Humans crave connection. For most of us, relationships grow out of shared experiences: school, work, and where we live form the basis of most social bonds. But fleeting moments can also spark friendships.

Events bring people with shared interests together to escape the daily routine, forging connections in the process. Specialty artisan gatherings like West Coast Craft and Cheese Fest give consumers a chance to meet the makers behind their favorite products. Y-Combinator’s Demo Days—designed to introduce promising companies to vetted investors—can set a business on the path to IPO. On a larger scale, there are certainly a few conversations about career moves among the 170,000 people flooding downtown San Francisco at Salesforce Dreamforce.

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