Infrastructure Masons, the industry group for the people building the foundations of the digital world, is having its first meeting on May 16 in Silicon Valley.

“Do you build or operate the structures of the digital age? Then you must be an Infrastructure Mason,” says Dean Nelson, founder and chairman of Infrastructure Masons. And the former eBay VP is hosting the group’s inaugural meeting in Silicon Valley on May 16 to start the mission of empowering the people building the foundation for the internet of everything.

Strength in numbers

The group brings together individuals whose job is to “build the physical and logical infrastructure of the digital age”, and the first 50 members between them have built $50 billion worth of infrastructure in more than 50 countries, says Nelson in his first Infrastructure Matters video explaining why the group was formed. 

 At the evening meeting, from 6-9pm on 16 May, members of the group will network and debate issues and opportunities, as well as seeing previews of unreleased, disruptive technology from selected sponsors. ”There is so much strength in numbers,” says Nelson. “Together we can propel the industry forward.” 

Guests at the event will include Google’s VP of data centers Joe Kava  Facebook’s VP of Infrastructure Data Centers Tom Furlong, eBay’s head of global foundation services Eddie Schutter, former CTO from Digital Realty Trust Jim Smith, LitBit CEO Scott Noteboom, former VP of Data Centers at Amazon Osvaldo Morales and president of 7x24 Exchange David Schirmacher. Guests are traveling in from Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Illinois, New York and as far away as the Czech Republic, says Nelson.

The event is also doubling as a fundraiser through IM’s partnership with Geeks Giving Back. With the help of the partner sponsors, over $50,000 will be raised to build the new Just Let Me Learn school in India. 

If you want to be at this invitation only event, you must first register with Infrastructure Masons’ LinkedIn group and apply to attend the meeting.