“Eight is the Sweet Spot”—Why Brian Keltner & Francesca Kenney Elevate Entrepreneurs Together

Cut The Tie Podcast with Brian Keltner & Francesca Kenney

What happens when two co-founders build multiple ventures without ever meeting in person? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Brian Keltner and Francesca Kenney, co-founders of ELEV8ORS, to talk about how they’re reinventing networking.

From nearly choking on their first phone call together to launching a global B2B community in just 8 weeks, Brian and Francesca share how they help entrepreneurs shift from “me, me, me” pitching to relationship-first ecosystems. Their secret? Small groups of 8, immersive environments, and a culture of listening for impact.

About Brian & Francesca

Brian Keltner and Francesca Kenney are the co-founders of ELEV8ORS, a virtual B2B networking company built on the principle of elevating others. With decades of combined experience in marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship, they designed ELEV8ORS as an antidote to pitch-fests—focusing instead on authentic relationships, structured agendas, and immersive virtual spaces. Their mission is simple: help entrepreneurs build meaningful networks that grow businesses faster.

In this episode, Thomas, Brian, and Francesca discuss:

From strangers to partners
How a chance introduction and a hilarious near-death choking incident sparked a lasting business partnership.Why 8 matters
The symbolism, science, and practicality of keeping networking groups capped at 8 members.From idea to revenue in 8 weeks
The sprint that took ELEV8ORS from concept to international cash flow.Cutting ties with time-wasters
Why saying no to unproductive tasks, software, and people frees you to focus on what matters.Immersive meetings over Zoom fatigue
How a 3D virtual environment beats traditional video calls and deepens connections.

Key Takeaways

Small rooms, big outcomes
Eight is the sweet spot—large groups leave people out.Relationships beat pitches
Networking works when it’s about who you can help, not what you sell.Iterate quickly
Launch, learn, and improve—don’t wait for perfection.Simplify your stack
The right tools can replace several wrong ones and save time.Community is a system
Be intentional about who you gather and how you engage.

Connect with Brian & Francesca

🌐 Website: https://elev8ors.net
📎 LinkedIn (Brian): https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankeltner1/
📎 LinkedIn (Francesca): https://www.linkedin.com/in/francescakenney/

Connect with Thomas Helfrich

🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie
📎 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfich
🌐 Website: https://www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 Instantly Relevant: https://instantlyrelevant.com

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