Cape Town

Bringing founders together as friends.

A social community for people building businesses. Dinners, hikes, drinks, padel, saunas, whatever sounds fun. Show up, say hi, see what happens. Just be a good person.

See what's coming up →

Founders and Friends started in a Cape Town bar. A few people building things, a few drinks, vulnerable conversations that resonated. We kept doing it.

Momentum snowballed. A few people turned into overcrowded socials. Then someone hosted a hike. Someone else organised a dinner. Padel happened. We ended up in a sauna.

Every gathering is hosted by a founder. The rule is simple: anything that brings founders together as friends is fair game.

Show up as you are. Buy someone a drink. Share a meal. Talk about what's exciting you right now. See where the connections go from there.

Upcoming gatherings

Here's what's coming up. RSVPs go through Luma — pick what you like, show up, say hi.

Trouble seeing the calendar? View on Luma

Past gatherings

A few moments from previous get-togethers.

The people behind it

Founders and Friends is hosted and held together by two people who genuinely love this stuff.

Brett Matheson

Co-host

Co-founder of Metavolve and The Foundry Reset. Author of The Scaling Founder. Started doing this because some of the best conversations of my life have happened over a meal with other founders. Big foodie. Plays padel, hikes the mountain, takes wellness seriously.

LinkedIn·Website

Melek Mourad

Co-host

Founder of Harmony Lab and host of The Real Work podcast. Originally Turkish, but nomadic at heart, based in CPT. I believe building a business is better in community, and we can go further together. Obsessed with authentic deep conversations, barefoot hikes, and the power of connection.

LinkedIn·Website

Get involved

Host a gathering

Got an idea for something you'd want to host? A hike, a dinner, a workout, a sauna session, something we haven't thought of? We'll help with the logistics, you bring the vibe.

Sponsor an experience

We're opening sponsor slots so we can do bigger, better gatherings — nicer venues, more interesting experiences. Sponsors get light brand visibility and, more importantly, get to show up and be part of the night.

Suggest something

Got an idea for a gathering but don't want to host it yourself? Drop it in the box.