ATARAXIA
Ataraxia Community

People first.
Legacy forever.

An invite-only network of operators, investors, and creatives committed to building concepts that endure — through trust, shared values, and curated opportunity.

Apply to Join Learn more
The experience

Part pitch. Part dinner party.
Part concert. 100% real.

We gather a few times a year in intimate settings — curated evenings that challenge thinking, surface opportunity, and build the kind of trust that makes business feel like community.

01
Refined Thinking
Candid conversations under the Chatham House Rule — participants use the ideas freely, but neither the identity nor affiliation of speakers is ever revealed.
02
Curated pitches
Sharp, real, and relevant. Each pitch is vetted for quality. Members engage with opportunities worth their time — no noise, no fluff.
03
Chef dinner
Dinner with celebrated local chefs in intimate settings. Food and conversation around a shared table — the original trust-building technology.
04
Live music & art
Community is built on culture as much as capital. Every gathering features curated art and live music that sets the tone for something worth remembering.
Why we built this

Capital markets
are broken.

01
Exits over endurance
Investors chase exits, forcing operators into short-term wins over long-term health. Companies get built to sell, not to last.
02
Structures strip value
Dilution and over-leveraged structures leave founders holding less of what they built. The people who grow companies rarely capture the upside.
03
Access is limited
Private investment remains closed off. Values-aligned partners are scarce. The best opportunities rarely reach the people best positioned to act on them.
What is Ataraxia Community

A trust-based network built to multiply.

It's our conviction that surrounding ourselves with people who share our values is how we build something extraordinary — not just companies, but a living network that multiplies opportunities and impact. When the right people are in the room, deals get sharper, networks get stronger, and long-term wins become easier to spot.

Network that
compounds
Every connection multiplies. Warm introductions and open doors accelerate what would otherwise take years to build alone.
Ideas worth
acting on
Experts lead conversations under the Chatham House Rule — candor flows freely and the best thinking rises to the top.
Trust-based
investing
Only members source deals where they're truly involved. Opportunities backed by genuine conviction and real skin in the game.
Talent
in the room
Founders, operators, executives, and creatives — vetted and values-aligned. Your next hire or partner is already at the table.
Business
gets done
Transactions close, contracts get signed, disputes get resolved — because trust is already established before the conversation starts.
Membership

Simple. Sustainable.
Committed.

Annual membership
$3,000/yr
Not about profit — about making this sustainable,
just like everything we build at Ataraxia.
  • Two flagship gatherings per year
  • Full SPV management for group co-investments
  • Access to curated investment opportunities
  • Eligibility to attend any chapter’s events (space permitting)
  • Access to a trust-based network of 65 members per market
Apply to Join

The right people belong in the room regardless of where they are financially. If membership dues are a barrier, apply anyway — we offer full and partial fee reductions for the right fit.

Membership is invite-only and capped at 65 seats per market. More than the dollars, it’s your commitment to show up, engage, and contribute. The true value is in the trust, ideas, and opportunities we create together.

Our code of conduct

These values are not aspirational — they are the standard we hold ourselves and every member to.

  • Excel In Integrity
    Our handshake is as good as our signature.
    Our reputation is built on doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. Never cut corners. Always honor your word. Integrity defines our legacy.
  • Build On Adversity
    It’s all about how you get back up.
    Challenges are inevitable. We embrace them as opportunities to learn and grow stronger. With grit and resolve, we overcome obstacles and forge a brighter future.
  • Choose Steadfast Optimism
    Conquer with camaraderie, not toxicity.
    A determined, optimistic mindset is the key to success. Our positivity empowers teammates, clients, and stakeholders. We refuse negativity — it undermines our purpose.
  • Use Sound Judgement
    Make wise decisions despite ambiguity.
    Think critically, weigh the impact, and choose wisely. Our commitment to excellence demands thoughtful decisions that serve our purpose and our people.
  • Balance Your Being
    Find your center, achieve your peak.
    Balance is a must for sustained success. We remain adaptable. We work hard and we rest hard. We consider the goals of the organization and the needs of our people.
October 7, 2025

Inaugural
Event.

51 participants. Every corner of the ecosystem we set out to build — creatives, hospitality, professional services, executives, capital markets, founders, and entrepreneurs. In the room were leading researchers, thought leaders, operators of companies from startups to $100M+, world-class designers, a student founder, and some of the sharpest minds in the region.

The evening moved from welcome drinks at Habit Coffee into a Refined Thinking conversation that challenged the room to rethink how they operate during the current industrial AI revolution and in-between times. Many attendees described it as one of the most practically relevant conversations they’d had about AI and business.

Pitches from Boyd Cycling and Strada Capital drew overwhelmingly positive feedback. The work of visual artist Joni Bleu set the tone throughout the evening — layered, evocative, and impossible to ignore. Dinner by Chef Sarah McClure of Southside Smokehouse held the room together, and Johnny Delaware of SUSTO closed the night with a set that felt like the perfect ending to something that felt like a beginning.

Throughout the night, connections formed between people who had never worked together before — sparking new collaborations, reengaging dormant proposals, and generating fresh perspectives on how to build and grow. This is what we built Ataraxia Community for.

See the next event
Next events

Fall 2026
Two Markets.

Low Country SC
When
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Arrival 5:20–5:30 PM · Please be punctual
Where
Founder’s Hall
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site · 1500 Old Towne Rd, Charleston, SC 29407
Attire
Smart Casual to Business
Comfort encouraged.
Upstate SC
When
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Arrival 5:20–5:30 PM · Please be punctual
Where
Cleveland Park Event Center
141 N Cleveland Park Dr, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Attire
Smart Casual to Business
Comfort encouraged.

Meet up, connect, spark ideas, be energized, and build community. Two curated evenings this fall — same agenda, two markets. Held under the Chatham House Rule.

Evening Schedule
5:30–6:25 PM
Welcome & Pitches
Connect over crafty beverages courtesy of The Drink Machine while attending curated pitches in a rapid, interview-style format with interactive interest indication giving real-time insight and immediate feedback.
6:35–7:10 PM
Chatham House Chat
Christopher Pusey — longtime New York art dealer, gallerist, curator, and founder of CP Fine Art, LLC. Art advisory and owner of Dorian Grey Gallery. Decades of experience connecting artists, collectors, and culture across established and emerging voices.
7:20–8:30 PM
Dinner by Scottie Blackley
Atlanta-based Chef Scottie Blackley is known for creative, flavor-driven cuisine blending traditional family recipes with innovative twists. A bicoastal private chef who regularly treats the hungry folks of Greater Los Angeles to Southern culinary style. Four courses, expressive wine pairings from Jeff House of Bond Street Wines, and curated art selections from Joseph McMillin’s collection.
8:35–9:35 PM
Music by Jacob Kynard
Jacob Kynard is an Alabama-born singer-songwriter rooted in Americana, folk, and the storytelling traditions of the South. His debut album was recorded at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Mississippi. Joined by his right-hand man and bassist Dan Walker for a stripped-back performance that lets the songwriting lead.
9:35–9:45 PM
Wrap Up & Adjourn
Chatham House Rule

When a meeting is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.

Save the dates
Low Country SC
October 6, 2026
Arrival 5:20–5:30 PM
Founder’s Hall · Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site · Charleston, SC
Upstate SC
October 8, 2026
Arrival 5:20–5:30 PM
Cleveland Park Event Center · 141 N Cleveland Park Dr · Spartanburg, SC
BUILD

Never settle.
Build amazing.

Ataraxia Community is invite-only and capped at 65 seats per market. If you're ready to show up, engage, and contribute — we'd love to hear from you.

Request an invitation Visit ataraxia.co
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