Social Skills is a monthly column featuring community groups where you can meet new people through exercise or other enjoyable activities.
“3-Person Indie Team, A Mobile Game, 3 Years, with $0 Revenue,” reads the slide behind the speaker. An unconventional topic for normal conversation, let alone a networking seminar. But that’s Fuckup Nights’ specialty: turning conventional thinking about business and entrepreneurship on its head.
Four speakers explain, using bullet points and diagrams, the reasons behind past failures – from not delegating enough to communicating poorly with clients to missing the warning signs of a foundering partner. The goal? Help attendees get smart about startup setbacks.
The event is a relatively recent import to Shenzhen. Fuckup Nights, which began in Mexico City in 2012, is a licensed brand similar to TEDx, with followings in over 250 cities around the world.
After a series of talks at Mod Bar, coworking chain SimplyWork took the reins this past September. So far three Fuckup Nights have been held at its Hi-Tech Park location and more are scheduled to take place every two or three months, alternating between Chinese and English.
According to main organizer Kiwi Lam, gatherings have gained traction among Shenzheners: the November English-language edition filled the 120-person space to capacity.
Even if speakers’ stories aren’t immediately useful to attendees, Lam speculates, they can still network with like-minded entrepreneurial types – an important step towards success or just, you know, not fucking up.
Tickets (including refreshments) cost RMB48-88. Search ‘Fuckup Nights’ on www.huodongxing.com for upcoming events. For more updates, follow official WeChat account ‘SimplyWork.’
See listing for SimplyWork (Hi-Tech Park).
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[Images via SimplyWork]
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