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Key Takeaways The OOAK Mastermind conference took place in late August in Tuscany.
In order to attend, founders had to apply and pay $14,000 in conference fees.
The event was geared towards founders of seven- to nine-figure founders who want to take their businesses to the next level.
I first saw the hotel Castelfalfi from the back of a cab, its stone exterior rising out of the Tuscan hills. Inside waited founders who collectively generate more in annual revenue than some small countries — and each had paid thousands of dollars for the privilege of being there.
On paper, I had no business being at a $14,000 retreat for seven- to nine‑figure founders in Tuscany. I don’t run a massive consumer goods brand or a unicorn startup, and my net worth is far from impressive. But when I was invited to sit in on three days of keynote sessions and fireside chats at the OOAK Mastermind conference, I couldn’t turn down the chance to see what happens when ultra‑successful founders gather behind closed doors.
OOAK Mastermind was hosted by OOAK, short for One Of a Kind. The global consumer brand-building company creates, scales and acquires brands.
The three co-founders of OOAK were everywhere at this event. Bob Verlaat, Nick Nijhof and Vince Nijhof delivered the keynotes and moderated the fireside chats. The three of them are actually best friends from childhood; Nick and Vince are brothers.
OOAK founders: (left to right) Bob Verlaat, Vince Nijhof and Nick Nijhof.
The three founders came up with the idea for this event after hosting two smaller iterations in Dubai. They originally intended to keep this conference small, with only a few dozen participants, but kept attracting more interest and selling out.
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