In major cities, it’s not uncommon to find meetups or “networking events” about shared interests.
For networking events, the goal is not only to discuss your mutual hobby or occupation but also to connect in a manner that allows you to work with each other more in the future. It’s one of the reasons why events like these have remained popular, and there are numerous guides to help people make better connections at them.
So, if networking events are designed to help you connect with others in your industry, what would be the point of a Tesla networking event? Who would even go?
That’s what a lot of users on TikTok are asking themselves after a user appeared to brag about her experience running a Tesla-themed networking event in San Francisco.
What Happened At This Networking Event?
In a video with over 22,000 views, TikTok user Yuni Kim (@yunskistudy) shows a large group of primarily men walking around a Tesla dealership in San Francisco. There’s pizza and a Cybertruck, in the bed of which one person is sitting.
“‘I don’t see u at parties’ well i don’t see u at the SF tesla networking party either,” Kim writes in the text overlaying the video.
The “party” appears to be this one, which advertises a night filled with “music, food, DANCING.” No one in the footage is dancing.
“We aim to have as many national young professionals as possible. Whether you are in big tech, a co-founder of a startup, or eager to start, you’ll have fun here,” the description of the event reads. “The goal is to foster meaningful connections rather than LinkedIn speed-date networking, and you’ll keep these friends through what you are passionate about working on.”
While Kim wrote in a comment that “not supporting tesla we just rented out a garage to host the event…that’s it,” Tesla played heavily into the marketing of the event; the name appears in the title, and the description advertises that the event will have “Cybertruck/FSD test drives.”
Why Did Viewers Find This So Cringe?
Immediately, commenters began to mock the event.
“What’s the opposite of fomo,” wrote a commenter, referring to the acronym for “Fear Of Missing Out.”
“Nightmare blunt rotation,” added another.
“[San Francisco] might be the most obnoxious city on the planet man,” declared a third.
But Why Did Viewers React So Negatively To This Event?
There could be a few reasons. First, it seems like everyone is getting sick of “tech bros.” After years of being parodied in shows like “Silicon Valley,” numerous news stories about how many startups with acclaim can’t actually deliver on their promises, and a growing distaste for artificial intelligence, it’s no surprise that people see an event centered on this culture and get the ick.
@yunskistudy elite reference … shoutout my co host for reaching out to me on linkedin🥹🥹 just hosted a sf networking event with over 1200+ signups #tesla #teslacybertruck #linkedinwarrior #linkedin #networking #tech #cs sf #sanfrancisco #ycombinator #startup #startuplife
Second, it could have something to do with the fact that the event was held in a Tesla dealership. Although the Tesla Model Y is still the best-selling electric car in the United States, Elon Musk’s actions and association with both the company and the Trump Administration have led many to protest the company.
In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest that Musk is so unpopular that he’s hurting the sales of all EVs, not just those made by Tesla.
For her part, Kim does not seem to care about what the haters say, noting in the caption that she considers the event a success with “over 1200+ signups.”
BroBible reached out to Kim via email.