Key Search
Café.
An invitation-only networking event designed for leaders, founders and CEOs. Sharp conversations, fresh perspectives, and high-value connections — all in a relaxed, intimate setting.
Fireside format
Panel discussion, Q&A and small group dialogue — no death-by-slide.
Coffee & networking
Good conversation and good coffee, always on us.
Curated guest list
Invitation-only. Every attendee is a peer.
Intimate venues
Carefully selected spaces in cities across Europe and the US.
No upcoming events scheduled yet.
Want to get involved or sponsor a future edition? eugenia@keysearch.com
Past Editions
6 events6 Fundraising Tactics from Someone Who Raised $100M+
In this Zurich edition we're diving into one of the most critical and tactical challenges facing female founders today: how to navigate the "Silent Barrier" of the funding gap and secure high-impact capital. While female-led startups in Switzerland hit a record CHF 219M in funding in 2024, they still represent only ~10% of total rounds. This edition brings together a select group of female founders (Seed to Series C), VCs, and ecosystem leaders for a sharp, interactive morning of insight and exchange. Together we'll explore 6 fundraising tactics from someone who raised $100M+ — covering why fundraising is hard (and harder for female founders), the ABF mindset, the signaling game, pivoting from defence to offence in Q&A, and more. The event will take place at AYUN, a wellbeing and longevity clinic, where you'll also have the opportunity to discover the latest in health and longevity innovation.
The Human Side of Restructuring
When jobs are on the line, how leaders act defines what they stand for. This interactive session explores how HR and executive decision-makers can guide restructuring processes that preserve dignity, avoid cultural damage, and protect long-term trust. We unpack real-world strategies for how to restructure without breaking culture, how to lead with transparency and empathy, and how to support those affected while keeping teams aligned and engaged.
Matthias Mittelsten Scheid opened the session by reframing the question: restructuring is not primarily a process challenge — it is a communication and trust challenge. The mechanics of redundancy are often handled adequately; what fails is the human experience of those going through it and those who remain.
Driving AI Adoption to Future-Proof Your Team
One of the most urgent and transformative topics facing leadership teams today: how to adopt and leverage AI effectively across organisations and teams. This edition brings together a select group of founders, VCs, and people leaders from scaling tech companies for a sharp, interactive morning of insight and exchange. Together we explore what successful AI adoption really looks like, how to equip your teams and culture to adapt and thrive, and practical, human-centric strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
The session opened with a clear framing: AI adoption is not a technology problem — it is a leadership and culture problem. The companies that are winning with AI are not necessarily those with the largest budgets or most engineers; they are those where senior leaders have made a deliberate decision to embed AI into how the organisation learns and operates.
The Alchemy of Growth
An intimate morning session for founders, operators, and growth leaders in Barcelona exploring the intersection of startup culture, leadership, and sustainable growth. What separates the companies that scale with purpose from those that grow without direction? Join a select group of leaders for sharp, practical dialogue — with great coffee and time to connect.
Growth Centric Cultures. Grow Beyond.
Why do some leaders thrive in the face of challenges while others stall? The key lies in mindset. A growth mindset — the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed — has been linked to higher achievement, resilience, and innovation. Fostering this mindset is a cultural shift that impacts hiring, leadership, and business success. Join us as we explore growth mindset vs. fixed mindset, how founders and leaders can drive a growth-oriented company culture, and actionable strategies for hiring, performance reviews, and leadership development.
Building High-Performing Teams at Every Growth Milestone
Opportunity to connect with founders and investors from our close network in New York, and to explore one of the most pressing challenges for startups — hiring top talent at different stages of growth. Co-hosted with Lisa Eisenstat, an exceptional leader with a stellar track record in global, high-growth environments: she scaled Supernal from 50 to 650+ employees in under three years, redesigned recruitment across 52 countries at CommScope saving $1M+ in year one, and brings diverse experience from Bechtel, Rockwell Automation, and Travelers. ☕️ Good conversation and good coffee is on us.
Get Involved
Want to sponsor or co-host a future edition?
We bring together leaders, founders and CEOs across Europe and the US. If you want to partner with Key Search Café, we'd love to hear from you.