Forbes 30 Under 30
Anahita Dalmia
CEO, Alterea Inc.
Interactive storytelling builder focused on real-world behavior change. Strong fit for transformational experience design.
Episode I — Zamek Czocha, Poland · October 4-8, 2026·
WeMeshUp
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Hand-picked from Forbes 30 Under 30, TEDx stages, Global Shapers, Davos speakers, and the Burning Man community. You're either already in the room, or someone in the room vouches for you.
From Florin
Just got back from Davos.
After a decade of summits, stages, and rooms where decisions get made — I noticed something. The real connections never happen in the official program. They happen late at night, in the rented houses, over breakfast the next morning.
So I thought: what if we just built that part?
Five days. Four nights. A castle. People who don't need to explain themselves to each other.
Nothing is scheduled. Everything is possible.
Someone will start a workshop at midnight. Someone will lead a sunrise hike. A dinner debate will go until 3am. A question asked over breakfast will change how someone sees their work.
The program is the people. You bring what you want to share. You take what you need.
Episode I Interactive Layer
Across the five days, a living interactive layer will quietly unlock clues, invitations, and unexpected paths through the castle. It is designed to make the right conversations happen at the right moment, so the experience feels discovered, not programmed.
The last night: a party. Bring something extraordinary to wear.
"Leave your watch in the world below — for five days, you are on Kairos time."
WeMeshUp
The fire is lit. We await you.
What Awaits
Five layers of experience. Click to reveal.
This structure mirrors the experience itself. Nothing is revealed all at once.
Day 1 — October 4 — Arrival & Opening
Check-in begins before sunset. Participants cross the threshold and leave the outside rhythm behind.
On arrival, each participant receives a sealed envelope. Opening remarks establish the rules of trust and shared responsibility.
Night one ends at the fire pit. That is where strangers stop being strangers.
The Anchors
What repeats with intention:
Daily Dispatch appears each morning (4 issues across 5 days).
The fire pit after dark remains the unofficial center of gravity.
Slow mornings: coffee, walks, and conversations that continue all day.
Two candlelit dinners anchor Day Three and Day Four.
What You'll Find
Experiences woven through the five days:
The Gifting Table
Bring something meaningful. Leave it with a story. Take something else before departure.
The Envelope
Handed to you on arrival. A question or task that shapes how your week begins.
The Confessional
A private room, a deliberate atmosphere, and one question you do not expect.
The Sunrise Walk
Led each morning by someone different. Destination unknown until you go.
The Mystery Room
It becomes what it needs to be: salon, workshop, nap room, or strategic conspiracy.
Fire Circles
The night ritual where titles dissolve and real conversations finally start.
Chronicle Signing
On closing day, participants leave a trace in the hand-bound chronicle.
"We do not remember days, we remember moments."
Cesare Pavese
"At the College of Extraordinary Experiences in Poland, magical beings moved through a 13th-century castle - appearing in corridors, interrupting meals, leaving strange gifts. It shattered the line between event and experience. I loved that, so we're borrowing the concept."
You might hear a cello echoing from a tower that should be empty. You might find a handwritten letter on your pillow that answers a question you haven't asked yet.
We call them Fireflies. They are artists, illusionists, and mood-weavers who move through the shadows. They are not here to entertain you; they are here to suspend your disbelief.
When a Firefly appears, the real world fades. Follow the light.
The Fireflies never replace human connection. They only lower the defenses that prevent it.
If a Firefly appears — follow the light.
Serendipity by Design
Forum Theatre
Real dilemmas, acted out together. Someone brings a problem. The room becomes the solution.
Living Library
People are the books you borrow. Sign up to be "read" — or browse the catalog and check someone out.
Confirmed Venue: Zamek Czocha, Poland
Episode I at Castle Czocha
Episode I is confirmed for October 4-8, 2026 at Castle Czocha.
The venue gives us the full Cathedral Effect range: an 8m-high Knight's Room for expansive group moments, plus intimate 4m spaces for deep focus.
The castle includes hidden entrances and secret passages, used intentionally for Firefly entrances and surprise moments.
Rooms & Allocation Strategy
Capacity supports 80 COEE participants plus crew with clear tier-based assignment.
Classic is simple, Deluxe is larger-room comfort, and Suite is the premium room experience.
Total capacity
102 guests
Fixed beds
87
Single / Double beds
79 / 10
Zamek Czocha, Poland (confirmed venue)
Knight's Room for major gathering moments
Library and salons for deep-focus sessions
Morning rituals across courtyards and salons
The Spirit Behind It
This project draws from principles we've seen work — in Burning Man, in movements, in the unofficial gatherings that happen alongside official ones.
Our Design Philosophy
The Principles
Participation over spectatorshipContribution over commerceResponsibility for the wholeConnection that's temporary but real
We share the belief that the most valuable experiences are created by people who show up with intention, not by programs imposed on them.
We've spent years organizing people — for protests, for movements, for gatherings that weren't supposed to exist. We know what happens when people stop performing and start participating.
The Crew
Twenty volunteers arrive before you do.
They're not staff. They're co-conspirators — artists, organizers, experience designers, and fellow travelers who believe in what we're building. They set the tables, light the fires, hold space for what emerges, and disappear when they're not needed.
Some will lead a workshop. Some will play music at 2am. Some will simply make sure the coffee appears at dawn.
You won't always know who they are. That's intentional.
Your participation fee covers their travel, their meals, and the infrastructure that makes the magic possible. No brand placements. No corporate logos. Just people who showed up to build something together.
The Rule
"What happens here, stays here."
Strict Chatham House Rules
WeMeshUp is designed as a sanctuary for people who are always "on." Here, you are off the record.
We operate under a strict, signed Chatham House Rule.
You can say what you have learned, not who said it.
No recordings. No press. No socials.
Psychological Safety = Radical Honesty
Early Participants
A preview of the caliber and profile range shaping Episode I. 16 participants are already confirmed.
Forbes 30 Under 30
Alex Whitover
Artistic Director, Alterea Inc.
Narrative and theatrical design specialist with deep game-design and creative direction expertise.
Forbes 30 Under 30
Jasper McEvoy
CSO, Alterea Inc. / Asset Manager, NV5
Interdisciplinary strategist connecting sustainability, design, and systems thinking.
Forbes 30 Under 30
Aaron Hsu
General Partner, Actual.vc
Deeptech investor and global community builder with strong credibility across founder networks.
Forbes 30 Under 30
Florin Badita
COEE, Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe, TEDx speaker, Humanity in Action fellow, Draper University alumni, Founder University, VC Lab
Activist and data scientist who turned civic frustration into a movement, organizing hundreds of thousands of Romanians around anti-corruption, transparency, and social change. Few people his age have moved that many people, that fast.
Project & Event Manager
Costin Stefan Ignat
Community builder, trainer, musician
Blends culture, leadership, facilitation, and public participation to create impactful experiences that strengthen communities.
COEE
Dorchess de Koning
Founder of Awe Academy
Learning journeys for impact: personal and professional development through experiential learning programs. Keynote speaker on finding your why, with consultancy work in L&D and experience design.
Participatory Arts
Sebastian Dobrescu
TEDx speaker, screenwriter, actor, trainer, participatory art producer
Making the world a more connected place.
Hacking / Romania
Hertz
Founder, StarCluster
Romanian hacker and founder building at the intersection of security and community. Brings a maker-and-breaker lens to interactive systems.
WEF Global Shaper
Alexandra Irina Pînzariu, MBA
Civic-edupreneur, futurist — The FutureKit × Storyada.ro
Humanist shaping regenerative futures through intergenerational dialogue. Works at the edge of education, civic design, and speculative futures to help redesign tomorrow responsibly.
Music Therapy
Jean-Baptiste Odobestianu
Music Therapist, TOTEM Method
Guides group and individual sessions around percussion instruments from Native American, African, and Asian traditions — alongside didgeridoo, flutes, and strings — using sound as a path to presence and connection.
Next milestone: broaden sourcing while preserving the same quality bar and participant fit.
Is This For You?
A curated, high-trust castle gathering for builders of experiences, communities, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
WeMeshUp Episode I is designed for:
- Leaders responsible for experiential strategy, brand/community experiences, and cultural programming
- Teams building immersive, participatory, or location-based experiences
- Producers, designers, technologists, and facilitators working in experiential and immersive formats
- Entrepreneurs developing new social, learning, or experience-led business formats
- Network connectors ready to contribute substance, not just collect contacts
May not be right for you if:
- You are looking for a general marketing conference.
- You prefer passive keynote events over discussion and collaboration.
- You want to pitch, sell, or network transactionally.
- You are not ready to co-create and take shared responsibility for the space.
Network Fit
Forbes 30 Under 30
Builders with execution history and a track record of creating new categories.
TEDx / TED speakers
People who can articulate ideas clearly and elevate discourse inside the room.
Global Shapers
Community-first operators experienced in civic and cross-sector collaboration.
Davos / WEF speakers
Global system-level thinkers who can bridge policy, capital, and implementation.
Burning Man community
People with a real track record in participatory culture, co-creation, camp building, art, ritual, and civic contribution.
Vouched collaborators
Exceptional contributors from adjacent networks, personally invited with accountability.
Participation Mode
- Show up as an active participant, not an observer.
- Contribute to discussions, rituals, and at least one collaborative moment.
- Respect Chatham House boundaries and participant privacy.
- Optimize for long-term relationships over short-term extraction.
Proof points
5 days / 4 nights in one location with shared context and repeated interactionsNo stages, no logos, no audience, no passive keynote programCurated admissions model: direct network fit or trusted vouchDeliberate cross-network collisions by design
Who Belongs Here
Two ways in. Either you're part of the communities listed below — or someone who is vouches for you personally.
Direct Entry
Core Community
You're already in if you've earned a seat at these tables.
Apply directly
By Invitation
The Vouch
Every member gets one invite for someone outside the community.
Choose carefully — your reputation is tied to theirs.
Who Qualifies as Core Community?
| Community | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Davos speakers | Spoke at WEF, Summer Davos, or any Davos house/event (not just attended) |
| TEDx / TED speakers | Delivered a talk at any official TED or TEDx event |
| Forbes Under 30 | Listed in any Forbes 30 Under 30 list (any country, any year) |
| Global Shapers | Current or alumni member of the WEF Global Shapers Community |
| Burning Man community | Camp leads, art leads, community builders, or long-time contributors with a clear co-creation track record |
| Close collaborators | Personally known to and vouched for by Florin or core organizers |
Attending Davos is not the same as speaking at Davos. This distinction matters.
This isn't about prestige. It's about shared context. We optimize for people who don't need to explain the basics.
11 / 80 confirmed — target capacity: 80
All COEE participants share the same core five-day experience.
All tiers use shared same-sex rooms. Classic is simpler, Deluxe is larger-room comfort, and Suite is the premium room experience.
Classic
Founding Members
€1,800
Deluxe price: €2,800
Baseline entry for Episode I with simple shared-room allocation and full access to the five-day arc.
Founding spots: 4/10 remaining
- Full access to all 5 days / 4 nights
- Simple shared-room allocation
- All feasts, rituals, and Daily Dispatch
- Eligible for private-room add-on (+€1,400)
Deluxe
Founding Members
€2,500
Deluxe price: €3,900
Higher contribution tier with larger-room allocation and the same complete program experience.
Founding spots: 7/10 remaining
- Full access to all 5 days / 4 nights
- Larger-room allocation
- All feasts, rituals, and Daily Dispatch
- Priority above Classic for room placement
Suite
€4,750
Top attendance tier with premium room experiences, including themed-room priority where available.
- Full access to all 5 days / 4 nights
- Premium room allocation (Suite experience)
- All feasts, rituals, and Daily Dispatch
- Priority access to themed-room placements
Room Allocations & Sleeping Arrangements
Suite
- • 2 double-bed rooms (for two)
- • 3 suite rooms with 3 persons each
- • 3 rooms for 4 persons each
Deluxe
- • 3 single rooms: +€1,400 per room (on top of tier price)
- • 10 rooms with 2 single beds (2 persons per room)
Classic
- • Shared rooms with 2–4 persons each
Private Room Add-On (Classic)
+€1,400 per room (3 rooms total)
Available only to Classic applicants, first come first served after acceptance.
| Comparison | Classic | Deluxe | Suite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core experience (5 days / 4 nights) | |||
| Default accommodation | Simple shared room | Larger room | Premium / themed priority |
| Founding Members price | €1,800 | €2,500 | — |
| Standard price | €2,800 | €3,900 | €4,750 |
| Founding spots | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Private-room add-on | +€1,400 (limited) | Not available | Not available |
Every application is vetted manually.
Founding pricing is granted in order of accepted applications until each tier fills.
Are you a practising artist? The Castle Artist Exchange reserves ten seats at €500 — by application.
The Application Flow
1Apply
Send your profile and why this resonates. Choose preferred tier and optional private-room request.
2Review
We review fit and references. Founding spots are allocated in acceptance order.
3Confirm
If accepted, you receive your final pricing and secure your seat.
The Architects
Built as a duo
Florin Badita
Forbes 30 Under 30. TEDx speaker. Founder of Corupția Ucide — which brought 600,000 people into the streets. Burner. Fire juggler. Builder of impossible things.
&
Aaron Hsu
Forbes 30 Under 30. Deeptech investor at Actual VC (life sciences). Co-founder of ClearMask (exited). For four years running, he has co-hosted an annual month-long founder retreat on a different continent — Vietnam 2023, Greece 2024, Medellín 2025 — carrying forward the spirit of the 2022 Bermuda Residency as a grassroots, founder-led evolution.
This isn't our event. It only works if it becomes ours.
The Castle is Temporary. The Alliance is Permanent.
On Day 5, we scatter. The castle returns to history.
But you will leave with a secret language. You will walk into a boardroom in London or a coffee shop in San Francisco, lock eyes with someone, and know that they were there too.
You are joining a conspiracy of trust that spans continents.
Once you are in, you are never really out.
Begin Your Petition
This is the first step. Share your intentions, and the council will review your request within 7 days.
No payment is required until your invitation is approved.
Be The Weight That Tips The Scale.
We are building a temporary village of 80 souls.
Episode I is now venue-confirmed at Zamek Czocha (Poland), 4-8 October 2026.
Every accepted participant shapes the room. This only works if the right 80 people show up with intention.
The door is opening. It will not stay open long.
Apply for Invitation