Meet Ben Lee, the mastermind behind the business networking event that's so hot, you probably won't be invited.

In the heart of New York City, behind the buxom facade of the acclaimed Zaha Hadid building in West Chelsea, unfolds an evening that redefines the paradigm of networking.

entrepreneurship, money matters — The event features a six-course dinner one might expect from a five-star restaurant, Image: @JessLicata

Enter Esthlos, an intimate soirée that artfully juxtaposes old-money opulence with a contemporary theme: Artificial Intelligence.

As the sun dips below the skyline, decadent aromas mingle with the clinking of fine crystal, setting the scene for an electrifying evening designed to forge friendships as lucrative as they are genuine.

And, unless you’ve got a seat at the table in one of tech's most influential corridors, you might just have to take my word for it.

Esthlos is the brainchild of Ben Lee, an accomplished restaurateur, influencer, serial entrepreneur, and the visionary Chief Marketing Officer of Formula.Monks, a global tech consulting firm driving AI-powered transformation.

entrepreneurship, money matters — The dinner itself is enough to stimulate conversation among guests, Image: @JessLicata

Lee earned his executive title, not only thanks to his decorated resumé, but also his uncanny talent for drawing some of the world’s most influential business minds from across disciplines into his closest inner circles.

Those who know him well have dubbed him ‘the nerd whisperer,’ a playful homage to his unusual talent for attracting this exceptionally intelligent cohort.

Lee frequently gathers his network of ‘nerds’ at Esthlos events in LA and New York, offering them an elegant setting to discuss their latest ventures.

Let’s get to it, what actually makes Lee different from the rest besides doing it many a time before you ask?

You’d agree with many who will say his only credential is making people comfortable with themselves, as a result, ideas start coming and they feel at ease.

He says, “It’s a kind of alternative networking experience. These events are far beyond a steak and baked potatoes networking event dinner - these are unforgettable culinary experiences.”

“If guests are all taking photos, sharing them on LinkedIn, tagging the chef on Instagram, then I feel like I’ve done my job.”

The renowned businessman and coach further explains what Esthlos means, saying, “this is about establishing bonds that many would not necessary develop otherwise.”

“I’m all about creating a flow and making everyone feel really at-ease, but also encouraging genuine connections,” he says. “For example, we put out conversational cards that have these thought-provoking questions written by ChatGPT. Would you upload your consciousness to AI?’ ‘Would you ever have an AI boyfriend or girlfriend?”

“Would you trust an AI doctor?’ and so on. People find it interesting and many have found it funny. They share their opinions and everyone has a good time discussing these abstract concepts centred around their common interests”, says Lee.

entrepreneurship, money matters — Guests are invited to participate in group meditation practices, Image: @JessLicata

The answer to this question differs depending on who you are speaking with, but for Lee, this is what he specialises in as he says some of his clients are those who also run fortune 500 companies.

He says the trick is to make things eventful and interesting not only with fancy foods but with the actual content.

He shares, “The format is really unique. We also do some guided meditation experiences, usually before dinner starts. We had Avery Whitmore - a known artist in New York - out to do a sound bath at our first-ever Esthlos event in Los Angeles back in 2018, and the idea was to kind of reduce the tension and social anxiety that meeting 25-30 new people tends to evoke. It worked really well for us, and we just kept up with that type of activity for all of our events after that.”

He adds, what makes this trick unique is finding modern and fresh ways of doing things through experience.

entrepreneurship, money matters — Ben Lee is a twice-exited startup entrepreneur, and the CMO of Formula.Monks, Image: @JessLicata

“To be honest, I was largely unimpressed with how other agencies were running these types of experiences. Mostly because there was always some kind of a boring pitch, or they made it really nerdy and cheesy. I wanted to create a little bit more mystique around it.”

“I’ve found that people are much more enthusiastic about attending an event like that, and it just creates an overall better experience for everyone involved.”