What did we expect to happen?

We expected that embedding our event within a larger one and inviting friends would naturally lead to strong participation and organic interest

What actually happened?

People were interested, but engagement was uneven. Some stayed briefly, others needed more context, and participation depended heavily on personal invitations and timing

What assumptions were wrong?

We assumed that being present inside a larger event would be enough to guarantee attention and participation. We underestimated the competition for attention and the need for explicit onboarding

What did we learn that we didn’t know before?

We learned that community participation needs to be actively designed. Clear calls to action, facilitation, and social cues matter as much as the idea itself

One honest insight from something that didn’t work

Simply “showing up” with a good concept isn’t a product

What did it save us from building?

It saved us from investing in a standalone venue, full production, and recurring event series before validating real engagement and retention