North County San Diego's only curated monthly gathering for high-level entrepreneurs, real estate builders, C-suite executives, and director-level decision makers. Consistent. Intentional. Invite-only.
Deals & Beers is a monthly invite-only networking event designed to bring heavy hitters into the same room consistently. No fluff, no pitch decks — just smart people, cold drinks, and real conversation.
The target attendee: real estate developers, investors, C-suite operators, builders, and seasoned entrepreneurs who are actively doing deals and want access to other serious players.
Why North County? Downtown San Diego has events. North County — Carlsbad, San Marcos, Escondido, Encinitas — has the density of serious operators but almost no dedicated high-caliber networking. That's the gap. Deals & Beers fills it.
Venue: Draft Republic San Marcos — private room option, the right atmosphere, and the right address to anchor the North County professional scene.
Quality over quantity. Every attendee is curated. No random sign-ups — this stays high-caliber from day one.
Consistency builds trust. Same format, same energy, once a month. People plan around it.
3–4 co-hosts from different disciplines. Nobody runs it alone. Built to survive a busy month.
No ticket fees to start. The value is the room. Revenue comes from sponsorships and shared costs.
Kelly Henderson-Johnson at Cohn Restaurant Group has confirmed availability for April 9, 2026. Two options on the table:
How to stay out of the red without charging guests a cover fee from day one.
| Revenue Source | Est. Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title Sponsor | $1,000 – $2,500 | Branding, logo on invite, 2-min welcome |
| Supporting Sponsors (2–3) | $300 – $600 each | Table card, social mention, logo placement |
| Partner Cost-Share (3–4 people) | $250 – $500/partner | Each co-host chips in to cover baseline costs |
| Ticket Fee (months 3+) | $25 – $50/head | Only after the brand has credibility |
| Expense | Est. Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Venue minimum gap | $0 – $800 | Often covered naturally by guest spend |
| Food platters | $400 – $700 | Counts toward venue minimum |
| Event materials / design | $0 – $100 | Canva, printed table cards, etc. |
3–4 partners from different disciplines so the room stays well-rounded and no single person carries the event alone.
Visionary, lead host, relationship driver. Sets the tone and curates the invite list.
Finance, lending, developer and investor network. RE background preferred.
Runs the event when others are occupied. COO-type, business owner, or strong connector.
Tech founder, brand builder, or active operator. Rounds out the disciplines in the room.
Every seat is curated. Heavy hitters or people clearly on the trajectory to become one.
Developers, investors, GCs, land acquirers, syndicators, and capital brokers across North County and greater San Diego.
CEOs, COOs, VPs, and Directors at regional companies — 50 to 500 employees in San Diego County.
Cal State San Marcos instructors, adjunct professors, and alumni in business, real estate, and entrepreneurship.
Active founders and operators with revenue and track record — people with something real to offer the room.
Confirm co-hosts. Align on vision, cost-sharing, and responsibilities. Aim for 3–4 total partners across disciplines.
Reply to Kelly at Draft Republic. Request proposal for The Library. Lock in April 9th. Understand deposit requirements.
Each partner contributes 10–15 curated names. Target 30–40 for launch. Pull from CSUSM, LinkedIn, personal networks.
Approach 3–5 companies that benefit from a room of operators. Mortgage, title, SaaS, or financial services firms are natural fits.
Personal outreach — not a mass blast. Each co-host sends personalized messages. Make people feel selected, not invited.
Arrive early. Brief welcome, partner intros, open networking. No death-by-PowerPoint. Let the room do the work.
Thank-you to all attendees. Lock in next month's date. Ask for 2–3 referrals per attendee to grow the list organically.
Send this to Kelly Henderson-Johnson at Cohn Restaurant Group to confirm you're moving forward and request a formal proposal.
Deals & Beers is built on partnership — not a one-man show. We're bringing together a small group of respected professionals who share a belief that the right connections create real opportunity. This is an invitation to co-build something that benefits everyone in the room, including the people running it.
We are open to ideas, input, and suggestions. Every partner has a voice in how this grows. Here's what the partnership is built on:
Every event puts you in front of curated real estate professionals, C-suite operators, and serious entrepreneurs in North County — consistently, month after month.
You're not just an attendee — you're a builder. Your name and your network help shape what this becomes. Founding partners get lasting recognition as this grows.
The right room generates real business. One well-placed introduction from a monthly event can pay dividends for years. This is relationship infrastructure.
Costs and responsibilities are distributed across the team. No one carries it alone — and the upside grows as the event's reputation builds.