Thread by @BrentBeshore

Over the past week, I’ve gotten lots of questions about @CapitalCamp, which took place this past week in Columbia, MO.

What is it? Why? Why there? Who?

Figured a thread might save some time and help attract the likeminded. Here’s the scoop:

In 2017 I was sitting in a hotel ballroom sipping on bad coffee surrounded by an army of blue blazers waiting to take down a rubber chicken lunch.

No one seemed happy, but hey, conferences aren’t supposed to be fun. It’s work, right?

I got back and called my friend @patrick_oshag about a crazy idea.

What if we put on an investing conference that was informative and enjoyable? What if we took people out of their element, got casual, and gave people the opportunity to form meaningful relationships?

He said:

Patrick and I met on Twitter and became great friends offline, over shared experiences and great meals. That’s how deep relationships form — randomly, then intentionally.

We wanted to create space for serendipity and connection, focused on relationship formation.

We settled on Columbia, MO not only because it’s my hometown, but also because it is flyover country, a lively college town, and relatively inexpensive, allowing us to charge normal conference fees but make the experience elevated.

Everything had to be top-notch.

We knew we needed full-time professional effort.

Thankfully, @Clayton_Dorge had been doing national events and had recently moved from Chicago to mid-Missouri.

He came on board in March of 2018 and we got to work, with @keliemorgan heavily contributing.

Next year was nutty. Kind of like operating a company, if you’ve never created 3 days for 200+ people, it’s hard to describe the challenges. Your backup plans must have backup plans.

Rain? Heat? Cold snap? Bus breakdown? Injury? Sickness? Last-minute cancellations? Supply chain?

As May 2019 approached, we weren’t sure if Capital Camp was going to be a blast or a flop.

I had nightmares that groups of angry people were yelling at me for bringing them to the middle of Missouri for a waste of their time...or worse.

We had challenges, like two tornadoes, one of which came close and ended an evening. I idiotically decided against name tags, so no one could recall who they talked to. Travel to Columbia was wrecked by terrible weather seemingly nation-wide.

But, despite that, it went well.

All was set for CC2020, but…ya know…the COVID. So we pushed the date. And pushed it again. And again. (Insert “push it real good” lyrics)

Finally, we went for it last week with everything possible outside or in large air column spaces and plenty of rapid tests available.

Eventually we ended up with 280 attendees and a 1200 person waitlist.

This year was about 40% returning campers. We love the deepening of relationships that continuity brings, but also want serendipity.

We chose speakers from a variety of backgrounds, specialities, and focuses across asset classes like @KatColeATL, @verdadcap, Sejal Patel, @mjmauboussin, @anuhariharan, @_ram_, @BrettHagler, @jasonillian, @AliBHamed, Scott Wilson, and @samteller.

They did great.

Stage time was only about 1/4 of the day, with the rest being filled by masterclasses on endurance running, butchering a halibut, how to win a bar fight, tactical shooting with special forces, and a special film screening with the director, as well as classes taught by attendees.

Evenings are for relaxing, eating well, and conversation.

The running joke is that @patrick_oshag runs an investing conference while I put on a food and wine festival.

We all have our strengths and as a fat kid, I choose to embrace mine. The Nashan brothers are our chefs.

The last night is particularly special, set on a beautiful farm north of Columbia.

It’s the best food, drink, music, and setting we can muster, punctuated by professional fireworks, hot air balloons, and even some nitro ice cream for dessert.

If you’re curious what attendees thought, here’s some of them in their own words:

@tsludwig:

@magdalenakala:

@_ram_:

@tomowenmorgan:

@TommyVCMartin:

@pratyushbuddiga:

@AlexRubalcava:

@petelehrman:

@lpolovets:

@doctor_parth:

@dzmitry9:

@BurakYngn:

An event like this doesn’t work at 500 people, let alone more than that.

We’re going to experiment with other styles of events and keep Capital Camp around 300 people.

So if you’re interested, join the waitlist and we’ll be in touch about possibilities: capitalcamp.com