Melissa Dewar, Founder of The Modernist, creates the "future of lifestyle membership" through a hospitality tech startup that provides ClassPass-style access to private members clubs, co-working spaces, and exclusive events across London, describing her platform as the offspring of "ClassPass and Soho House." Originally studying architecture at Cambridge where she conceived the idea while writing her thesis, Melissa launched The Modernist as a side project newsletter while working in consulting, curating London's best venues and building a community-first business that grew to 600 members within six months before she left her full-time job. The platform addresses the Gen Z/Millennial problem of expensive multiple memberships (she previously held five different venue memberships) by offering one key that unlocks coveted spaces typically reserved for those 40+, capitalizing on post-COVID demand for physical networking and authentic experiences as people tire of phone-based interactions. Melissa's AI-powered matching tool connects users to venues based on personal interests like fashion, classical architecture, and music, while providing venues with curated customer acquisition and valuable data insights about their ideal customer profiles, positioning The Modernist as a win-win partnership that brings additional revenue through events without charging venues upfront fees. Currently raising £750K at a £4M valuation through SEIS/EIS rounds targeting VCs, family offices, and angel investors, plus founding memberships similar to historical models, Melissa plans global expansion to the US, Middle East, and Asia while developing reciprocal arrangements that exceed traditional private club limitations by including event access and full membership conversions. The Modernist enables for younger professionals seeking authentic connections and premium spaces previously beyond their reach.