The Anti-Conference
For Scaling Founders

The Anti-Conference For Scaling Founders

As Featured In...

Welcome to the underground haven for founders & CEO’s!  This community unites visionaries across industries, offering exclusive events and a deeper, annual membership for nurturing long-term professional and personal growth.

If you are in the pivotal 5-25 million grow & scale phase, if you’ve transitioned from the initial hustle of entrepreneurship to that of strategic leadership, if you want to have good times with other founders, cut lightyears off your learning curve, and grow financially…

Then join us in the pristine Finger Lakes for a luxury lakefront resort takeover. Get ready for five-star dining that’ll make your taste buds dance, exciting boat cruises, endless lake activities, mesmerizing live music performances, soothing barrel saunas, massages, wellness offerings, and drinks that flow like Niagara Falls (unlimited, of course).

THE FLAGSHIP

YOUR PORTAL TO NEXT LEVEL GROWTH

Over the past ten years, our social scientists at Baby Bathwater have developed a proprietary formula for quantum wave manipulation and ultimate ‘good times’.

Minimizing the ‘bathwater’ and maximizing the ‘baby’ to the best of our abilities, always improving, and never settling…

Our flagship events are a chance to break out of your shell, supercharge your network, hit that pressure release valve, and return home recharged with actionable takeaways from 18+ content sessions and countless life-altering convos.  Our lakeside campus will be home to ~120 carefully curated guests, including our welcoming Members who drive the culture and newcomers who have been selected for this event.

You’ll be surrounded by:

  • Like-minded peers who genuinely understand your journey
  • Content & conversations that will cut lightyears off of your business growth
  • Support & energy to carry out your lofty ambitions

But space is extremely limited:

We launched this event exclusively to our Members in November ‘23, and are thrilled to report that over half of the available tickets have already been snatched up.

The remaining spots have now been opened to the Non-Members.  Demand is high, with over half of the tickets already spoken for and the remaining spots are going fast.  We STRONGLY suggest you take action to avoid a most severe case of FOMO.

THE PEER GROUP YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR

A glimpse into the peer group you will meet – real folks on their own version of a similar path. 

The reason we attend social gatherings is to hang out with friends and make new connections. To ease your curiosity, here’s a sneak peek of a few of the confirmed attendees you will meet in New York. They come from various walks of life and industries, but have common threads. Collectively, they have seen it all, and they’re ready to share their knowledge with you!

Juliet Starrett

CEO, The Ready State

Juliet is an entrepreneur, attorney, author, and athlete dedicated to helping people move better. She is the co-founder and CEO of The Ready State, a leader in musculoskeletal self-care, and co-founded San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 50 affiliates. A New York Times bestselling author, Juliet also co-hosts the Ready State Podcast and is a three-time world champion whitewater paddler.

Ezra Firestone

Founder, Smart Marketer Inc.

Ezra is a serial entrepreneur, educator, and eCommerce innovator who has built multiple successful businesses, including BoomBeauty, Smart Marketer, and Zipify Apps. Starting from scratch in 2007, he has grown his ventures to generate $60M+ in annual revenue. Passionate about scaling businesses with integrity, Ezra shares insights on eCommerce, marketing, and maintaining balance as an entrepreneur. His philosophy? consistency, not intensity, is the key to long-term success.

Blake Kingsbury

Co-Founder, Vela Boatworks

Blake Co-Founded Tusk Partners, an M&A advisory firm in the corporate dental space, One Dental Match, a dental hiring platform, and Vela Boatworks, which he is currently running. At Vela they are striving to use ongoing advances in technology to create fully sustainable, recyclable seafaring vessels that use 100% renewable energy.

Gretchen Leslie

Founder, The Wolf and Company

Gretchen is Founder of The Wolf and Company, a business dedicated to taking away the day-to-day concerns of running a company so that CEOs can focus on the things that really matter… with zero distractions.

Seth Conger

COO, Freedom Practice Coaching & Vibility

Seth is a business leader and innovator in Functional Medicine, with a track record of scaling and exiting successful ventures. He led a seven-figure practice, co-founded the first venture-funded startup in the Alzheimer’s space, and was published for his work in reversing cognitive decline. Now, he serves as COO of Freedom Practice Coaching and Vibility, driving innovation in healthcare and business coaching. 

Melanie Merkling

Founder & CEO, Bonfire Ventures

From scaling consumer brands at Walmart and Sam’s Club to launching global adventures with her twins, Melanie embodies the adventurous spirit and business acumen that drive today’s dynamic markets. Her unique perspective on balancing life’s adventures with entrepreneurial ventures will both inspire and challenge you.

Joe Kensett

Co-Founder, SV Marketing

Joe is the Co-Founder of SV Marketing. They are specialists within paid media, websites and sales psychology. They primarily help brands/companies take a larger percentage of their audience to sale than anyone else through their “ecosystem” approach. SV also own 3 different brands where they take their marketing expertise to building their own brand.

Mike Mathweg

Speaker & Consultant, Relentless Consulting

Mike is a business strategist and insurance industry veteran who built and sold a successful agency before launching Relentless Consulting, where he helps insurance agents and agencies structure, scale, and sell on their own terms. After exiting his agency and briefly exploring the employee route, he realized his true passion: helping others build lasting success in the industry. 

Niraj Shah

Founder, DKZ Equity

Niraj is an entrepreneur, investor, and board advisor with a focus on Real Estate and Health & Wellness. After surviving a serious stroke at 30, he reshaped his approach to business and life. Over the past 12 years, he has founded or co-founded six companies and advised 50+ business owners across Europe and North America. Passionate about mental performance, wellness tech, and personal growth, Niraj shares his insights at nirajs.com.

Joe Tuson

Engineering Manager, Uber

Joe is an engineering leader with over a decade of experience building high-performance teams in startups and big tech. Combining a deep understanding of technology with a passion for coaching, Joe creates environments where people thrive. He specializes in training and developing managers, fostering growth and excellence within dynamic, fast-paced organizations. 

Samm Hunter

Founder, sammhunter.com

Samm is a high-performance coach, specializing in mindset and relationships. She has been a guiding force for executives, athletes, and celebrities, helping them break free from self-imposed barriers to live their best lives. With a lifetime of “over-certifying” to combat imposter syndrome, Samm’s transformative journey shifted her from a state of successful misery to one of genuine fulfillment.

Mac Lackey

Founder, Exit DNA

Mac is the Founder of Exit DNA and an expert in efficiently building wealth. He has successfully started, scaled, and sold six companies, with multiple eight-figure exits. With a proven system, he shares valuable insights on preparing for exits while scaling for personal freedom and success. Since founding his company, he has assisted hundreds of other business owners in maximizing their exit outcome.

Lars Lofgren

Co-Founder, Stone Press

Lars is the Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Stone Press, managing and building some of the largest B2B sites online. He’s a former Senior Director of Growth at I Will Teach You To Be Rich and Director of Growth at KISSmetrics. Lars has also consulted for top startups like Dropbox and Evernote and has a passion for winter sports and travel.

Melanie Balke

Founder & CEO, The Email Marketers

Melanie began her career in marketing consulting for industries like automotive, telecommunications, and healthcare. She later discovered her passion for fast-paced startups, eventually joining Apt2B, one of the first furniture e-commerce brands. After gaining in-house and agency experience, Melanie founded her own successful email marketing agency.

Dustin Parker

Co-Founder, Archie

Dustin is a proptech founder and real estate innovator building Archie—a platform transforming home equity into instant, flexible liquidity. He’s passionate about removing friction from real estate transactions, with a focus on speed, value, and smarter asset access. A CrossFit and biohacking enthusiast, Dustin brings energy, curiosity, and a killer dad-joke game to the startup world.

Elliot Roe

Founder, Primed Mind

Elliot is a world-renowned Mindset and Performance Coach, helping elite professionals unlock peak performance. His clients include athletes, Olympians, UFC champions, Hollywood actors, Wall Street traders, and entrepreneurs. Using hypnotherapy, mindset training, and high-performance strategies, he helps individuals eliminate mental roadblocks. Elliot is also the host of The A-Game Advantage Podcast and Cp-founder of the Primed Mind coaching app.

THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Our guestlist is a highly-curated melting pot of brands, services, investors, mentors, thought leaders and up-and-comers. This special stew will catalyze growth and leave you filled to the brim with the energy, support, and relationships needed to carry out your lofty ambitions.

NO PITCHING ALLOWED!

This event is your safe, pitch-free place to grow. No one’s gonna ask you to sign up or buy anything. The person you sit next to at lunch won’t try to recruit you or give you the hard sell.

Along with never being pitched and never being asked to open your wallet… this also means that all your other inhabitants are more comfortable kicking back and getting real here than anywhere else.

THE PEOPLE

EVERYONE HERE HAS SOMETHING TO TEACH, AND SOMETHING TO LEARN

There are zero invisible dividing lines at Baby Bathwater happenings. Everyone here is personally invited. Everyone pays to attend. And everyone shares incredible value.

Hang out, ask questions, and have a drink with your fellow attendees (drinks are on us).

We don’t have paid “guru” speakers. We have generous content providers who are here to learn as much as they are here to teach. Who knows — we just might call on you to be on a panel or share your content after you successfully interview with us.

You’ll leave this event armed with an arsenal of ideas and action steps proven to be effective in the real world.

Cheers to making new connections that last a lifetime…

Wellness: Perform at Your Best

We believe in supporting your overall well-being to help you perform at your best. Guests will enjoy a range of wellness activities and amenities designed to put your body and mind in the best possible position to succeed. Burnout be gone!

Barrel Saunas

Fitness Center

Cold Therapy

Yoga

Qi Gong

Access to Luxury Spa

Massages

Breathwork

Activities: Choose Your Own Adventure

At our events, we’re all about giving you options galore! Want some action? Hop on our pontoon and speed boats, try wakesurfing, or paddle around on stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, or waterbikes. If relaxation is more your vibe, take a dip in our heated lakefront pool or kick back in the hot tub. Plus, we’ve got yard games for a little extra fun. It’s all about doing your thing and making memories your way.

Unlike other events, we do not have a strict schedule you must follow.  This is YOUR entrepreneurial adventure.

Pontoon Boats

Speed Boats

Heated Lakefront Pool & Hot Tub

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Wakesurfing

Hydro Bikes

Kayaks

Yard Games

The Entertainment:
A Shot of Soul

Life is way too short for just learning stuff… It’s time to come out of costume. There is not the business you and the you—there is only the you!

Connect with your peers, hang out by the fire, and dance under the stars to live music across various genres. We’re not talking about your average musicians either; we’ve handpicked the absolute best. These headliners, known for rocking legendary venues like Red Rocks and Madison Square Garden, are here exclusively for us, bringing their talent to our intimate gatherings every night.

No need to stand in lines; just sip on unlimited beverages and enjoy the all-inclusive experience with your new friends for life – Who knows, you might even stay up all night to watch the sun rise over the lake…and remember why you started your business in the first place.

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:

Apply Now

Answers to All Your Questions Right Here

Before the event, all attendees will receive access to the Baby Bathwater event app, which includes the full event schedule and all important details.  

Here’s a quick overview to help you plan your time with us in New York:

Day 1: Arrival in New York 

Please plan to arrive at the venue by 5PM on Monday, June 9th. We will provide a Ride Share Doc to help you coordinate rides with other attendees and a Lyft discount code to help you get to the venue. Things officially kick off at 2PM. Please note that you will not be allowed to check in to your room before 3PM local time, but we will have drinks and snacks available in the meantime.

Days 2 & 3: Let The Good Times Roll
Each day is jam packed with activities! We’ll have morning wellness, a full day of engaging content sessions, and water recreation activities throughout the day. You’ll have time to unwind by the pool or at the Sand Bar in between sessions and meals, and we’ll end each day with dinner, live music, and good times. 

Day 4: Departure Day
On our final day, brunch will be available throughout the morning/afternoon, and shuttles to the airport will run at 6AM, 8AM, 10AM, 12PM, and 2PM. The event officially concludes at 2PM on Thursday, June 12th.

We recommend flying into either Rochester International Airport (ROC) or Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) as they are the closest airports to the venue.

Your registration includes:

  • Participation in the event
  • Shared lakefront accommodations  
  • Incredible food
  • Alcohol (No bar tabs!)
  • World renowned musical entertainment
  • Stimulating content
  • Access to all activities and wellness offerings
  • High-speed internet
  • Spacious in-room Waterworks rain showers
  • In-room Nespresso machine
  • Filtered water throughout the property
  • Luxury spa
  • Lakeside barrel saunas
  • Cold therapy
  • Fitness center (Free weights, treadmills, ellipticals, Peloton Bike, and more)
  • Lush private garden
  • Crystal clear lakefront
  • Multiple bars & restaurants
  • Heated lakefront pool
  • Private daybeds
  • Hot tub
  • Boat Cruises (Speed boats, Pontoon Boats, Wakesurf Boats)
  • Watersports (Wake Surfing, Kayak, Paddleboard, Canoe, Water Bike)

Click HERE to review our event cancellation policy.

When you attend your first Baby Bathwater event it is a first date of sorts… Only after getting to know each other over four or five days can we decide if we’re a good match for each other for the longer term.

Just know that at our events, you will never be pitched and we will never ask you to open your wallet. Period.

After our events we review any new folks that we may want to invite into our core membership community. This includes getting feedback from our members, team, event staff, bartenders, and service staff.

If after the event you feel like you have “finally found your people”, and we believe that you are also “our kind of people”…. then we may invite you to join our year-long membership community.

Any new addition is an integral part of Baby Bathwater Institute’s tradition – Mixing Business With Pleasure like no other group!

You’ll finally have friends who understand you: Let’s be real, being an entrepreneur can be a lonely journey. But at Baby Bathwater, you’ll be surrounded by a bunch of other weirdos who get you, and have experience navigating similar issues in business and life.

You’ll get access to brilliant minds: Ever get stuck on a problem for hours, days, or even weeks? With Baby Bathwater, you’ll have access to some of the brightest entrepreneurs and business owners who have already been through it. Just ask a question and they’ll share their wisdom.

You’ll be part of a community that actually cares: No fake smiles or forced conversations here. The Baby Bathwater crew genuinely cares about each other’s success, and they’re not afraid to show it. If you need help with anything, just say the word and they’ll come running.

You’ll have more fun than you ever thought possible: Baby Bathwater isn’t your typical stuffy networking event. With events on an Island, in the mountains, heli-skiing, and river rafting, you’ll have a blast while building valuable relationships. And who knows, you might even meet your future business partner, best friend, or significant other. Anything is possible at The Baby Bathwater Institute.

We understand that being an entrepreneur can be a lonely journey, which is why we’ve created a community that emphasizes authentic connections and emotional support. At Baby Bathwater, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share your experiences and challenges. Through our events and ongoing membership community, you’ll form friendships and connections that provide the understanding, empathy, and encouragement you need to thrive.

The ideal fit for the Baby Bathwater community is a company founder with a success story built on following their instincts, grit, and creativity. They come from various backgrounds and financial levels of success, and typically have a business ranging from 7 to 9 figures. These individuals didn’t necessarily follow traditional career paths, often facing doubts from others, but have proven their resilience and passion for creating. They value genuine connections and understand that status games don’t lead to happiness. With a thirst for life and a commitment to enjoying the journey, our members embrace the entrepreneurial roller coaster and prioritize support, camaraderie, and good times within the Baby Bathwater community.

© 2025 Baby Bathwater Institute. |