Best games to play at a founder meetup
The best games for founder meetups are quick, competitive, and reward pitching. Here are formats that turn a generic founder happy hour into a real connection.
May 3, 2026 · 2 min read
Q: What are the best games to play at a founder meetup?
Quick competitive games that reward pitching. Most founder meetups default to a happy hour with name tags and awkward circles. A game changes the social contract because everyone is doing the same thing on the same timer, which makes connection automatic.
The story
SideHustle is a comedy game show built specifically for this audience (recap of the first filmed show). The format scales down too. At a meetup of 30 to 50 founders, we run a compressed version: each small group brainstorms an absurd-but-plausible business idea, pitches it in 60 seconds, and the room scores on Funny + Fundable. The competitive structure handles the awkwardness. By the second round, founders who had never met are arguing about whether a startup that delivers ice to other ice deliveries would actually work. That is the kind of conversation a normal meetup never gets to. For everything you need to know about the live show this format scaled up from, see our complete guide to SideHustle® LIVE.
What it means
Founder meetups should be designed, not just hosted. A 15-minute structured game in the middle of the night turns the room from passive networking into active conversation. People remember the game; the connections happen as a side effect.
Try it
- Play free at playsidehustle.com
- See us live: Sept 25 at Pershing Hall in Austin. luma.com/playsidehustle
- Email team@playsidehustle.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should the meetup be for a structured game?+
15 to 100 works. Smaller and you do not need the structure; larger and you need a stage.
Do founders actually want to play games?+
Yes, when the game looks like work. Founders are competitive and would rather pitch than small-talk.