SF is back - and the tech social scene is being run by the terminally online
TLDR
- SF’s tech social scene now runs entirely through X: online mutuals replace warm intros, and Partiful invites replace conference badges.
Key Takeaways
- Access follows a three-step funnel: X follows, then group chats, then Partiful event invites – no warm intro required.
- Events are held in living rooms and rooftops, not restaurants; little to no alcohol because attendees already know each other.
- Gatherings are age-diverse and organized around ideas, not life stages or employer affiliations.
- At least one SF resident reports meeting zero local connections outside X and X-populated events.
- Romantic partnerships increasingly form after months of online intellectual engagement before any in-person meeting.
Why It Matters
- The gatekeeping mechanism for SF’s professional network has shifted from conference attendance and warm intros to public posting history and online mutuals.
- Venues no longer do the social work of creating comfort among strangers – that work happens on X before anyone shows up.
- If this model spreads, cities that previously required physical presence to build professional networks may see that advantage erode.
Katie Kirsch, Andreessen Horowitz · 2026-04-09 · Read the original
