Today we’d like to introduce you to Iyana Admasu.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I never planned on being in Houston. I grew up in Philadelphia with every intention of becoming a veterinarian, but life had other plans. After pivoting out of grad school I discovered UX design, moved to Indianapolis for a program, and then COVID hit. I found myself completely isolated in a city I barely knew. That year was hard but it was the year I grew the most. I locked in, finished the program, landed my first tech job, and manifested my next move. When my employer told me I would be relocating to Houston I literally laughed out loud. That was one of the exact cities I had put on my vision board.
I moved January 31st, 2021, completely alone. What I did not expect was how invisible I would feel. Houston is a club and section culture and that was never really my scene, especially not as a woman going out alone. So I started creating content, exploring the city on camera, and created a viral series called Houston This Weekend where I would tell people everything going on in the city. That grew into an online community of transplants, a group chat of 1000+ people all feeling the exact same thing, and eventually they started asking for meetups. In May 2023 I threw out a simple happy hour invite not really expecting anyone to show up. Eight people came to Belle Station. That night was the beginning of Mixy Events.
I was building Mixy while working full time as a software engineer in a toxic workplace. After back to back personal tragedies and a workplace that met them with indifference, I made the decision to leave and bet on myself. Mixy was not sustaining me financially yet but I believed, and still believe, it was a part of my purpose. I have not looked back since. Today we are approaching year three, recently trademarked, and still growing…built on one simple truth. You should never have to miss out on life just because you do not have someone to go with.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. The deepest struggle has been having to face myself. You cannot build something that lasts while staying the same person you were when you started. As someone more introverted by nature, networking and asking for help do not come naturally to me. Mixy required both, and I’m still working into that, ready or not.
There have also been real disappointments. People I trusted showing their true colors. People who saw what I was building and duplicated my name, concepts and ideas without any acknowledgment. As a transplant with no existing network, every connection and event I brought to life, I have I built from scratch. Watching someone take what you poured into and run with it hits different when you built everything alone. But regardless, Mixy has continued to be an authentic space, with a community that supports us, and I’m forever grateful for that.
Then there is the part nobody glamorizes. Every single event, three years in, there is still that nervousness about whether people will actually show up. You are asking someone to choose your experience out of everything Houston has to offer on any given night. A holiday weekend, a competing event, bad weather, the algorithm deciding not to push your content that day; any of it can affect turnout and none of it is in your control. That vulnerability never fully goes away.
And underneath all of it is the burnout of doing everything yourself. Marketing, design, content, outreach, contracts, hosting, logistics, finances. All of it. A founder should be focused on the vision. I am still building towards the team that makes that possible and I genuinely believe when that moment comes every one of these struggles will have been worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mixy Events is a community driven event platform built for adults who want real connection in a world that has made it increasingly hard to find. We host curated experiences across multiple pillars including happy hours, game nights, karaoke, fitness and wellness, Women’s events and community service. The diversity is intentional because people are multifaceted and their social lives should reflect that. What ties every experience together is not the type of event, but the environment we create at all of them. Show-up-solo friendly is not just a phrase, it is a design principle. Every event is built so that walking in alone feels like the most natural thing in the world.
What sets Mixy apart is that we operate at the intersection of community building and local business support. Our events serve as a visibility platform for Houston’s local businesses and creatives, introducing them to an engaged, loyal demographic that might otherwise stay home or leave the city altogether due to lack of community. A 70% repeat attendance rate in an industry where one-time attendees are the norm says everything about the kind of experience we deliver. We have partnered with the AfroTech Conference and built relationships with over 50 local businesses because we are equally invested in the people in the room and the businesses that make the room possible.
What I want readers to know is that while Mixy was born from my own experience as a transplant, it was never just for transplants. It is for any adult looking for a genuine good time in a space that actually feels good to be in. What makes Mixy different is that we make coming solo the standard. Our motto is “Come Solo. Leave Connected”…not because you have to come alone, but because you can. No cliquey energy, no pressure, just a room full of people ready to meet you and have a good time. Whether you show up solo, roll in with your crew, or bring your boo, you are welcome here! And just to be clear, we do not host singles events. We are simply in the business of connection. However that looks for you is entirely up to you.
What makes you happy?
So many things, honestly. At the top of the list is travel. I never dreamed about a specific job growing up, I dreamed about seeing the world. New places, new cultures, new food. Before Mixy Events took shape I actually wanted to plan retreats, and let us just say that chapter is not closed. Anything with water makes me genuinely happy: beaches, pools, lakes, water sports, all of it. Pair that with the outdoors and fresh air and I am completely at peace. Animals have always been a huge part of my heart too. Even though I didn’t follow through with veterinary school, conservation and working with animals is still very much in my future. And of course being around the people I love, my loved ones and chosen family who pour into me the same way I pour into them, that fills me up in a way nothing else can.
I am also a creative at my core. Growing up I was always drawing, painting, building something. As an adult that evolved into graphic design, front end development, UX design, and content creation. I love creating for myself and I love creating for others. There is something about bringing a vision to life that never gets old.
And then there is the planning. I have always been the planner friend, so you would think event curation was always the plan. It was not. But I genuinely light up knowing that I can curate an experience where the impact goes far beyond what I even imagined. When I hear that two strangers met at a Mixy event and are now best friends, or that someone finally felt at home in Houston because of a night we created, that gets me emotional every time. It is proof that when you walk in your purpose it helps people in ways you could never fully predict. That is what keeps me going. Oh, and music. That is a big one. Nine times out of ten I am listening to something really chill or deeply emotional. I promise I’m not sad…I’m just a Pisces lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mixyevents.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mixyeventshtx
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mixyevents.htx
