Fireside Chat: Andy Dunn, Founder of Bonobos (acq. $310m) & Pie
- Date
- 2026-04-21
- Location
- New York, NY, USA
- Host
- Andrew's Yeung's Tech Events
About this event
If you care about what it really takes to build, scale, and keep going as a founder, this is the kind of conversation worth showing up for. Andy Dunn has lived through the highs of building Bonobos into a category-defining brand and the complexity that comes with a $310 million acquisition, and now he’s building again with Pie. About the Event This special in-person fireside chat in New York brings together founders, operators, investors, and curious builders for a candid conversation with Andy Dunn. Rather than a polished keynote or a surface-level panel, the fireside chat format is designed to go deeper: a focused discussion on company building, decision-making, growth, resilience, and what changes when you move from one chapter of entrepreneurship to the next. The event sits at the intersection of tech, community, and networking, which means the value is not only in hearing from Andy, but also in being in the room with people who are actively thinking about products, companies, and leadership. If you like events where the conversation continues before and after the main program, this will feel especially relevant. Bonobos remains one of the better-known startup stories in modern consumer and tech circles, and Andy’s perspective is unusually useful because it spans multiple phases of building: early traction, scaling a brand, navigating acquisition, and starting something new. That range makes this event compelling whether you’re early in your journey or already deep into company building. What to Expect Expect an evening built around a live fireside conversation, with time to settle in, connect with other attendees, and hear a substantive discussion rather than a rapid-fire promo session. The tone should be thoughtful, grounded, and practical, especially for people who want lessons they can apply to their own work. Topics will likely center on the moments that matter most in building companies, including: Founding and early-stage momentum: how ideas become real businesses and what founders should focus on first Scaling and operating: what changes as a company grows, and where leaders often get tested Acquisition and transition: what a major outcome can teach you about strategy, identity, and next steps Starting again: the mindset shift from one successful chapter to a new venture like Pie Community and connection: why relationships matter in both company-building and long-term career growth Because this is an in-person event, you should also expect meaningful room energy: conversations before the program, reactions and shared context during the chat, and networking afterward with people who likely share your interests in startups, technology, and entrepreneurship. For attendees, that combination matters. The best fireside chats do two things well: they surface hard-earned insight from the speaker, and they create a setting where smart people meet each other around a common theme. This event is well-positioned to do both. Why Attend You should attend if you want more than generic startup advice. Andy Dunn’s experience offers a rare chance to hear from someone who has built a widely recognized company, seen the realities behind a major acquisition, and returned to the arena with a new venture. That makes the conversation especially valuable for anyone trying to understand not just success, but the full arc of entrepreneurship. There’s also strong value in the format itself. Fireside chats can reveal how experienced founders actually think: how they frame tradeoffs, how they interpret setbacks, and how they make decisions under uncertainty. Those are the kinds of insights that often don’t show up in polished interviews or short social clips. You may leave with: A sharper view of what building a company really demands over time Better questions to ask about growth, leadership, and timing in your own work Useful perspective on how startup stories evolve beyond headlines and funding announcements New connections with people in New York’s tech and founder ecosystem Inspiration that feels grounded in experience rather than hype For founders and operators especially, hearing from someone who has gone through multiple cycles of building can compress learning. It won’t hand you a blueprint, but it can help you think more clearly about your own next move. Practical Details This event takes place in person in New York, USA on Tuesday, April 21 at 6:00 PM EDT. The in-person setting is a key part of the experience, especially if you value spontaneous conversation, stronger networking, and the chance to engage with the event beyond the main stage discussion. Plan for an evening format. Arriving a little early is usually the best way to get settled, meet other attendees before the program begins, and make the most of the community aspect of the event. If networking is one of your goals, giving yourself time on either side of the conversation will make the event more valuable. A few helpful reminders: This is best suited for people who want substance, not just a quick social stop Come with context and curiosity if you want to get more out of the conversation Be ready to network with founders, operators, and other people interested in tech and community Treat it as both a learning opportunity and a room to meet peers If you’re in New York and want an evening that combines real founder perspective with a strong community crowd, this is a smart event to prioritize.
Who should attend
This is for people who want sharp founder insight and a strong room of peers, not passive inspiration. - You’re a **founder or aspiring founder** looking to learn from someone who has built, scaled, exited, and started again. - You work in **startups, tech, product, growth, brand, or operations** and want a more nuanced view of how companies evolve over time. - You’re an **investor, advisor, or ecosystem builder** who values firsthand perspective on entrepreneurship, leadership, and company inflection points. - You’re interested in the story behind **Bonobos, startup growth, acquisitions, and second acts**, and want to hear how those experiences connect. - You want **high-quality networking in New York** with people who care about business building, ideas, and community. - You appreciate events where the main conversation is strong, but the people in the room are part of the reason to attend. If you like candid conversations with experienced builders and you want to leave with both insight and new connections, you’ll likely feel at home here.