Aïko Thurlow is a human connection strategist, facilitator and speaker who helps event attendees build meaningful relationships.

Aïko designs and facilitates roundtables that encourage attendees to move beyond small talk and support one another through honest conversation. She also develops event-wide strategies that shape how attendees meet and build relationships.

As CEO of InFounders for the past decade, Aïko ran private executive groups and developed a methodology that helps people build trust, generosity and mutual support. She now brings this approach to conferences and events to encourage peer learning and collaboration.

Aïko’s background spans consulting, entrepreneurship and higher education. She led the entrepreneurship department at York University and has served as a mentor and hackathon judge for Princeton University and Google. She continues to advise institutions on innovation and community building.

Outside work, Aïko lives on a small farm in Upstate New York with her husband, two children and a friendly peacock. She is passionate about sustainability and building greater empathy.