The Link Up
A monthly dinner collective for builders.
Powered by Hong Shing
Curated by Kaiso
Backed by you
One dinner. 20 Builders. Real Conversations.
Why We Exist
Too many builders are building alone.
So we built a table.
The Reality We Face in Toronto
52%
of Gen Z and Millennials no longer want the traditional career ladder.
They’re choosing sustainable careers over rapid promotions.
Source: Deloitte 2026 Global Gen Z & Millennial Survey
The ladder is broken
9%
Toronto's unemployment rate climbed to nearly 9% in late 2025.
Youth are hit hardest with approximately 1 in 5 young people in Toronto's labour force are unemployed.
Source: Deloitte 2026 Global Gen Z & Millenial survey
Everyone's building,
few are building together
Jobs aren't coming fast enough
More
Founders
More people are building in public and sharing their journey, learning openly, and inviting others into the process
Source: Axios, 2026
Mental
Health
Mental health in Toronto is declining significantly, with researchers describing the situation as unprecedented
Source: Wellesley institute, 2026. Toronto Mental Health report
Toronto is struggling, quietly
Who Belongs Here
Builders. The people creating things, solving problems and helping others do the same.
If you're building something and you're willing to help someone else build too, you'll probably feel at home here.
Why Pay for The Link Up
Every ticket builds something bigger. A stronger collective. Better conversations.
What 'Collective' Means to us
This isn't networking. It's builders helping builders.
We share knowledge
We make introductions
We open doors
The Bigger Picture
The Link Up is the first chapter. Kaiso is the future we're building toward. Every seat at the table helps make that future possible.
Who belongs here
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE DINNER
Dinner starts with introductions. It ends with new relationships.
FLOWERS
Not a keynote and it's not a panel. Just an honest 15 minute conversation with someone whose journey has inspired us. We call this section, flowers.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DINNER
Builders are added to The Link Up's whatsapp community group.
THE TABLE (HONG SHING)
This isn't a rented venue. It's a partnership. A restaurant that believes great conversations deserve a table.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DINNER
🍸 Welcome drinks • 🍽️ Three course Dinner • 🎤 "Flowers" • 🤝 Building • 💬 Join the Whatsapp collective
Evening Scheudle
Secure payment via Wix Payments
Wednesday August 26th
The Link Up
TIME
6:00 – 8:30 PM
VENUE
Hong Shing
195 Dundas Street West, Toronto
The Journey...
Kaiso is the long term vision we're building towards. While we apply for grants, incubators, and seek investors, we're building in public and inviting people to build along side us.
AI is only being used to visualize the vision 👇🏾
WELCOME TO KAISO
BARBER • MOVEMENT • COMMUNITY
This wasn't just a physical transformation.
Rebuilding my body helped me rebuild my mind, my confidence, and the way I live.
That journey is what led to Kaiso.
BARBER
Look good
MOVEMENT
Feel good
COMMUNITY
Never alone
I've spent 10+ years building culture driven brand and experiences through R/GA and independent consulting . My work has included projects for Beats by Dre, Converse, Nike, Verizon, Timberland, Roots, and Amazon Prime Video across Canada, U.K, USA and Asia.
Before marketing, I spent 13 years teaching early childhood education across Canada and China, including living in China for nearly a decade.
From an early age, I was largely on my own. Years later, after privately navigating addiction, anxiety, and depression, I realized what helped me most wasn’t traditional wellness.
It was movement, grooming, routine, and my community.
Kaiso was built around that insight.
THE FOUNDER'S JOURNEY
What saved me became KAISO
Kenwyn
Founder & Curator
What's Next
2026 👉🏾 Build the Collective
2027 👉🏾 Pop-up experiences
Future 👉🏾 The first Kaiso Location
Before it existed, they backed it.
Directly from our community of Kickstarter backers.
Reflection — Slow down. • Movement — Move your body. • Community — Find your people. • Routine — Small habits. Big change. • Culture — Learn from one another. • Growth — Keep showing up.