What we’re about
Welcome to Futures Forum - a meetup for builders exploring agentic systems through the lens of databases and data engineering, powered by SurrealDB.
We dig into the practical pieces that make agents work in the real world: memory, retrieval, knowledge graphs, real-time updates, and the data planes that keep systems correct as they scale.
Expect high-signal talks, live demos, and honest discussion on what’s working (and what’s brittle). If you’re building AI applications - whether you sit in backend, data, ML, or platform - this is your room.
Upcoming events
2
- Network event
Live webinar: Vector RAG that actually understands context
•OnlineOnline12 attendees from 5 groupsPlease note - to reserve a spot for this webinar you must register at: https://surrealdb.com/events/webinar/2026-01-21-vector-rag-that-actually-understands-context
5 attendees from this group - Network event
Meetup: Knowledge Graphs & Agents
Huckletree Oxford Circus, 213 Oxford Street, London, GB19 attendees from 2 groupsAgentic AI only works as well as the context you can reliably retrieve.
We're kicking off our first meetup of 2026 with a practical deep dive into knowledge graphs + agents. The focus will be on clean graph retrieval patterns: querying a knowledge graph without unnecessary abstraction, keeping type-safety, and getting end-to-end observability (not just LLM calls).
We'll explore:
- Where knowledge graph retrieval fits into modern agent architectures
- A SurrealDB + Pydantic AI pattern for tool-based graph querying
- How to build with type safety + observability baked in
Talks
SurrealDB knowledge graph retrieval tool for a Pydantic AI agent
Martin Schaer (SurrealDB)
Once you have a knowledge graph in SurrealDB, Pydantic AI agent's provide one of the most straightforward ways of querying it, without adding unnecessary layers of abstraction that limit your options, and providing production ready type-safety and full-stack observability (not only for the LLM calls).
Building Agents with Pydantic AI, Logfire and SurrealDB
Chris Samiulluh (Pydantic)
This session explores how to build AI agents by combining three powerful tools: Pydantic AI for agent development, Pydantic Logfire for observability, and SurrealDB as a multi-model database backend. A practical approach to agent development, demonstrating how these tools work together to create applications that are both powerful and maintainable.
Agenda
- 18:00 Doors + drinks
- 18:30 Welcome
- 18:35 Talk 1 + Q&A
- 19:15 Talk 2 + Q&A
- 20:00 Networking
- 20:30 Close
Who should attend?
Software engineers and builders working on agents, RAG, semantic search, knowledge graphs, and anyone who cares about reliable context retrieval and systems you can reason about.
About the speakers
Chris Samiulluh
Chris is VP of Partnerships at Pydantic, the company behind the popular Python validation library with +500 million downloads per month. He focuses on the intersection of AI engineering, observability, and enterprise sales strategy. With over a decade of experience writing code, Chris has deep expertise in scaling machine learning applications and AI engineering. He ran the Beijing Python meetup for two years, mentors junior developers, and continues to create software development tutorials and guides. He is the co-author of the popular Udemy course "Deployment of Machine Learning Models."
Martin Schaer
Martin is a computer science engineer working at SurrealDB and his GenAI startup. He recently worked in lab automation, where he designed and developed a declarative framework for instrument drivers and a 3D visualiser for testing robotic transport solutions. His background also includes founding a successful advertising agency in Costa Rica and extensive work in web development, UX, branding, and digital marketing.
FAQs
Is the venue accessible?
Absolutely! There is a lift that takes you up to Level 4 where the event is held.
Is this event for me?
SurrealDB events are for software engineers, developers, architects, data scientists, data engineers, or any tech professionals keen to discover more about SurrealDB: a scalable multi-model database that allows users and developers to focus on building their applications with ease and speed.
Am I guaranteed a ticket at this event?
Our events are tech-focused and in the interest of keeping our events relevant and meaningful for those attending, tickets are issued at our discretion. We therefore reserve the right to refund ticket orders before the event and to request proof of identity and/or professional background upon entry.
Are there any House Rules?
At SurrealDB, we are committed to providing live and online events that are safe and enjoyable for all attending. Please review our Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy for more information. It is compulsory for all attendees to be registered with a first and last name in order to attend. Any attendees who do not adhere to these requirements will be refused a ticket.15 attendees from this group
Past events
16
