The Tech Bros Are Going to Etiquette School

2026-05-18 · Source: Technology - WSJ.com · Field: Business & Management — Entrepreneurship & Start-ups, Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Consulting & Professional Services · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Slow Ventures, a venture capital firm, hosted a four-hour "etiquette class" in March for approximately 50 tech founders at Maxwell Social, a private members' club in lower Manhattan. The event, which included activities like "caviar bumps" and discussions on wine pairings and networking, aimed to teach soft skills crucial for success in the AI era. The underlying premise is that as AI commoditizes technical tasks like coding, human qualities such as charisma, grace, and the ability to build trust become paramount for founders to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Sam Lessin, a founding partner at Slow Ventures, emphasized that instilling customer trust now outweighs technical genius, especially when seeking access to critical data.

Key takeaway

For entrepreneurs and investors navigating the AI landscape, your ability to cultivate soft skills like charisma, grace, and trust is now a critical differentiator. As AI automates technical tasks, your personal demeanor and interpersonal effectiveness will increasingly determine your success in securing partnerships, funding, and customer loyalty. Focus on developing these "human" qualities to stand out and build lasting relationships.

Key insights

AI's rise makes soft skills like charisma and trust-building more critical than technical prowess for tech founders.

Principles

• Humanity differentiates in AI-saturated markets.
• Trust-building is paramount over technical genius.
• Commoditized coding elevates interpersonal skills.

Method

The etiquette class involved practical exercises like "caviar bumps," scent fanning, and discussions on hosting, fundraising, and wine pairings to cultivate social acumen and "reading the room."

In practice

• Practice mindful networking.
• Refine hosting and presentation skills.
• Prioritize building customer trust.

Topics

• Etiquette Training
• Soft Skills
• AI Era Impact
• Tech Founders
• Slow Ventures

Best for: Entrepreneur, Investor, Director of AI/ML

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Technology - WSJ.com.