During a three-hour journey from New York City to Washington, DC, our founder Jessica Sophia Wong created what would become the viral SXSW 2023 "Unofficial Events" master list — a curated spreadsheet of badge-free events happening across Austin. What began as a spontaneous project quickly became one of the most shared grassroots resources of the week.
Armed with a printed QR code, she walked the streets of Austin inviting founders and investors to scan and access the list. Within hours, it spread across the ecosystem. The signal was immediate and overwhelming.
With just one hour of planning, she hosted an exclusive Founders × Investors SXSW Mixer. It sold out immediately, with attendees turned away at the door.
Upon returning to New York, she expanded the concept — beginning with an Earth Day Charity Brunch and a curated WhatsApp group connecting founders and investors. That proof of concept evolved into Yorkseed™: an exclusive global venture network uniting high-caliber founders, strategic investors, and ecosystem leaders across major innovation hubs.
Today, Yorkseed connects a curated global network of founders, investors, and capital allocators across 50+ hubs and the world's most important innovation gatherings. Membership is selective. Every application is reviewed. Every member is re-verified annually.
Access is intentional. Connections are curated. Relationships compound.
