Pendulum has built a reputation for curating high-impact experiences that bring together innovators, creators, and investors. From Formula 1 and Art Basel to Fashion Week and music festivals featuring Tiësto and The Chainsmokers, the company has mastered the art of blending culture and commerce. Now, CEO Magnolia Sevenler is bringing that same philosophy to the startup ecosystem with the Founders Series, a curated, intimate gathering designed to spark meaningful relationships and drive real outcomes.
Grit Daily sat down with Sevenler to talk about what she’s learned from producing iconic cultural moments, how Pendulum is reframing the way founders and investors connect, and why intentionality is the future of startup funding.
Grit Daily: Pendulum has produced experiences at Formula 1, Art Basel, Fashion Week, and even music festivals. What did those cultural moments teach you about building community?
Magnolia Sevenler: They taught me that environment matters as much as who’s in the room. At places like Art Basel or F1, people are energized, open, and curious — so connections formed there tend to last.
We learned early that founders and investors don’t just want transactional introductions; they want experiences that inspire them, spark creativity, and set the tone for real collaboration. That mindset is at the heart of Pendulum. Our DNA is rooted in designing spaces where relationships feel natural, not forced.
Grit Daily: How does that philosophy translate into the Founders Series?
Magnolia Sevenler: The Founders Series was designed to challenge the idea that bigger is better. We focus on small, high-quality gatherings where every guest is selected with purpose. The goal isn’t to have hundreds of people in a room; it’s to create a setting where a single conversation can change someone’s trajectory.
We build these experiences like a product — testing, refining, and optimizing for connection. That means thinking deeply about flow. Who meets whom first? Where does the conversation happen? How do we create a natural rhythm that gives people room to open up? It’s all intentional. The result is a space where founders feel supported, investors feel confident, and conversations feel organic rather than transactional.
Grit Daily: The startup funding landscape is shifting. How are you approaching this moment to help founders raise capital more effectively?
Magnolia Sevenler: Startup funding is showing signs of recovery, but we’re still far from the peaks of 4-5 years ago. Global startup funding reached $91 billion in the first six months of 2025, but the challenge isn’t just the volume of capital — it’s the signal-to-noise ratio. There’s a disconnect between founders who need funding and investors looking for strong opportunities.
Founders often feel like they’re pitching endlessly to the wrong people, while investors can waste months chasing deals that aren’t a fit. Our approach is to solve that inefficiency through curation. By carefully choosing who’s in the room, we create a more direct path to meaningful partnerships. It’s not about collecting business cards; it’s about leaving with a handful of deep conversations that can actually change a company’s trajectory.
We’re also extending that ecosystem beyond physical events. Our newsletter has become a trusted platform where founders and investors can start conversations, share insights, and maintain momentum in between events. It’s a network that grows with every gathering, creating a year-round connection point for the community.
Grit Daily: What kind of founders and investors are you bringing together?
Magnolia Sevenler: We focus on high-growth sectors — Web3, AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and next-generation consumer innovation — because that’s where the next category-defining companies are emerging. But what we’re really curating for is mindset. We want founders who are bold, visionary, and building for scale, and investors who are willing to take early, informed bets on those teams.
Every city we host in has its own identity. New York is a powerhouse for fintech, enterprise SaaS, and Web3. Los Angeles has incredible momentum in AI, consumer products, and entertainment technology. By tailoring programming to each city’s strengths, we ensure that conversations feel relevant and actionable. The goal is to make each gathering feel like it belongs to the community we’re serving.
Grit Daily: Why launch first in New York and Los Angeles?
Magnolia Sevenler: New York and LA are unique because they combine density with culture. Both cities are home to a high concentration of founders, investors, and ambitious startups, but they’re also cultural capitals. That mix is powerful because founders aren’t just looking for capital; they’re looking for a network, for peers who think at their level, for creative inspiration.
We see these cities as our anchor points. They’re where we can build a strong foundation of trust and momentum. From there, we’re expanding globally to hubs like London, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The playbook we’re building in New York and LA will scale, but it always starts with building authentic relationships locally.
Grit Daily: Networking events often feel shallow. What makes this different?
Magnolia Sevenler: We design for outcomes, not optics. That means a level of precision you don’t often see in this space. Our panels, roundtables, and networking sessions are carefully structured to ensure that every attendee has meaningful interactions. We don’t leave things to chance; we engineer opportunities for people to connect.
The conversations themselves are also different. We bring in founders who have lived through acquisitions, scaling challenges, and pivots, and we encourage them to share lessons openly. Investors come not just to meet companies but to build trust. That combination creates a rare level of depth that sets us apart from events that are focused on volume or branding rather than value.
Grit Daily: As CEO, what’s been your biggest challenge in building Pendulum?
Magnolia Sevenler: Convincing people that intimacy is scalable. There’s an assumption in the events world that success is measured by headcount, but we’ve proven that smaller, curated gatherings can create more impact than massive conferences.
In the early days, it was a challenge to hold that line because people naturally equate growth with size. But as soon as they experienced one of our events, they understood the power of curation. We’ve built trust because we never compromise on quality. Every attendee feels that they belong in the room, and that makes the relationships built there stronger.
Grit Daily: What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Magnolia Sevenler: There have been so many moments, but nothing beats hearing a founder say, “I met my lead investor at Pendulum,” or “That meeting changed my company’s future.” Those are tangible outcomes that prove our model works.
We’ve had founders close rounds, form partnerships, and even find co-founders through these gatherings. Seeing the ripple effect of those connections — the companies launched, the jobs created, the innovation unlocked — makes all the work worthwhile. That’s the impact we measure ourselves by.
Grit Daily: What can people expect at the first Founders Series events this fall?
Magnolia Sevenler: Each city has a unique focus. On October 14 in Los Angeles, we’re hosting a Web3 and tech-focused event with RYT Chain, featuring top founders, venture funds, and family offices. We’re designing sessions that go beyond the hype to focus on actionable strategies and lessons.
In New York, the spotlight will be on exits. Founders who’ve successfully navigated acquisitions will share unfiltered stories about what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known earlier. These conversations are incredibly valuable because they come from experience, not theory.
Grit Daily: What advice would you give to early-stage founders right now?
Magnolia Sevenler: Be deliberate about everything — from who you pitch to how you spend your time. Fundraising isn’t just about finding someone to invest; it’s about finding a partner who shares your vision. Early decisions shape a company’s culture and trajectory, so alignment matters.
Our role is to create environments that make those connections easier, but founders still need to show up prepared. The ones who succeed are intentional about their story, their vision, and their relationships.
Grit Daily: If I’m a founder or investor reading this, why should I be there?
Magnolia Sevenler: Because the conversations happening in these rooms don’t happen anywhere else. The Founders Series brings together people who are shaping industries — founders building the next category leaders and investors ready to back them early.
We design every detail so that time spent here has a return. You’re not just meeting people; you’re building relationships that can influence your company’s trajectory. If you’re serious about growth, this is the table you want to be sitting at.
