Group Y : Celebrating 19 Years!

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19 Years of Group Y
Still Building, Still Sharing, Still Here!

This week marks 19 years since the start of Group Y.

Nearly two decades ago, we threw a casual get-together for some friends in action sports and entertainment. No big plan. No pitch deck. Just a bunch of like-minded folks looking to connect outside the noise of trade shows and after-parties.

That small gathering sparked something we couldn’t have predicted. Fast forward to today—we’ve hosted 280+ events, featured over 1,000 speakers, and created content that’s reached millions.

We didn’t set out to build a platform. It just happened because there was a need—and our community asked us to fill it. So, we did.

Before Social Media, There Was Showing Up

Back then, there wasn’t social media like there is today. If you wanted to connect, you had to be there. And people showed up. Word spread. The action sports crew brought in friends from music, fashion, art, tech, marketing—it grew organically.

We leveled up from intimate gatherings to nationwide events. Brought in founders and creatives I personally admired. Then came the conferences—ASC Action Sports + Culture, Agenda Emerge—both sold out repeatedly.

From Local Events to Culture’s Biggest Stages

Before long, we got asked to curate talks at culture’s biggest stages:

• ComplexCon

• Something in the Water Festival

• Agenda Festival

• X Games

• NBACon

• (Even Coachella… until the pandemic hit)

We partnered with brands like adidas, Oakley, Red Bull, K-Swiss, and more—brands that saw what we were doing and got behind it.

Moments That Hit Different

There’ve been too many to count, but a few stand out:

• Tinker Hatfield casually revealed on stage the Nike MAGs “Back To The Future”—and caused a viral media frenzy.

• Pharrell shared the stage (more than once) with legends like Snoop Dogg, giving us unforgettable moments.

• Andy Pearson of Liquid Death lit up our recent CreativityFlow series, proving that branding can be bold and fun.

** What’s your favorite Group Y moment? We’d love to hear it. 

What Hasn’t Changed? The Heart of Group Y

Through all the growth, the original spirit is still alive:

We are community-first. Built on connection, trust, and authenticity. We’ve always been about unfiltered access and sharing wisdom freely. No velvet ropes. Just people who care showing up for each other.

Thank You. Truly.

To those who were there from the beginning.

To anyone who’s pulled up to an event, shared a drink, and made a new connection.

To the countless speakers who took a chance on us—often giving their first public talk on our stage.

And to Bobby Hundreds, who holds the record with seven speaker appearances—each one full of insight and soul.

To our brand partners—past and present—thank you for your belief and support.

And to our tight but mighty team:
Kyrstin Stone, Tyler Render, and my wife Jean Marie Sperling—thank you for making the impossible happen again and again.

We're Still Here, Because We Still Matter

Like any journey, ours has had highs and lows. There’ve been times I’ve wondered: Does Group Y still matter? Does the world need this right now?

Then I get a message out of the blue:
“I went to a Group Y event, It changed everything for me!”

And I’m reminded—we’re still needed.

And we’re not done yet.

— Mark Sperling, Co-Founder & CEO

UPCOMING EVENT

HELP SHAPE GROUP Y
Reminder To Tell Us Your Input  

Be a part of creating the future of Group Y community! We’ve created a short survey to collect your ideas and feedback. Your input will be essential in shaping the events, benefits, content, and features we provide. 

As a bonus, completing the survey enters you for a chance to win a $100 AMEX gift card and free tickets to an upcoming Group Y event!

"Must Have! Your New Favorite Earbuds”

If you haven’t tried the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds yet, you’re seriously missing out. Co-developed with Bose, they combine deep, immersive sound with top-tier noise cancellation—perfect for everything from daily commutes to focus time. Plus, they’re so comfortable, you’ll forget you’re even wearing them.

CHECK OUT

Connection Is A Super Power

A must-read from Brian White, Chief Commercial Officer at Brixton.

The first part of any business interaction is something we do every day: connecting with people. Some people are naturally gifted at connecting, while others need to work at it, but everyone can connect. Understanding how to relate to and connect with customers is the first step in a successful career. Some people feel that you need to be a loud-talking shyster to be good at sales; in fact, many people define selling as manipulating people, but this just isn’t true. Selling should aim to make people better off every time they interact with the seller and connect them to opportunities!

TELL US

DON’T FORGET

✅ Update your profile to connect with our community

✅ Check out the Event Photos and Recap Videos.

✅ Follow along on social (Linkedin, Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook)