An early-morning dance party that startup workers are obsessed with is expanding to colleges — here's what it's like

daybreaker nyc rave

Daybreaker, a company whose early-morning dance parties draws startup workers in London, Paris, New York, and Tokyo, is bringing the sunrise soirée to college campuses across the US.

Founded in 2013, Daybreaker throws three-hour raves complete with electronic dance music, free juice and snacks, and yoga — all before most people have their morning cup of coffee. Creators of the event series bill it as a "movement," with over 350,000 members in 21 cities.

The pre-work dance parties are expanding to college campuses this fall, in the hopes of offering stressed-out students a reprieve from trashy basement parties. Unlike most raves, Daybreaker events are free of booze and drugs. They aim to energize, connect, and delight party-goers.

So far, Daybreaker has hosted six raves at colleges including University of South Carolina, Duke, Boston University, and New York University. Most often the school administration foots the bill. Fifty more colleges have contacted Daybreaker since launch, according to the company.

"We're not saying, 'Don't party.' We're saying, 'You do you,'" Radha Agrawal, the 38-year-old cofounder of Daybreaker, told Business Insider. "If you want to party without alcohol, if you want to do yoga before dancing— without the need for social lubrication — this is for you."

I attended two Daybreaker parties while living in New York City. Here's what they're like.