About Garwo Ventures

Garwo Ventures is a venture studio led by Garwo Barlue, focused on building experiences, brands, and programs that help people flourish together.

The name “Garwo” comes from the Krahn dialect (Liberia) and speaks to growth and thriving, and that’s the standard we design for—socially, creatively, and economically. Through live events, international travel, storytelling, impact work, and apprenticeship programs, Garwo Ventures serves as a home for ideas that start small and grow into platforms people return to again and again.

At the center of everything we do is communitas—that feeling of real togetherness, shared stakes, and shared momentum. Our work lives where connection meets structure: we design spaces, systems, and experiences that make it easier for people to find each other, build together, and go further than they could alone.

  • Our vision is to build a long-term ecosystem where the connectors of tomorrow—and the communities around them—can flourish.

    We’re focused on durable infrastructure: experiences that matter, programs that grow talent, and platforms that turn trust into opportunity.

  • Garwo Ventures is the tree. These are some of its branches:

    Nufriends Meet
    Intentional in-person experiences—brunches, dinners, and gatherings—designed so guests don’t just share a room; they leave with real new connections.

    Nufriends Industry
    A podcast and conversation series spotlighting emerging talent across different fields, turning career journeys into intimate, long-form conversations.

    Fete Again
    An international travel brand crafting destination trips and celebratory weekends—birthdays, group escapes, and villa experiences people actually want to run back.

    Zeor Foundation
    The impact arm of Garwo Ventures, focused on helping the next generation go further through scholarships, mentorship, and support.

    Apprentis Lab
    Talent development for tomorrow’s connector—an apprenticeship program where emerging operators and creatives get hands-on experience working across Garwo Ventures projects.

  • We keep the approach simple:

    • Observe – Listen to what people are already doing, needing, and trying to build.

    • Prototype – Test ideas through events, pilots, and small projects.

    • Scale – Invest more deeply in the concepts that consistently create value and genuine connection.