Our Story
The kind of space where connections deepen naturally and collaborations begin.
Why The Experience Exchange Exists
Shortly before his 60th birthday, after nearly four decades in senior professional roles - including twelve years as Senior Partner at Deloitte Southeast Asia - Michael Velten handed in his notice.
What do I want the next decade to represent?
The decision followed a period of reflection prompted by a health scare in late 2023. The intensity that had defined his career was no longer sustainable.
Initially, Michael tried a hot desk at one of the large corporate coworking spaces. It quickly became clear this was not the answer. The environment was designed for a different demographic and purpose – optimised for startups, freelancers, and remote workers rather than experienced professionals navigating a more deliberate transition.
When he looked for a place that could support what he actually needed – a place for meaningful connections, genuine collaborations, and community that understood this chapter – it did not exist. So he built it.
Why Singapore, Why Now
The Experience Exchange is grounded in Singapore not because of geography, but because of temperament.
Singapore sits at the intersection of East and West, family and institution, capital and consequence. It is a place where long-term thinking still matters, discretion is valued, and transitions are handled quietly rather than theatrically.
Many of our members operate globally. They choose Singapore as a base not to scale faster, but to think more clearly.
The Pattern
In conversations with peers - former partners, CEOs, founders - the same themes appeared. People wanted relevance, challenge, and community without hierarchy or posturing - and without having to perform their biography yet again. The pattern was consistent across industries and geographies.
The Principle
"We don't retire from work; we retire to something."
The Scale
The Experience Exchange was never designed for scale; it was designed for depth, and will remain small enough for faces to stay familiar.
A Note from Michael
The Experience Exchange is, at heart, an invitation.
After decades in demanding roles, I wanted to create the kind of place I wished had existed when I was navigating my own “what now?” – a calm, beautifully held space where you can work, think, and speak honestly about the next chapter without having to explain your track record first.
I tried the alternatives first. I took a hot desk at a well-known corporate coworking space, thinking flexibility and a professional environment would be enough. It wasn’t. The space was built for a different purpose – the energy was startup hustle, the events were pitch nights and networking drinks, and the pricing assumed you’d be there every day.
If you are someone who has given a lot to your first act and is now more interested in doing meaningful work at a humane pace, you are exactly who this space was designed for.
What excites me most is the idea of gathering people who are still ambitious – but differently so. People who care about contribution, health, and legacy as much as titles and transactions.
If that sounds like you, I’d be glad to welcome you into The Experience Exchange.
— Michael
Ready to Elevate Your Experience?
Join a refined, empowering community where work-life balance is reimagined and every moment counts.