Every July, Calgary’s calendar fills up fast with Stampede breakfasts, open houses, and industry parties. That’s exactly why Private Exchange keeps its pre-Stampede gathering small. This year’s event, hosted in partnership with Bloom Benefits, brought together a curated group of Calgary entrepreneurs and business owners for an evening ahead of the Stampede rush.
Why we host a pre-Stampede gathering
It’s easy for real conversations to get lost in the noise of Stampede season. We built our pre-Stampede event around the opposite idea: a smaller guest list, more intentional introductions, and a room where you can actually hear the person you’re talking to. No stage, no pitch decks, just a well-curated group of people who are genuinely useful to know.
A partnership with Bloom Benefits
This year’s event was hosted in partnership with Bloom Benefits, whose focus on employee benefits and workplace wellbeing lined up naturally with the kind of founders and operators who make up the Private Exchange community. Having a sponsor in the room who understood the audience made for conversations that went deeper than the usual networking-event small talk.
What stood out
The best moments of the evening weren’t scripted. They were the sidebar conversations between founders comparing notes on the same hiring challenge, or a quick introduction that turned into a follow-up meeting the next week. That’s the outcome we design for at every Private Exchange event: fewer transactions, more relationships.
Missed this one? We host a handful of these gatherings throughout the year. Join our waiting list to be considered for an invitation to the next Private Exchange event.
