About Us
We celebrate failure like it just paid off our student loans.
Our Story
Failure in business is taboo. Should it be?
Most of us have enough business failures to start our own Netflix series. At Fuckup Nights YEG, we don't shy away from that. We celebrate it. We all fuck up from time to time, and if you haven't yet, just wait. The universe has a sense of humor and excellent timing.
We host the uncomfortable conversations where failure led to success, where a terrible restaurant idea turned into a brilliant catering concept, where getting fired became the kick you needed to build your own thing.
Think of it as TED Talks meets group therapy meets your favorite coffee shop where everyone knows your order and your deepest business insecurities. We bring the speakers, the donuts and beverages, and the safe space. You bring yourself.
Built for entrepreneurs and business leaders. An inclusive space, open to all industries, all experience levels, and all types of business failures.
Brave souls on stage
Sharing stories that matter
Meet the Organizers
The humans behind FuN YEG
Three Edmontonians who believe failure stories are worth telling out loud, and who've built the space for it.
Billie Lang
City Coordinator
Billie is an Alberta-based lifestyle photographer with a passion for capturing real, unfiltered moments. As City Coordinator for Fuckup Nights YEG, she creates space for honest conversations about failure, vulnerability, and the messy reality of building a creative business. She is a big believer that when we normalize struggle, we free each other to take bolder, more meaningful risks and make better art along the way.
Michael Oleskiw
City Coordinator & Title Sponsor
Michael is the owner of CVL Engineers Inc., bringing decades of expertise in engineering and a no-nonsense approach to building things that last. As City Coordinator and Title Sponsor of Fuckup Nights YEG, Michael puts his money and his time where his mouth is, championing a culture where failure is treated as a foundation, not a setback. Bold, direct, and deeply invested in Edmonton's business community.
Naomi Gitterman
Speaker Curator & Coach
Naomi brings people together by producing large events, building cross-sector partnerships, and championing authentic storytelling. With over a decade in community building, donor relations, and trauma-informed practice, she builds trust and coaches people through vulnerable work. As Speaker Curator and Coach for Fuckup Nights Edmonton, she finds leaders who've faceplanted hard and helps them own their messiest moments on stage.
Our Values
Built on what matters
Radical Honesty
No sugarcoating, no highlight reels. Just real stories from real people who've been in the trenches.
Real Connection
This isn't a networking event with business cards. It's a community where you can be genuinely yourself.
Gloriously Imperfect
We celebrate the mess, the chaos, and the beautiful disasters that make entrepreneurship human.
Safe Space
No judgement here. Whether you needed therapy after your failure or just a stiff drink, you're welcome.
Event Format
A typical FuN night
Every quarterly event follows this format. Doors open early, stories flow freely, and connections happen naturally.
5:30 PM
Doors Open
Light networking with donuts & beverages
6:15 PM
Welcome & Housekeeping
Fuckup Nights intro and ground rules
6:30 PM
Speaker 1 + Q&A
First brave soul shares their story
7:00 PM
Speaker 2 + Q&A
Second story of glorious failure
7:30 PM
Intermission
Refresh drinks, grab more donuts
7:45 PM
Speaker 3 + Q&A
Final speaker takes the stage
8:15 PM
Panel Discussion
All speakers together for deeper conversation
8:30 PM
Networking
Continue connecting until 10pm
Part of a global movement
Fuckup Nights started in Mexico City in 2012. Today, it's the world's largest community dedicated to sharing stories of failure.
Countries
Cities
Attendees
Failure Stories
Ready to join the community?
Whether you want to attend, speak, or sponsor, there's a place for you at Fuckup Nights YEG.