Networking Hangouts are connection-first gatherings designed to help business owners build real relationships in comfortable, pressure-free space.
Heyven is a free-to-browse online directory designed to help people discover and support Minnesota’s small businesses, creators, and nonprofits. At its core, Heyven is about visibility, access, and connection making it easier for people to find one another and grow together.
As the directory grew, one thing became clear: people didn’t just want to be discovered online. They wanted spaces where connection could happen in real life, without pressure or pretense. Traditional networking often felt stiff, transactional, and disconnected from how people actually build relationships.
So we decided to do it differently.
Since launching our networking events, Heyven has brought together just over 300 attendees and helped spark more than 600+ meaningful connections.
In late 2023, as our community continued to expand, we began exploring how to bring people together in a more intentional way.
Through partnerships with coworking spaces like Coco, we saw an opportunity to merge growing networks inside thoughtfully designed, welcoming environments. In 2024, those conversations became Heyven’s signature Networking Hangouts — events created to help people close their laptops, show up as themselves, and focus on what matters most: connection.
A Networking Hangout is something unique to Heyven.
Structured like a networking event but designed to feel cozy and relaxed, these gatherings remove the pressure that often comes with traditional networking. They’re hosted in comfortable spaces, paired with good food and light refreshments, and intentionally kept intimate so conversations can unfold naturally.
There’s no pitching. No forced introductions. Just people, in the same room, connecting at their own pace.
Inclusivity is built into every Heyven Networking Event.
Upon arrival, attendees can pick up a Conversation Starter card — a thoughtful, open-ended prompt designed to make starting a conversation easier. These cards help ease anxiety and lower the pressure of “knowing what to say,” while still allowing conversations to grow organically.
People are free to use the cards, ignore them, jump into conversations, or simply observe. There is no right way to participate — only an invitation to belong.
That’s okay. You’re still welcome.
Heyven Networking Events are intentionally built for people who feel unsure, overwhelmed, or burned out by traditional networking. Support is always available, whether that means gentle tips, introductions, or encouragement to engage in whatever way feels most comfortable.
The goal isn’t to perform. It’s to connect.
When people feel comfortable, real outcomes follow.
Across our events, partnerships have formed, paid opportunities have emerged, and ongoing relationships have taken shape. People stay connected beyond the room, continue sharing opportunities, and show up for one another in meaningful ways.
These results aren’t accidental — they’re the product of an environment designed around trust, care, and human connection.
At the heart of every Heyven Networking Event is a simple promise:
You won’t have to be anyone else here.
All identities and backgrounds are celebrated. Come as you are — curious, nervous, confident, or unsure. Heyven Networking Events exist to make connection feel comfortable again, because when people feel comfortable, meaningful relationships can grow.
