The BCV Approach to Executive Dinners
Regardless of who is on the agenda, where a dinner takes place or what the broader context is, executive dinners require planning, curation and execution.
Finding and working with generational talent in a crowded market is tough. Connecting with dedicated people and supporting their startup journey can lead to groundbreaking innovation. Building VC relationships with industry leaders and entrepreneurs based on authenticity and trust can power short-term innovation and long-term ROI. Great food and drink can grease the wheels of all of that.
In seriousness, BCV’s extensive global network of startup and enterprise leaders has given us a firsthand understanding of just how powerful an in-person event can be to build rapport and create genuine interactions. One way we bring this to life is through our Executive Dinners — intimate gatherings where we bring together C-suite leaders from various industries to connect, share and learn from each other. Each event brings a nuanced combination of executive-level vibes and a casual atmosphere.
These dinners are strategically designed to foster an open discussion about the challenges companies face. We host them, in large part, to engineer a space for executives to exchange ideas and solutions.
It’s worth asking: Why would that be any different than a zoom call to serve the same purpose? The same reason you “break bread” with someone while engaging in an important dialogue – because humans like to meet other humans, sit and eat and drink near them, in order to break down barriers and truly feel comfortable enough to open up.
Behind the open floor plans, high-tops scattered with hor d'oeuvres and logo-adorned napkins, there lies thoughtful and meticulous planning informed by years of experience. Each Executive Dinner requires advance preparation and rigorous attention to detail which we take very seriously – especially to stand out (these folks go to a lot of dinners!).
So, what does it take to do this right? Let’s dive into some of the essential steps that make a curated executive dinner a success.
Find Your People — and Their People
When planning an event, it’s not just about who’s in the room; it’s about the connections they bring. Curate a group with shared qualities and key differences to spark meaningful conversations. Avoid direct competitors and instead consider pairing companies at different growth stages to foster collaboration.
At one of our executive dinners, we intentionally seated a high-growth startup executive on the verge of going public next to a seasoned enterprise leader with firsthand experience guiding a company through its IPO. This pairing sparked a conversation that extended well beyond the dinner table, with both people keeping in touch to dive deeper into the intricacies of the IPO process. By curating the seating chart well, we were able to create a relationship that may blossom into a multi-year mentorship; in the very least, the conversation went well beyond some wining and dining.
Think beyond finding your people — focus on the people they need to meet to thrive. That’s where real opportunities unfold.
Pro Tip: It may seem obvious, but take the time to truly get to know your guests! When setting up our advisory boards, we schedule a one-on-one interview to understand each individual's role, responsibilities, interests, goals, even hobbies and outside of work passions.
Keep it intimate and Authentic
For our executive dinners, privacy is everything. We want guests to feel at ease, sharing openly under Chatham House Rules. That’s only possible when the setting guarantees no chance of eavesdropping — and when the setting is quiet enough for everyone to be heard (which isn’t easy in the cacophony of many restaurants!).
In cities like New York and San Francisco, finding a truly quiet restaurant is rare. That’s why we always book private rooms – and we’ve included a list of places with the best private rooms (in our humble opinion), at the bottom.
At these dinners, BCV investors join industry executives in feeling comfortable and motivated to participate, offering their unfiltered perspectives on emerging trends and opportunities from an investor's point-of-view. The dynamics yield a win-win scenario for all attendees.
Pro Tip: When selecting a venue in busy cities like NYC or SF, always visit during peak dinner hours to assess the noise level. We recommend private rooms that are separate from the main dining area — ideally on a different floor. Look for spaces with carpets or curtains, as they help absorb sound. Avoid modern, all-concrete rooms; we’ve learned the hard way that they’re far from ideal for fostering intimate conversations.
Content-Driven Conversation
While we want the conversation to feel organic, we also ensure it covers topics people care about. To do this, we survey attendees beforehand to gauge their interests and have notable participants kick things off. We assign up to two people to loosely guide the discussion, making sure key topics are addressed and the dialogue stays engaging.
At an executive dinner with a more technical crowd, we assumed AI would be the main topic of interest, but when we surveyed the group beforehand we discovered they were experiencing AI fatigue and were tired of the conversation dominating every discussion. Since we took the time to gather their input, we were able to pivot and focus on topics that hadn’t been touched on in a while and that truly interested our executives at the table.
Pro tip: Print out a summary of the survey responses for the speakers to refer to. We know they’re experts on the subject matter, but it’s always good to have a reminder and reference to keep the conversation on track and hitting all the topics attendees want.
It's The Little Things
The small details are what make an event truly special. Create a seating chart to ensure relevant connections. If attendees are meeting for the first time, provide name tags that include their names and companies. Add a touch of elegance with florals — not only do they enhance the ambiance, but guests can take them home as a keepsake. Finally, do your homework. Learn a bit about each guest beforehand so you can spark personalized conversations that make them feel valued.
Prioritizing venues makes the event itself feel truly exclusive. This could mean a restaurant that’s always booked solid, a space with stunning design that’s elegant and unique, or a spot everyone’s talking about — whether because of a buzzworthy chef, a creative menu or its reputation as the place to be. Not only does it make the evening unforgettable, but it also boosts attendance.
Pro Tip: Personal touches go a long way! When making an impression, going above and beyond leaves a lasting impact. For example, we’ve created branded cocktail kits for C-suite attendees with a passion for mixology or served branded cake pops featuring a guest’s company logo. Those extra efforts always stand out and make the experience unforgettable.
A Quick Trip Down Executive Dinner Memory Lane
One of our most memorable executive dinners was for our CFO Advisory board, and was held at Torrisi, the design-infused Italian spot in SoHo. We received several emails afterward praising not only the caliber of the attendees but also the incredible space and food. Some even reached out just to ask how they could snag a reservation for themselves on a regular night. (FYI: Reservations open on Resy at 10 AM, 30 days in advance — but I’ve heard you might also have luck snagging a walk-in spot at the bar during lunch!)
Venues we love from coast to coast:
NYC
SF
