & Social, private dinner with founders

• 8.30 (Wed) - Private Member Chat & Dinner with CEO of Digital Asset/Crypto exchange

JULY Events

• 7.6 | 7.19 - Private Member/Community Dinner (18ppl max)

• 7.1 (Sat) - “Baby You’re A Firework” Themed Party. Red, White, & Blue Cocktail Attire

• 7.6 (Thu) - Modernist Venture Club “Startup Pitch Night” & Social. 5 Member Founded Startups, Feedback from 4 Member VCs

• 7.7 (Fri) - Energy Healing Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen

• 7.8 (Sat) - Themed Party/Mixer w/HBS alumni

• 7.13 (Thu) - “Current/Trending Topics in Ai” Panel/Chat

• 7.20 (Thu) - Energy Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen (AlbertEnergyHealer)

• 7.22 (Sat) - “Barbie Party”

• 7.27 (Thu) “Ai Panel/Chat” - member spotlight

JUNE Events

• 6.7 | 6.14 | 6.21 - Private Member/Community Dinner (18ppl max)

• 6.2 (Fri) - Friends & Family Night - new AI menu (Asian Izakaya)

• 6.3 (Sat) - Private Dinner with Director of Taiwan’s Gold Visa program

• 6.3 (Sat) - SF Tech Week: Private Social with Kauffman Fellows & Brave Capital

• 6.3 (Sat) - SF Tech Week Closing Party: ‘The Fellows’ & ‘The Fellas’, Siqi, Parul, Cece, Aku, & Moussa’s Birthdays | HBS alums

• 6.8 (Thu) - Panel / Chat - the Future of AI in Healthcare w/Ernestine Fu & Lu Zhang (Co-hosted w/Asian Health Services)

• 6.9/10 (Fri/Sat) - Asian Izakaya (Ai) Friends & Family Soft Launch (Very Limited Seating)

• 6.10 (Sat) - ‘Bring out the Bling’ Themed Party, Andrea & Fiona’s Birthdays

• 6.15 (Thu) - Panel / Chat - topic TBA

• 6.16/17 (Fri/Sat) - Asian Izakaya (Ai) Friends & Family Soft Launch

• 6.17 (Sat) - ‘Noir et Blanc’ - Black & White Themed Party, Members Mahsa & Barry’s birthdays

• 6.21 (Wed) - Real Estate Lightning Chats: Banker, Developer, Investor, Brokerage

• 6.23 (Thu) - Energy Healing Sessions w/Modernist co-founder Albert Chen

• 6.23-6.24 (Fri-Sat) - Asian Izakaya (Ai) Pop Up Launch

• 6.24 (Sat) - ‘LOVE’ (Ai) Themed Party. Colorful Cocktail Attire. Co-hosted by Women in Ai, Ai Day Conference Afterparty

• 6.28 (Wed) - Panel / Chat - topic TBA

May Events

• 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.10 | 5.13 | 5.17 | 5.20 | 5.24 | 5.31 - Private Member/Community Dinner (18ppl max)

• 5.3 (Wed) - AI Panel & Social: w/Founding Member Matthew Stepka (Founder Machina Ventures, Humongous.ai, Lecturer at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business

• 5.4 (Thu) - Fireside Chat: Energy Healing w/Modernist Co-Founder Albert Chen

• 5.6 (Sat) - ‘SUPERBLOOM’ Spring/Floral themed party w/HBS & IVY+ Alums | Member Ernestine Fu’s birthday

• 5.10 (Wed) - Jazz Night @ Founding Member Matt Mullenweg’s Keys Jazz Club

• 5.11 (Thu) - AI Panel & Social

• 5.12 (Fri) - Beef Noodle Soup Pop Up

• 5.13 (Sat) - ‘UP’ Themed Party | Member Courtney Cohan’s birthday

• 5.20 (Sat) - Beef Noodle Soup Pop Up

• 5.20 (Sat) - AI themed event - Tong’s Birthday / DirtyCat

• 5.24 (Wed) - Jazz Night @ Founding Member Doug Dalton’s new Jazz Club Dawn Club

• 5.30 (Tue) - SF Tech Week Opening Party - AI Mad Tea Party (w/DVC Fund, M12, Microsoft, & Modernist)

• 5.31 (Wed) - Private Member VC/Investor Dinner with Founding Member Wesley Chan, investor in 20+ Unicorns ($1B+ valuation) & 5 Decacorns ($10B+). Founder Google Analytics & Google Voice.

• 5.31 (Wed) - Fireside Chat & Social with Founding Member Wesley Chan

April Events

• 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.15 | 4.19 | 4.22 | 4.27 | 4.29 - Private Member/Community Dinner (18ppl max)

• 4.1 (Sat) - Euphoria: Member DJ iriż debut

• 4.2 (Sun) - “Light the Beam” Member trip to Golden 1 Center in Sacramento - Game & On Court Experience with Sacramento Kings Coach Mike Brown (Modernist Member)

• 4.8 (Sat) - AnnDyC: Electric Music Carnival celebrating member birthdays

• 4.12 (Wed) - Cerebral Valley / AI Social

• 4.15 (Sat) - EH? / Canadian Themed Event

• 4.20 (Thu) - Modernist Venture Club Startup Pitch Night & Social w/42 Geeks & Practical Ventures (Including chat re: SVB/Banking System Failures)

• 4.22 (Sat) - ‘An Evening in Mykonos’ Fashion Show & Party

• 4.26 (Wed) - Fireside Chat with Member Andrew Manoske (Hashicorp): Cybersecurity

• 4.29 (Sat) - Themed Event TBA

March Events