Steve Chen runs Code & Coffee, a volunteer-led developer community with 80,000 members across 30 cities. He builds spaces that prioritize real connection over passive audiences, sustaining over 300 annual events on a budget under $6,000.
As a former bootcamp grad who navigated his career through local meetups, Steve knows what makes groups actually work. He teaches organizers how to design events that are social by default, focusing on belonging and trust rather than endless talks and massive marketing budgets.