About us
The AI Collective is a non-profit, grassroots community uniting more than a million founders, researchers, operators, and investors exploring the frontier of AI in tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we help the AI ecosystem steer where this goes: toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
In Hampton Roads, our chapter brings that to life across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and the Peninsula, connecting technologists, creatives, students, and entrepreneurs through meetups, hands-on workshops, and real collaborations in healthcare, defense, education, tourism, and the local economy.
We run two things, and there is something on most weeks.
Build and Demo Night. Thursdays, every two weeks, in Virginia Beach. Come with an idea, a half-finished project, or just curiosity. Build for the night, then demo what you made. Working demos beat perfect slides.
Peninsula Builders Study Group. Tuesdays, every two weeks, at Christopher Newport University, Luter 170, 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Bring a laptop and whatever is blocking you. Hands-on, not a lecture.
Both are free, always. No ticket, no tier, no upsell at the door.
Between events the chapter lives online. Paste the error you are stuck on and someone local answers, put what you built in the Build Log, and work through the library at your own pace.
Join here: https://www.chuhching.com/c/aic-hampton-roads
Not sure where to start? This two minute check tells you where you actually are and what to do first: https://www.chuhching.com/l/aichrGroup
Everything else: https://linktr.ee/aicollectivehr
Upcoming events
6
The Next Frontier | Launchpad
ECPI University, 5555 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, USA, Virginia Beach, VA, US# 🚀 The Launchpad: Shape Your Idea
Your journey into innovation starts here! ☄️
Join The AI Collective Hampton Roads for The Launchpad, night one of The Next Frontier 2026, a community-driven space innovation hackathon presented by ECPI University, where science, technology, and creativity collide. The top team wins $1,000!
Before you start building, learn how to turn your curiosity into a compelling project idea!
During this interactive kickoff workshop, we'll explore:- 🚀 Pitching Your Idea: Learn how to identify a problem, develop a solution, and communicate your vision.
- 🔭 Scientific Discovery: Explore research resources, publicly available datasets, and inspiration from space and Earth science.
- 🤖 AI & Emerging Technologies: Discover tools that can help you research, prototype, and bring your ideas to life.
- 🌎 Preparing for the Challenge: Understand what to expect during The Next Frontier and how to make the most of your hackathon experience.
Whether you're a student, scientist, developer, designer, or simply curious about innovation, you belong at The Launchpad. No coding experience required!
The full weekend:- Fri, Nov 13, 6–8 PM: The Launchpad (this event) at ECPI
- Sat, Nov 14, 11 AM–2 PM: Mission Control, pitch day at ECPI. The $1,000 winner is announced!
- Sun, Nov 15: Virtual. Teams submit their NASA project.
Please RSVP for Saturday too: https://www.meetup.com/aicollectivehr/events/317121992/
📅 Friday, November 13, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM EST
📍 ECPI University | 5555 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA
🌐 Event Website: https://aichr-nextfrontier.lovable.app/
💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/ecW2mY3DD
Come curious. Leave ready to launch. 🚀
## Bronze partners
# Our parent org
***
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 150,000+ pioneers – founders, researchers, operators, and investors – exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AI’s future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct. Additionally, by registering for this event, you agree to The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter photo & video policy.10 attendees
The Next Frontier | Mission Control
5555 Greenwich Road, 5555 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, USA, Virginia Beach, VA, US# 🚀 Mission Control: Pitch Day
Pitch your project. Win $1,000. ☄️
Mission Control is the in-person pitch day of The Next Frontier 2026, a community-driven space innovation hackathon hosted by AI Collective Hampton Roads and presented by ECPI University.
Teams pitch their ideas in exploration, space medicine, space agriculture, or space tourism, and the top team takes home $1,000, announced at the end of the day.
Missed Friday's Launchpad workshop? You can still come. Pitch something you've been working on, cheer on the teams, or come see what Hampton Roads is building for space.
During Mission Control we'll:- 🚀 Pitch: each team shares their idea and what they built
- 💡 Get feedback from judges and the community
- 🤝 Meet people who care about science, space, and AI
- 🏆 Announce the $1,000 winner
After pitch day, teams finish and submit their NASA project virtually on Sunday, November 15.
Friday night's workshop (Nov 13, 6–8 PM): https://www.meetup.com/aicollectivehr/events/317121952/
📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM–2:00 PM EST
📍 ECPI University | 5555 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA
🌐 Event Website: https://aichr-nextfrontier.lovable.app/
💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/ecW2mY3DD
✨ No coding experience required. Beginners and curious minds welcome!
Pitch your idea. Win the mission. 🚀
## Bronze partners
# Our parent org
***
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 150,000+ pioneers – founders, researchers, operators, and investors – exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AI’s future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct. Additionally, by registering for this event, you agree to The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter photo & video policy.10 attendees
AI Alien Alert! An Out-of-this-world app build night
Cafe Stella, 1907 Colonial Ave, Norfolk, VA 23517, USA, Norfolk, VA, US👽 Your wildest idea could become your first app.
Join Tiffany and Howard for AI Alien Alert!—a social, hands-on build night where aliens, UFOs, and AI fuel your creativity.
You’ll join a small crew, dream up an alien-inspired app, and use Lovable to bring it to life. Think UFO sighting trackers, alien matchmakers, or a guide to surviving first contact. Your team chooses the mission!
No coding experience needed. We’ll demonstrate how to get started and help you along the way.
🚀 THE MISSION
- Meet your crew and brainstorm an idea.
- Build your app prototype using AI.
- Take a break, mingle, and swap feedback.
- Refine your creation, then demo it to the room.
- You’ll leave with hands-on experience building with AI, new connections, and a playful prototype your team can keep exploring.
💻 COME PREPARED
Bring a laptop and charger, and create a free account at lovable.dev before the event. Save your available build credits for the evening—we’ll share tips for making them count.Come solo or bring a friend. You don’t need a team or an idea beforehand—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
🛸 Ready to join the mission? Register to reserve your spot!
**The AI Collective **is a global non-profit building the human layer for the AI era. We unite 250,000+ leaders, builders, and stakeholders across 100+ forums worldwide to democratize the frontier, build trust, and coordinate how society navigates the rapid acceleration of technological progress.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct.
4 attendees
🧜♀️ AICHR | Peninsula Builders Study Group
Christopher Newport University, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, VA, USNew AI tools are dropping every week. Bookmarks are piling up. “To-be-studied” lists are growing faster than we can keep up with.
Sound familiar?
Peninsula Builders Study Group is a local initiative for students and developers of the Peninsula area who want to stop meaning to learn and start actually doing it—together.
There’s no pressure to be an expert, and no bootcamp intensity. Just a consistent habit, a room full of curious people, and the accountability that comes from showing up. Every session we pick a topic and dive deeper into it until we are fully clear on it.
Session details:
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Christopher Newport University (Luter 170)
🔁 Frequency: Bi-weekly (Tuesdays)Stay connected:
Join Slack: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflVL1WYj3NpiSZ2o7QjJW17-HojU3wPyeeQVIWhKI_4OtFPQ/viewform?usp=dialog🤝 Organizers & partners
Organizers
The AI Collective Hampton RoadsPlatinum partners
TechArk
Regent University
ECPI University
Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation
Retail Alliance & Retail Alliance Foundation
The HIVE + City of Virginia BeachBronze partners
Assembly
757 Collab🌍 Our parent org
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 200,000+ pioneers – founders, researchers, operators, and investors – exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AI’s future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct. Additionally, by registering for this event, you agree to The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter photo & video policy.
3 attendees
Past events
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