What Is Dunbar’s Number?
British anthropologist Robin Dunbar discovered that humans can maintain about 150 meaningful relationships – enough to create community, but few enough to truly know one another. This limit, known as Dunbar’s Number, represents the threshold where trust and familiarity begin to thin out. Beyond that point, relationships become less personal and more transactional.
According to the theory, the tightest circle contains about five people – your loved ones. The next layer includes around 15 close friends, followed by 50 friends, 150 meaningful contacts, 500 acquaintances, and 1,500 people you recognize. People naturally move in and out of these layers, but the key insight is that space must be created for new entrants. Every connection requires emotional energy and attention, so the deeper the relationship, the more investment it takes to sustain.
At Kayo, we focus on that middle layer – about 150 meaningful professional connections. It’s within this circle that trust, opportunity, and collaboration thrive. When everyone fits in the same ballroom, you can meet someone at breakfast and see her again at lunch. You remember names, faces, and stories. That repetition builds comfort and connection – the foundation of real relationships.
Why It Matters
Once groups grow beyond 150, communication weakens and cliques form. Smaller gatherings encourage depth, openness, and genuine dialogue. They give everyone a voice.
We’ve seen that firsthand. Our community thrives not because of how many people attend, but because of who attends and how they engage. We carefully curate a mix of investors, executives, and advisors who bring insight, warmth, and curiosity to every conversation. The result? A space where the right 150 women can move mountains together.
How to Leverage Dunbar’s Number in Events
Kayo is both intentional and disciplined about maintaining event size. Keeping attendance around 150 isn’t an accident – it’s a design choice. Our smaller scale allows us to curate a diverse mix of backgrounds and perspectives, creating multi-dimensional networking that mirrors the complexity of the industries we serve. Each event brings together investors, executives, lenders, advisors, and innovators in the same room, so every conversation feels fresh and reciprocal, not repetitive or transactional.
This is a deliberate contrast to the “mega conferences” that dominate the calendar – large gatherings with thousands of attendees, where the rooms overflow with service providers and you leave with a stack of business cards but few meaningful connections. At Kayo, we choose quality over quantity. You don’t have to search for the people you actually want to meet; they’re already in the room.
Our events are intentionally structured around the power of scale within scale – moments that naturally reflect Dunbar’s tiers of connection. You’ll find:
• 150 total attendees forming the broader professional community.
• 50-person breakout discussions that allow for more focused exchange and shared expertise.
• 10-person discussion tables during the Table Talk Lunch, where conversations deepen in a relaxed, guided setting.
• Groups of 3–5 during social activities such as the Wind-Down Walk, where laughter and storytelling turn colleagues into friends.
• 1:1 meetings in the Networking Hall, designed for targeted, high-value introductions.
Each tier is intentionally crafted to foster interaction at every level – from meaningful group dialogue to genuine one-on-one connection.
One of our signature experiences, the Wind-Down Walk, has become a beloved tradition. Attendees step outside together to stretch their legs, unwind, and enjoy informal conversation after a full day of learning and connection. It’s a chance to breathe fresh air, clear your mind, and connect more naturally. Conversations that begin in the ballroom often deepen during the walk, when the pace slows, laughter flows, and real relationships form.
Another favorite tradition is our Table Talk Lunch. Guests join peers for a seated lunch featuring curated conversations on timely topics not covered on stage. Each table is guided to encourage introductions and candid dialogue, creating a relaxed environment where conversation flows naturally and connections form easily.
The Table Talk Lunch blends purposeful networking with engaging content. With branded table experiences and a photographer capturing the energy of the room, this session is designed to leave you with both fresh insights and lasting relationships.
These experiences – the Wind-Down Walk, Table Talk Lunch, and other moments – are all part of our intentional design for depth over scale.
How to Maintain Your Network Post-Event
The real power of 150 begins after the event. Relationships need attention to grow.
Try these three simple habits to keep your tribe alive:
• Follow up within a week with a short, personal note or LinkedIn message.
• Reconnect quarterly with an update, article, or invitation to coffee.
• Give before you ask. Share insights, make introductions, or celebrate others’ wins.
When you nurture your network with generosity and intention, the 150 connections you make can become the foundation of a lifelong professional community.
What Our Community Says
Our attendees often tell us that the intimacy of a Kayo event is what makes it memorable.
“Aptly curated and well-attended. I always walk away with valuable connections and genuine relationships.”
— Kemi Christina Abdul, Managing Director, Blue Haven Initiative
“I left with a great network of women who I know I can reach out to any time.”
— Carrie Green, Senior Portfolio Manager, State of Tennessee
“I felt like I was in a giant safe cloud with friends.”
— Anonymous Attendee
“Empowerment from people who may not be colleagues but feel like colleagues.”
— Marina Schwartzman, Apogem Capital
Comments like these remind us that when events are thoughtfully designed for depth, not scale, people notice – and they come back.
The Power of a “Tribe”
Relationships are the currency of success. Deals get done through trust. Careers advance through reputation. Communities grow when people feel seen and supported.
At Kayo, that’s our magic. We don’t just host conferences; we build tribes small enough to feel personal yet powerful enough to shape industries.