DATELINE DESI
VELVET HOUR: TORONTO’S FIRST AI-POWERED SOUTH ASIAN MIXER
ElephanTO Events co-founders Nikki Barot and Nishant Pasricha.
Toronto has always been a mosaic of cultures, where diverse stories intersect and evolve. Yet, even in a city as rich and vibrant, the South Asian community has long felt the absence of a space that is intentionally designed for them to connect, network, and thrive together.
Launched by ElephanTO Events, Velvet Hour is Toronto’s first AI-powered social mixer designed specifically for South Asians, aged 25 to 40. Happening on Wednesday, September 17, at the stunning Mademoiselle in downtown Toronto, this event is reimagining how South Asians meet, network, and build relationships – whether it is romantic or platonic – in an environment that’s elevated and intentional.
This is not your typical social mixer. At its core, Velvet Hour is about creating meaningful connections. Attendees complete a short ‘About me’ form. From there, ElephanTO’s custom-built AI system matches guests – ensuring each person walking in has a connection waiting for them. Every introduction will be guided and facilitated by Velvet Hour creators, ensuring that technology supports, rather than replaces, the human touch.
Whether you’re looking for your next collaborator, your future partner, or just new friends in the city, Velvet Hour removes the guesswork and creates space for deeper, more meaningful conversations.
“We didn’t want to create yet another generic social mixer with ice breakers and name tags,” says co-founder Nikki Barot, a mental health clinician. “We wanted a space where people could truly feel seen and understood.”
Barot brings years of experience in mental health and community building. Her work has focused on creating safe, empathetic environments for people to feel connected and valued- which is the core of Velvet Hour.
Co-founder Nishant Pasricha brings the tech. With a background in business innovation and product development, he envisioned using AI to solve one of the biggest challenges in modern networking and dating: knowing who to talk to.
The idea for ElephanTO Events was born from their own experiences and countless conversations with friends in Toronto’s South Asian community. Frequently, people shared the same frustration – that mixers felt repetitive, awkward, and unproductive.
“We wanted to combine cutting-edge technology with human interaction,” Pasricha explains. “Velvet Hour is about empowering people to connect more easily – without awkward small talk.”
Together, they launched Velvet Hour, an event committed to building elevated social experiences for Toronto’s South Asian community.
Barot and Pasricha are breaking new ground with their company, becoming the first to integrate AI into the social mixer setting. Their upcoming event, Velvet Hour: AI-Powered South Asian Social Mixer, promises to redefine how people connect – enhancing social experiences with technology that feels both seamless and human.
Check them out on Eventbrite by searching Velvet Hour: AI-Powered South Asian Social Mixer, and on Instagram at @elephantoevents.