An invite-only gathering for high-output founders and operators.
- Dates
- September 21–23, 2026
- Location
- Nashville, Tennessee
Invite-only · Off-the-record
Cabana is a small, off-the-record gathering of high-output founders and operators. No speakers, no panels. The program is built from the conversations the room wants to have. About two dozen attendees: small enough to remember every name, large enough that the conversation has range.
The format
How it works
Off-the-record
Chatham House Rule throughout. No press, no recordings. Post about the event if you want. The content of the conversations stays in the room.
No speakers
Programming runs as discussion pods, not talks. Each pod is led by whoever proposed the topic, and the agenda firms up the week before.
Parallel tracks
Three to four tracks run in parallel through the day, so eight or more topics get covered. Attendees pick the conversations that resonate most and join those.
The room
Who it's for
Most of the group are fellow Seed and Series A founding CEOs. We've designed Cabana around building a community of operators looking to engage deeply on topics someone in the room is experiencing or navigated through. Everyone will have run or is currently running product, engineering, go-to-market.
The room runs on intellectually honest conversations protected by a mutual desire for discretion. Maximal trust with maximal learning.
Sample schedule
A rough shape of the days
A sketch of the days. Programming runs for one full day, with arrivals and a slow morning around it.
Day 1
Mon, Sep 21 · Arrival- Afternoon
- Arrive in Nashville, explore on your own
- 6:00 PM
- Welcome dinner
Day 2
Tue, Sep 22 · Programming- 8:30 AM
- Breakfast
- 10:00 AM
- Conversation track I
- 11:00 AM
- Conversation track II
- 12:30 PM
- Lunch
- 2:00 PM
- Conversation track III
- 3:00 PM
- Conversation track IV
- 4:00 PM
- Hang time, catch up, get ready
- 6:30 PM
- Dinner
Day 3
Wed, Sep 23 · OptionalMost depart in the morning. The rest is open for anyone staying on.
- 9 AM – 12 PM
- Breakfast / AI show & tell / Co-work at Malin
Sample topics
What might come up
A sketch of the conversations the room might run. Attendees propose the actual agenda the week before.
- Fundraising in a tighter market
- Cap tables and QSBS
- Building AI-native product orgs
- Hiring and firing executives
- Founder-CEO transitions
- M&A decisions
- Boards that actually help
- Pricing and going upmarket
- Founder health
With support from
Sponsors
A short list of partners who underwrite Cabana to help keep it affordable. They participate in the room, not from a stage.
Travel & venue
Where we'll be
The venue
The full day of programming is at a beautiful venue downtown. Dinners are at restaurants around the city. Everything is close by.
Travel and lodging
Fly into Nashville (BNA), a short Uber from downtown. Attendees cover travel and lodging. We will make hotel recommendations soon.
FAQ
A few questions
What does "off-the-record" mean here?
Conversations stay in the room. No press, no recording, no social posts during or after. Chatham House Rule applies: you can use what you learn, but not who said it.
How do invitations work?
By referral, with a short conversation. We curate for fit, not pedigree. If someone you trust suggested you reach out, mention them in your note.
What's included?
All meals, the venue, and the day of programming, underwritten by sponsors. Attendees cover travel and lodging. We will make hotel recommendations soon.
Is there a deposit?
Yes. After applying, we will reach out to collect a $500 attendee deposit. It reserves your spot and is refunded in full when you attend the event. The deposit is non-refundable for no-shows, as this is a small, curated event with limited spots.
Are there speakers or panels?
No. The program is built from the conversations attendees want to have. Tracks are proposed and led by the group.