Biotech Meetups Sydney

F Factor Tech Women: End of Year Social!

Sydney Monthly Social Tech Meetup!

**Welcome to the Sydney Monthly Social Tech Meetup!** Running for at least 10 years now (no-one is really exactly sure when we started) we're just a monthly social meetup of techies around Sydney, held at the Blackwattle Bar and Brewery in Alexandria. All welcome, or whether you're a hobbyist, student, or working as a software engineer, UI/UX designer, AI specialist or data scientist, in tech management or product, or maybe just like hanging out with techies. There's no formal talks, just a social catch up towards end of the week (and the end of the month!) The [Blackwattle Bar and Brewery](https://www.blackwattlebrewery.com.au/) is a great family run pub in Alexandria that has plenty of food and drink options, including beers brewed on site. The Blackwattle is about a 10 minute walk from Green Square station and Waterloo metro stations, which are each only about 5 minutes from Central/Town Hall. It's about a 15 minute walk from Redfern station. And there's plenty of bus routes that go nearby also! Looking forward to seeing you there!

WSTI Festi 2026: AI for Not-for-Profits & Community

WSTI Festi 2026: AI for Not-for-Profits & Community Curious about using AI agents to augment and automate everyday work, but not sure what that would actually look like in your organisation, or whether your team could do it? This night is for you. A well-established local not-for-profit brings a genuine everyday challenge, the kind almost every not-for-profit will recognise. Over a few short sessions before the night, WSTI has coached their team to set up an agentic AI system and build their own AI solution. On stage, they'll show you how they did it: the questions they asked, the decisions they made and the challenges they faced. Then they'll showcase the initial results live, using sample data only, so no real client or volunteer information is shared. We don't build it for you. We build it with you. That's how WSTI works with organisations every week, because the skills should stay with your team long after we leave. And we believe the team should always be in the driver's seat. After all, responsible AI starts with your organisation, the people you serve and the problem worth solving, not with the technology. You'll leave knowing how to take that first step in your own organisation. How the night runs • Doors open from 5:30 PM, with light refreshments • Welcome from WSTI and Cr Hayley French, City of Parramatta • Meet the case study: what the organisation does and where the pressure points are • The journey: what the AI transformation sessions looked like, from the first discovery questions to choosing one safe, contained use case • The live showcase: the not-for-profit team shows what they built and the initial results, on stage • The honest reflection: in their own words, what works, what the challenges are, and what they decided must stay human • Your turn: in teams, run the discovery questions on your own organisation and pick your first use case. Then discuss how your team's roles could change when AI agents work alongside people. • Q&A and networking until 8:00 PM What you get • A real look at how a not-for-profit team, not just a tech expert, moves from a problem to a working AI tool; the experience speaks for itself. • Hands-on time with the discovery questions on your own organisation, with resources to help • Your own first use case, chosen and written down before you leave • A plain-English view of the risks: privacy, accuracy and human oversight • A take-home starter kit with the questions, a simple safety checklist and ready-to-use templates for everyday admin • Connections with other local not-for-profits facing the same challenges and opportunities, and with WSTI's mentors and members, Parramatta and Western Sydney's largest grassroots AI community Who should come You do not need any tech background. That's the point. • Directors and managers at charities and not-for-profits curious about boosting organisation capacity with AI that goes beyond ChatGPT • Volunteer coordinators, program leads and social workers • Board and committee members • Community, faith and cultural organisations • Social enterprises and community service providers Coming with a colleague? Even better. You can work through your own organisation together in the hands-on part. Free to attend: register your interest first Places are limited, and we want them to go to the people who will get the most from the night. So there are two simple steps: 1\. Register your interest by Wednesiday 11 November\, with a few quick questions about you and your organisation 2\. We'll confirm your free ticket on a rolling basis\, and no later than Wednesday 11 November\. We aim to welcome people from as many local organisations as possible If your plans change after you're confirmed, please let us know so someone else can take your place. Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-ai-for-not-for-profits-community-tickets-2003273717616 Getting there Western Sydney Startup Hub, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta, near the Ngara light rail stop. We're in the Event Space. With WSTI · City of Parramatta · Western Sydney Startup Hub Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: https://wsti.org.au/wsti-festi Notice of Photography and Filming By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Everyone is welcome, from in and around Parramatta and beyond. When you RSVP, we ask for the postcode where you live, work or study, only for our statistics. If you have one in the City of Parramatta, please use it.

WSTI Festi 2026: Grand Festival Day

WSTI Festi 2026: Grand Festival Day After three weeks of building, learning and pitching, WSTI Festi finishes with a day for the whole community. Come and see what Western Sydney is building with AI, meet the people behind it, and try it for yourself. Whether you have never used AI or you are building your own startup, there is a place for you here. It's free, it's family friendly, and you can drop in any time between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Light refreshments are served at lunchtime. Two zones, one community • Innovation Showcase: the winners and finalists of the Build with AI Innovation Challenge show what they built in just two weeks, alongside local founders, startups and WSTI community builders. Walk around, try the demos and talk to the makers. • AI for Everyone: friendly, jargon-free sessions for anyone new to AI, including seniors, multicultural communities and families. Find out what AI can do in everyday life, learn how to spot scams and stay safe, and take your first hands-on steps with a mentor beside you. What you can do on the day • Try live AI demos built by local founders and challenge teams • Join a beginner-friendly session and get hands-on help from our mentors • Bring your questions about using AI for life, study, work or business • Hear real stories from people across Western Sydney who have used AI to learn, work and build • Celebrate what our community has achieved together in 2026 • Meet founders, business owners, investors, community leaders and WSTI's mentors and members, Western Sydney's largest grassroots AI community Who should come Everyone is welcome. You don't need any tech background. • Community members, seniors and families curious about AI • Students, job seekers and anyone building new skills • Small business owners and not-for-profit teams looking for practical ideas • Founders, investors, industry and government who want to see what Western Sydney is building Tickets • Festival Pass: free, for everyone visiting on the day • Showcase Exhibitor: free, for founders and builders who would like a demo table in the Innovation Showcase. Tables are limited, so tell us what you'd like to show and we'll confirm your place. Challenge finalists get a table automatically Get your free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-grand-festival-day-tickets-2003434833518 Getting there Western Sydney Startup Hub, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta, near the Ngara light rail stop. Proudly supported by Investment NSW · City of Parramatta · Western Sydney Startup Hub powered by Spacecubed Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: https://wsti.org.au/wsti-festi Notice of Photography and Filming By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

WSTI Festi 2026: Pitch Night

WSTI Festi 2026: Pitch Night Watch Western Sydney's boldest AI ideas take the stage: pitches, connections and the momentum that helps great ideas scale. In April, the Western Sydney AI Innovation Summit finished with a Pitch Night at Western Sydney Startup Hub, where finalist teams pitched the AI projects they had built and the community voted for the winners. Pitch Night returns as part of WSTI Festi 2026. Who is pitching The finalists of the Build with AI Innovation Challenge. Selected teams hear by Thursday 19 November. How the night works Finalists pitch on stage and the audience votes live. Winners receive community recognition from City of Parramatta. Who should come \- Founders with an AI idea or product \- Investors looking at what Western Sydney is building \- Industry and government leaders \- Anyone who wants to meet Western Sydney's next generation of AI innovators With Western Sydney Startup Hub WSTI Festi runs from 5 to 21 November 2026 and finishes with the Grand Festival Day on Saturday 21 November. Notice of Photography and Filming By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

OzBerry - IoT Makers @ Chatswood Library

# OzBerry – Saturday, November 21st, 2026 Hi everyone! We're now less than two weeks away from our last OzBerry get-together for 2026, and I'm hoping we can make it a good one! No two OzBerry meetings are ever quite the same. I never really know what to expect, what we'll end up doing, or even who might turn up. That's part of the fun! I'm always on the lookout for someone willing to give a presentation, as I think having a guest presenter really adds something special to the meeting. If you have something interesting you'd like to share, even a short talk of 5 – 30 minutes (or longer if you let me know first), that would be fantastic. Don't worry about making it too formal. If you're not quite ready for November, we can always pencil you in for our January meeting instead. A couple of things I've been playing with... This week I've been experimenting with using an old mobile phone as a wireless microphone, allowing me to record the birds in my backyard and send the audio straight to my laptop. I'm thinking of taking things a little further and perhaps investing in a better microphone to record the local bats. Who knows what interesting noises they get up to when we're not listening! I also can't remember whether I've previously demonstrated how I organise my photographs and manage my backups. I might run through that as well, if there's enough interest. It's free, works surprisingly well, and saves a lot of headaches. And speaking of backups... you all do a proper, regular backup of your important files, don't you? Or are you one of those people who believes it'll never happen to them? So, please come along, bring your curiosity, share something interesting, and perhaps drag a friend along as well. New faces are always welcome. I am really looking forward to seeing you all for our final OzBerry of the year! Timetable .... **🌟 Normal Kids Session** 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM The library has already booked in the kids by now. Please offer support if they need it. **🎉 General OzBerry (Happening alongside the kids' session)** 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Just our general group in the background quietly working on the latest projects. **🍽️ Lunch Break** 12:30 – 1:00 PM – Grab a bite and relax! **💬 1:00 PM Normal OzBerry Session** We will most likely not be combining with the Robotics and AI group for November and we are in the Creator Space all day. 🧳 **4:00 PM – Wrap Up** Pack up, head home, maybe write a bit more code, and dream up something fun to share next time. I hope that you can make it this month. It seems like ages since I have been able to come. Cheers Erik

Kong x Deloitte Meetup: Building on Kong in Sydney

Join Kong, Deloitte and Commonwealth Bank for an evening of real conversations about building on Kong. No slide decks pretending to be a keynote — just insights from the people who have actually shipped this technology. **From APIs to AI: Identity, Security and Scale in the Enterprise** The industry is changing fast — and this conversation digs into what that means for APIs and AI workloads in production. Commonwealth Bank shares their real-world journey with Kong — Open Banking, Netbanking, and their Konnect migration, including the challenges and lessons learned. Deloitte explores how AI is reshaping enterprise integration and agentic workloads, and Kong closes on where it’s all heading — from APIs to AI and agents, and what it takes to run agentic workloads securely at scale. **What’s happening:** **6:00 – 6:45 PM — Arrive, network, eat** Grab a drink, grab some food, meet the people building next to you. **6:55 – 7:45 PM — Panel & fireside chat** CommBank, Deloitte and Kong on API gateways, the move from APIs to AI, and running agentic workloads in production. No pitch, just what actually worked (and what didn’t). **7:45 – 8:30 PM — Q&A, networking, food & drinks** Bring your questions. Stay for the conversation. **Who should come:** Platform engineers, API teams, anyone building with Kong or curious about it. **📍 Venue Access & Parking** **Access:** All attendees will receive a QR code at 5:00 PM the day before the event to access the client levels. Please bring a valid ID along with your QR code for entry. **Parking:** Quay Quarter Tower does not have on-site parking. The nearest car parks are Wilson Gateway, Wilson One Farrer, and Wilson Hudson House.

AI Tech & Startup Night — Sydney

**Nomad Global Hub** brings together builders, founders, and tech professionals for a night of curated networking and high-impact startup pitches. **Community Pass spots are limited — reserve yours before they're gone.** **RSVP: [Reserve your spot](https://luma.com/pntbm9fi)** With a track record of **235+ events** across **23 global cities** worldwide, we have welcomed over **5,000 attendees** and featured **1,200+ startup pitches** on our stages. We intentionally keep our meetups intimate because the best partnerships happen in focused, high-quality conversations, not in loud, overcrowded halls. **What to Expect** * **Live Tech Startup Pitches**: Watch selected early-stage founders present AI & Tech projects followed by sharp audience Q&A. * **High-Quality Networking:** Connect with a hand-picked audience of founders, investors, engineers, and tech leaders who value substance over small talk. * **Global Exposure:** Join a community that bridges **23 tech hubs worldwide**, providing you with a network that extends far beyond a single city. **Who Should Join** * Founders & Co-Founders looking for peers, feedback, investors and collaborators. * Tech Professionals & Builders seeking a high-quality community. * Ambitious Individuals ready to dive into the AI & Startup ecosystem. **For Investors** Active investors and VC partners are welcome to join the event and scout for early-stage talent, meet other investors, and see what teams are building. To access the startup database, please fill out the **[Investor Application Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUkSdbmDb_tchKrZNf2A4c6HjrPLd87Ub3W-5WPfOgsszI9Q/viewform)** and ensure you have purchased a ticket. **For Pitching Startups** Selected startups gain live stage time and visibility within our global network among our database of investors. Purchase a Speaker Ticket to pitch, submit your **[Pitch Deck](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZ1fGVQ-br2hQQnSsq7zz5XCAEvN5FfaYfJ7VSppMkujV8YQ/viewform)** and ensure it is accessible for viewers. **Nomad Global Hub \| 235\+ Events \| 23 Cities** *Note: To support our venue partner, we kindly encourage every guest to purchase at least one drink at the bar during the event.*

KSUG.AI Australia #72 - Sydney Meetup @Nutanix - 18 Nov 2026

**1-Click to register =>** [https://ksug.ai/au-72](https://ksug.ai/au-72) **<=** **Latest promotions** discovered by our community! * **30%** OFF **[Kubernetes](https://lf.ksug.ai/)** exams - Code: **30K8SUG** * **20%** OFF **[FinOps](https://ksug.ai/finops/?ref=meetup)** Certs Code: **KSAI_20** * Missed **65%** off [LF / CNCF](https://lf.ksug.ai/)? [Get Notified](https://ksug.ai/?notify&ref=meetup) for next BIG drop! We're excited to welcome you to the upcoming **KSUG.AI Australia Meetup** — happening at Nutanix Sydney office! 🎉 We're actively seeking more awesome K8s and AI topic speakers! 👉 [https://sessionize.com/ksug-au-syd](https://sessionize.com/ksug-au-syd) **Agenda and topics preview:** * Food, drinks and Socializing * Welcome / Introductions by the Organizers @**[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** * **Topic 1:** Cloud Native Global Load Balancing with K8gb by **[Nathan Wheat](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nwheat/)**, Cloud Native Specialist at **[Nutanix](https://nutanix.com)** * **Topic 2:** BOM for Agentic Engineering by **[Roman Gurevitch](https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-gurevitch-781220aa/)**, Principal Software Engineer at **Mantel** Group * **Quiz time:** nice swags giveaways Food and drinks will be provided between **5.30 and 6 pm** on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a great opportunity to learn and network with our peers. Thanks to our sponsors **[Nutanix](https://www.nutanix.com/)**! **[1-Click to register here](https://ksug.ai/au-72) to secure your spot!** See you all there! **Location:** Nutanix Pty Ltd, Uluru (room), Level 10 [Maritime Trade Towers, 201 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rkehsQD4yn82ZLPt6) 👉 Join our [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Rp9WzYyKua) and [WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FjiM3Icrc2M8uDQKg6DyyX?mode=gi_t) for latest update! 🔖 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬: ☸ 30% OFF **[Kubernetes](https://lf.ksug.ai/)** Certs - Code: **30K8SUG** ☸ 20% OFF **[FinOps](https://ksug.ai/finops)** Certs - Code: **KSAI_20** 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬: ✅ Learn 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ⚡ ✅ Certify 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 💰 ✅ Grow 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 💪 𝟐𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎+ follow **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** 🔥 [github.com/ksug-ai](https://github.com/ksug-ai) *By registering, you consent to the management of your personal information in accordance with KSUG.AI Meetup's [Privacy Policy](https://ksug.ai/privacy). Additionally, you agree that our sponsors may contact you.*

Physical AI Meetup

Join our year-ender celebration as we bring together researchers, engineers, investors, and industry practitioners working across artificial intelligence, robotics, XR, embedded systems, sensing, and edge computing. Important: Please grab your FREE Eventbrite ticket [here ](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/physical-ai-meetup-sydney-year-ender-tickets-2003445833419)to attend. Hear 3 expert talks, ask your questions in a panel Q&A, take the mic for an AI / hardware demo or announcement, and connect over pizza & drinks. 📍 Cicada Innovations, 4 Cornwallis St, Eveleigh NSW 🗓 Thursday 12 November 2026, 5:30 – 8:00 pm A special thanks to Cicada Innovations, home of CruxML, for hosting us. We also have element14 to thank for helping arrange giveaways and demos for our attendees. Take the mic at our Community Open Mic! Bring your demo, prototype, or announcement — whether it is AI, hardware, robotics, embedded systems, sensing, or edge computing. All welcome. This is our last 2026 Physical AI Meetup in Sydney, with more exciting topics and event formats in 2027! Agenda **5:30 – 6:00 pm \| Pizza & Networking** Enjoy pizza and drinks, connect with other attendees, and check out the element14 video on loop. **6:00 – 6:10 pm \| Welcome & Official Start** Hear a short welcome from Barry of CruxML and an introduction to the Physical AI Meetup community. **6:10 – 6:30 pm \| Talk 1 \(Keynote\) – From \(A\)mbition to \(I\)nnovation** Overview: We open the meetup with a keynote from Joe Peng, inspiring us to explore the possibilities of Physical AI. Speaker: Joe Peng, PhD, Senior RSM for Australia & New Zealand, AMD 6:30 – 6:35 pm \| Breakout Groups Turn to the people seated near you, get to know each other, and discuss what you've just heard. **6:35 – 6:55 pm \| Talk 2 – Physical AI \- before the robots arrive\.** Overview: Physical AI (PAI) cannot scrape the internet to learn physical skills - it must learn directly from human actions in the real world. In this session, David breaks down the foundational elements of PAI creation and shares real-world examples of how these systems are already augmenting human capabilities and scaling operational complexity, paving the way for future robotic automation. Speaker: David Francis, Head of Physical AI, XR + Robotics, Shinko1 Bio: A 15-year emerging tech pioneer, David transitioned from scaling industrial AR wearables at Realwear to leading Shinko1's Go-To-Market strategy. Today, he deploys breakthrough egocentric multimodal AI across industries, empowering enterprises to safely scale physical operations and secure market leadership. 6:55 – 7:00 pm \| Breakout Groups Chat with your neighbours again about what you've heard so far. **7:00 – 7:20 pm \| Talk 3 – Lessons from Investing in Physical AI Companies** Overview: Physical AI is one of the most capital-intensive and technically demanding categories to invest in, and the gap between a compelling lab result and a repeatable product is wider here than almost anywhere else. This talk shares what Main Sequence has learnt backing companies in the space, and the questions it now asks early: Is the hard part the intelligence or the integration? What do the economics look like at the tenth deployment, not the first? How much capital sits between here and a product customers will pay for? What does a team need alongside deep technical credibility? Speaker: Danielle Haj-Moussa, Investment Manager, Main Sequence Ventures Bio: Danielle is an Investment Manager at Main Sequence Ventures, a deep-tech fund. She has led its investment theses in AI and robotics and supports companies in climate and advanced manufacturing, backing founders who commercialise deep tech for global impact. Danielle holds degrees in Law and Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Sydney, where she was awarded the University Medal for her work on computer vision. **7:20 – 7:50 pm \| Panel Q&A** There will be no question portion after each talk. Please hold your questions for this session, so you can ask anything that may be answered by any and all of the speakers. **7:50 – 8:00 pm \| Community Open Mic** Take the mic and share with the group — from hardware demos and embedded prototypes to quick AI-at-the-edge announcements, project showcases, and calls for collaboration. Last reminder: Please make sure to register on Eventbrite for your free ticket: [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/physical-ai-meetup-sydney-year-ender-tickets-2003445833419](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/physical-ai-meetup-sydney-year-ender-tickets-2003445833419)

(Randwick location) Sydney Rationality - monthly meetup

If you are not sure if you should come, you are welcome! Do show up anyway! What is the science and art of human rationality? We are a group of deep thinkers. We talk about thinking, we talk about human coordination, science, and futurism. You will most likely find us trying to solve the problems of the world. A task that usually forces us to read widely and be curious about everything we can be curious about. This is our regular monthly meetup where we talk all things math, statistics, medicine, science, economics, technology, AI, engineering, thinking, communicating, personal growth, reasoning and beliefs. There is no set program and we usually share what we are working on at the moment (which is why our topics are so varied) If you are an aspiring rationalist, a nerd, geek, scientist or just a quiet thinker - we can't wait to meet you to hear what you are thinking about. We love to share ideas, discuss, debate, learn and grow together. If you are interested in our monthly rationality dojos, ask us about them in person. Bring A book, bring a paper, bring a friend along too! We usually get 12-20 attendees through Facebook, LessWrong, ACX and Meetup.

WSTI Festi 2026: Build with AI Innovation Challenge, Sat 14 Nov

**Overview** Last Build Day before submission. Two streams, mentor follow-ups, tech support and pitch practice with WSTI. $15. **Build with AI Innovation Challenge Day, Saturday 14 November** The last Build Day before final submission on Tuesday 17 November at 2:00 PM. Start your idea here, or bring the build you began on 7 November or online, and spend the day moving it forward with WSTI mentors. No coding background needed. WSTI mentors bring design thinking, tech support, business and strategy advice, and a stage to practise your pitch, with feedback on your build and on how customers and investors would see it. **At a glance** * 🕙 6.5 hours, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, in two streams: build at your own pace with mentors on call, or learn step by step in guided training * 🎟️ $15, lunch included. Ticket money goes into the cash prize pool * 🔓 Full challenge details are revealed at the WSTI Festi Opening Night, Thursday 5 November * 🔁 Started online or on 7 Nov? Come back for a follow-up with mentors and check where your build stands * 🎤 A stage for pitch practice to close the day * 👥 Come on your own, bring your team or find one on the day * 🏆 Cash prizes on Pitch Night, plus community recognition from City of Parramatta * 📍 Western Sydney Startup Hub, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta **Wherever you are up to** * New to the challenge: start in the training stream. Find a team, shape your idea with design thinking, and make your first build, from your first prompt to a working app * Started on Sat 7 Nov or online: keep going in the build stream. Get a follow-up with mentors, check where your build stands, get tech support where you are stuck, and practise your pitch before Tuesday's submission **What WSTI mentors help with** * Design thinking: shape the problem and your idea, and test who it is for * Tech support: get unstuck on your build, with the AI tools you use or prefer * Business and strategy: who your users are, and how your idea could work as a business or a community solution * Pitch practice: get your pitch ready during the day, then practise it on stage for feedback on the tech and on how customers and investors would see it **Pick your challenge** Parramatta Possibilities Innovation Challenge, set by City of Parramatta. Choose one of five focus areas: 1. Climate Resilience and Community Wellbeing 2. Better Community Events and Public Spaces 3. Cleaner and More Sustainable Neighbourhoods 4. Smarter Decisions for a Growing City 5. AI for Smarter Asset and Environmental Management Full challenge details are revealed when the challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night on Thursday 5 November. Showcase your skills for the opportunity to have your innovation piloted with the local council. Open Innovation: bring your own challenge, from your business, your industry or your community. Build it into a business, a working solution or something for your community. One rule for both tracks: build from scratch. Bring a problem or an idea, but not an existing project or product. Everything you submit must be built during the challenge, from 5 to 17 November. **How the day runs** * Welcome, and form or join a team on the WSTI Festi Innovation Portal * Build stream: build at your own pace, with WSTI mentors on call for tech support and follow-ups on where your build stands * Training stream: learn step by step in guided sessions with WSTI mentors, from design thinking to a beginner build, from your first prompt to a working app, plus business and strategy * Lunch * Pitch practice on stage: teams who have their pitch ready practise it in front of mentors and the room, with feedback on the build and the story * What's next: teams finalise Sun 15 Nov at 8:00 PM, final submission Tue 17 Nov at 2:00 PM **What you get** * 6.5 hours to build, in the stream that suits you * WSTI mentors for design thinking, tech support, and business and strategy advice * Help with the AI tools you already use or prefer * A follow-up with mentors if you started online or on 7 Nov * A stage to practise your pitch before final submission * Feedback on your build, and on how customers and investors would see it * Lunch on the day * A team and a challenge through the WSTI Festi Innovation Portal * A shot at cash prizes on Pitch Night, and a podium for every finalist at the Grand Festival Day * Connections across WSTI's AI community, 4,200+ members on Meetup **From launch to the big stage** * Thu 5 Nov: the challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night * Sat 7 or Sat 14 Nov: your Build Day * Sun 15 Nov, 8:00 PM: finalise your team on the portal * Tue 17 Nov, 2:00 PM: final submission of your pitch video, demo video and live prototype link * Thu 19 Nov, 12:00 PM: finalists announced by email * Fri 20 Nov: finalists pitch live at Pitch Night. The audience votes, and the winners take home cash prizes * Sat 21 Nov: every finalist gets a podium at the Grand Festival Day to show their innovation to the panel, industry and community **Other ways to take part** * Build Day, Sat 7 Nov, $15 ([book here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-x-google-sat-7-nov-tickets-2002679991766)): at Maker Space PHIVE with Google. Hands-on Antigravity training led by Brett Morgan, Developer Relations Engineer, Google Cloud * Online, free ([book here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-online-tickets-2002985256822)): build from anywhere Come to one Build Day, both, or take part online. **Who should come** You do not need a tech background. What you know about your field is the most valuable thing you can bring. * Business owners and professionals from any field, such as health, finance, education, property, trades or community services * Founders and startups * University students, recent graduates and young people * Developers, designers and creatives curious about building with AI * Anyone with an idea they want to build **What to bring** * Your laptop (essential) * The AI tools you prefer, with your own accounts and licences. Mentors help you get the most out of them * Your own challenge for Open Innovation, or pick a Parramatta Possibilities focus area **With** WSTI · Investment NSW · City of Parramatta · Western Sydney Startup Hub Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: wsti.org.au/wsti-festi **Notice of Photography and Filming** By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Everyone is welcome, from in and around Parramatta and beyond. When you RSVP, we ask for the postcode where you live, work or study, only for our statistics. If you have one in the City of Parramatta, please use it.