For the big launch, it couldn’t just be any party—it had to be the party. We partnered with a famous Italian artist popular among Gen Z, @sexdreams, not only for the event but also for the business model itself. Luca, aka Lyke, our internationally known DJ, joined forces with one of the biggest fraternities on the UC Berkeley campus, perfect for hosting as many people as possible. And what’s a party without the most beautiful and influential girls on campus? We didn’t have much budget to work with, but we maximized everything. Our plan? Make the event so epic that people would gladly download the app and create an account as their entry ticket.

Everything seemed set: bodyguards for the Italian artists, a famous influencer guest (Mia), the right music, motivated frat brothers running the house, and a campus buzzing with hype after days of teasing with the artist and sororities. Then, disaster struck—rain. All the plans fell apart. Picture this: an immense line of students trying to get in, soaked in rain, desperate downloading the app just to get inside. We did manage with the first wave of arrivals, but quickly realized it was a PR nightmare in the making. We called it off, knowing the negative reviews were coming (and they did—people who hadn’t even used the app left angry feedback).

Still, the party was a wild success. More than 500 people showed up despite the rain, crammed into every corner, and the night ended when the police and fire department arrived to shut it all down.