What we’re about
The AI Collective is a non-profit, grassroots community uniting 70,000+ 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.
In Hampton Roads, our chapter brings that mission to life across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and beyond – connecting technologists, creatives, students, and entrepreneurs through intimate meetups, hands-on workshops, and real-world collaborations that drive innovation in healthcare, defense, education, tourism, and the local economy. From fireside chats to industry demo nights, we’re building a trusted space for bold ideas, meaningful dialogue, and collective progress on AI’s cutting edge.
Discord group: https://discord.gg/pMpdNHJDEJ
Upcoming events
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🧜♀️ The AI Collective HR • AI for Startups
Assembly, 400 Granby St., Norfolk, VA, US# The AI-native startup - Scaling without headcount
How founders are achieving 10x output with tiny teams — and how you can too.
Startups today look nothing like startups from five years ago. With AI as the new force multiplier, small teams are building faster, operating leaner, and scaling without adding headcount. This session breaks down the practical tools, workflows, and strategies that modern founders are using to turn themselves into AI-powered organizations.
Join Andrew Stafford and Charlie O’Brien for a tactical walkthrough designed for founders, builders, creators, and operators.
# 🔍 What You’ll Learn
The new unit of startup economics
Why 1 person + AI now equals the output of a traditional 10-person team.
The 30-second skill every founder needs: Real prompt engineering
Use the R.C.T.F. framework (Role, Context, Task, Format) to turn AI into a reliable digital employee.
Coding for everyone — from no-code to advanced devs
How tools like Lovable, Vly.ai, Cursor, and Copilot cut build time by 30–50%.
Marketing & content workflows that actually work
Research with Perplexity, branding with Midjourney/Ideogram, SEO with Claude, and lead enrichment with Clay + Smartlead.
Automation & agents: The next frontier
How “AI staff” can schedule tasks, update CRMs, analyze emails, build components, and execute multi-step workflows autonomously.
Guardrails & best practices
Avoid hallucinations, protect your data, and keep your content authentic.
You’ll leave with a Monday Morning Checklist — a simple, practical set of actions to start automating your business this week.
# 🎙️ Your Speakers
## Andrew Stafford
Co-Lead of The AI Collective Hampton Roads chapter.
25 years across two startups, Amazon, NASA, and major enterprise consulting.
## Charlie O’Brien
Founder of LOGENTIQ • Sr. Product & Operations Manager at 757 Collab.
Helps founders turn unclear goals into clear, delegate-ready AI action plans.
# Who should attend?
Founders
Small business owners
Startup teams
Developers & no-coders
Anyone wanting to scale without adding overhead
# Why this matters
We are in a moment similar to the invention of the camera:
the basic work — emails, code, research, admin — has become cheap and fast.
Your value now is your taste, your strategy, and your ability to orchestrate AI tools.
This event shows you exactly how to do that.
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FAQs
- Is there free parking in the area?
Yes. Parking is available along E. Main St and in downtown Norfolk for free after 6pm. If street parking isn't available, parking will also be available at the Waterside garage and Fountain garages. To learn more, head on over to Downtown Norfolk's parking & transportation page → https://www.downtownnorfolk.org/business/parking-and-transportation - What the closest free parking garage to the event?
The Freemason Street Garage - Will anything else be provided?
Yes, snacks & drinks will be provided by our awesome partner, TEKsystems & Armon Wade - Is this free?
Yes, but space is limited. Make sure to RSVP.
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Organizers & Partners
Organizers
The AI Collective Hampton Roads
Platinum partner
TechArk Solutions
Regent University
Silver partner
Assembly Norfolk
TEKsystems
Space partner
757 Collab
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Our parent org
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 100,000+ 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 are subject to our Code of Conduct**.39 attendees- Is there free parking in the area?
Past events
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