The New York startup ecosystem is **[a global hub for Applied AI](https://edc.nyc/ai-nyc)**, with over 2,000 AI companies and billions in VC funding. But as the technology matures, so does the regulatory landscape.

​New York is actively moving to establish guidelines, with proposals like the \*\*Responsible AI Safety and Education Act (\*\*the **[RAISE Act](https://www.transparencycoalition.ai/news/guide-to-the-raise-act-the-new-york-responsible-ai-safety-and-education-bill))** creating both necessary safeguards and potential constraints for builders.

​For **[AI Week New York](https://pulse.nyc/ai-week/)**, Startup Grind is hosting **[Daisy Thomas](https://medium.com/@daisygarciathomas)**, the Director of Advocacy and Policy Development for **[AI Salon](https://www.thesalon.ai/)**, a global community of "*mindful optimists*" committed to a pro-innovation, ethical AI future.

​**Daisy is at the forefront of this conversation**, translating legislative drafts into actionable intelligence for founders and product leaders.

​🚨 This isn't just a chat about compliance; it's about **long-term strategy, trust, and market access.** Because regulation defines the boundaries of innovation — whether it unlocks opportunity or imposes a leash.

​Join us for a frank discussion where we'll cover:

* ​**Beyond the Hype:** Moving past the noise to focus on **building a sustainable AI ecosystem in New York** and setting the foundation for the next decade.
* ​**The Founder's Stance:** Why AI Salon advocates for regulation that targets "bad actors" rather than imposing early, **onerous burdens on small, capital-constrained startups**.
* ​**The RAISE Act Reality:** An analysis of what New York's new frontier AI legislation means for the 99% of companies not spending $100M on training runs. Understand the **specific legal and competitive risks**.
* ​**Policy-as-a-Product:** How a founder-friendly regulatory environment could allow companies like **[Akeptus](https://www.akeptus.com/)** to focus on building impactful products (*like energy management for small businesses*) rather than compliance bureaucracy.

​👉 If you're building with AI in New York, **this strategic conversation is essential**. Bring your most complex questions. We're providing the no-fluff answers.

**WHO SHOULD ATTEND**

* ​**Founders ($0 to Post-Seed):** Understand the policy risks that could slow your roadmap or increase compliance costs.
* ​**Product Managers & CTOs:** Learn how policy trends will shape new features, data usage, and user trust.
* ​**Senior Career Transitioners:** Gain strategic context on the **high-stakes tension** between regulation and innovation—critical knowledge for your next venture.
* ​**Startup Employees & Tech Enthusiasts:** Contextualize your work within the broader economic and regulatory environment of New York tech.

​This event is part of #AIWeekNY by Pulse NYC — a community-led festival celebrating innovation across the AI ecosystem.

Startup Grind NYC

Startup Grind 

Oleksiy Ivanov

Emefa Edoh

Vijay Raveendran

Steve Schultz

Omar B.

Plavini

Bob H

DJ Patel

Bondan Herumurti

Joshua Ness

Neal M. Goldsmith, Ph.D.

Steve Cirvello

Marie F

Ed Siegel

Mihir

Maurice Greenfield

Chris Nwoko

AI on a Leash? Shaping Innovation from Policy to Product

The Yard: Herald Square

The Future of Film Meets AI: Behind the scenes access and AI Companies Showcase
Step into cinema's next frontier at the LA Tech Week's anticipated event of the week! Following last year's groundbreaking Culver Cup Film Competition, the 2025 Culver Cup: AWS Gen AI Film Showcase returns with unprecedented access to the intersection of Hollywood storytelling and cutting-edge AI innovation.

A New Chapter in Filmmaking

Witness history as we pull back the curtain on how major studios are transforming content creation through AI. For the first time, step behind the scenes at the legendary Stage15 to witness how major studios are embracing AI to push creative boundaries. Get an exclusive first look at groundbreaking sequences from Amazon MGM Studios' "House of David," where traditional filmmaking artistry meets revolutionary AI capabilities.

Featured Highlights

Industry-First Reveals: See never-before-shown title series’ scenes demonstrating how leading studios are revolutionizing production pipelines with AI
Direct Access to Innovation Leaders: Connect with visionaries and decision-makers from AI startups, investors, AWS and Amazon execs
Next-Gen Tech Showcase: Experience the tools shaping tomorrow's entertainment landscape

Transformative Sessions
Interactive Presentation: "How We Built This with AI: Behind the Scenes with House of David"

An interactive journey into modern production featuring Amazon MGM Studios' VFX leaders and the Show creators, revealing how AI is enhancing rather than replacing the artistic process.

Panel Showcase: "Beyond the AI Gold Rush: The Next Wave of Creative Tech and Media Infrastructure"

A new frontier emerges where foundational infrastructure—not just applications—is revolutionizing how entertainment content is created. This panel brings together visionary leaders who are developing robust, scalable solutions that will power the next generation of creative technology. Our panelists will discuss how their technologies intersect and complement each other, forming a new ecosystem that's poised to redefine creative workflows across the entertainment industry.

Our panelists include a16z partner, and pioneering companies who are moving beyond simple AI applications to develop robust, scalable solutions that are revolutionizing content creation. Our panelists will discuss how their technologies intersect and complement each other, forming a new ecosystem that's poised to redefine creative workflows across the entertainment industry.

Agenda

Attendees check in and experience activations.

4:00PM | Opening Remarks

4:10PM | Interactive Presentation: How we built this with AI: Behind the Scenes with "House of David"

Moderated by Nikao Yang, Principal, AWS Startups VC Business Development

Panelists: Chris Del Conte "CDC", Amazon MGM Studios, Director | VFX, VP & Innovation Tech

Jon Erwin, Director/Creator, "House of David" series

5:15PM | Panel - AI Companies Showcase: Beyond the AI Gold Rush - The Next Wave of Creative Tech and Media Infrastructure

Panelists: Andrew Chen, General Partner at a16z

Amit Jain, Founder of Luma AI

Diego Rodriguez, Co-Founder of Krea

Michael Lingelbach, Founder of Hedra

Moderated by: Samira Bakhtiar, AWS Director of Media and Entertainment

6:00PM | Networking

Elite Gathering
Connect with an exclusive community of industry leaders:

Studio Executives
Award-winning Filmmakers
AI Technology Pioneers
Content Innovation Leaders
Top-tier Investors

Limited Attendance:
Due to high demand and limited capacity, submitting a registration does not guarantee entry. All RSVPs will be reviewed and approved on a weekly basis, with confirmation emails being sent to approvals.

Agenda

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Hosted By

Gregory Manly,

Randall Hall,

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Global Partner

Vanta (https://sgtr.cc/32MjS4f)
Vanta is the easy way to achieve compliance certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI, GDPR). Over 2000 fast-growing companies trust Vanta to automate their security monitoring and get ready for compliance audits in weeks instead of months. Simply connect your tools to Vanta, fix the gaps on your customized dashboard, and then work with a Vanta-trained auditor to complete your certification.

Amazon Web Services (https://sgtr.cc/aws-africa-credits)
Amazon Web Services is a subsidiary of Amazon.com that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms to individuals, companies and governments, on a paid subscription basis with a free-tier option available for 12 months.

Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.
---

Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-los-angeles-presents-culver-cup-aws-gen-ai-film-showcase/.

Startup Grind LA

Culver Cup: AWS Gen AI Film Showcase

Online event

We’re back in Los Angeles! 🎉 Join us as we officially re-launch the Startup Grind LA Chapter during LA Tech Week.

Expect a night of:

✨ Drinks & good vibes

✨ Founders, investors, and operators coming together

✨ Conversations that spark new partnerships and big ideas

This isn’t just another networking mixer—it’s the start of a new era for Startup Grind LA. Whether you’re building, funding, or scaling, this is where you’ll want to be.

Come celebrate with us and help shape the future of LA’s startup scene.

Agenda

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Hosted By

Gregory Manly,

Randall Hall,

Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.
---

Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-los-angeles-presents-startup-grind-la-launch-amp-happy-hour-latechweek/.

Suraj Rajashekhar

Startup Grind LA Launch & Happy Hour #LATechWeek

Sandbox VR

You asked, and we're delivering!

Come and get to know the Startup Grind Chicago community better with a day of coworking. Intercom is opening its doors in Fulton Market all day for you to connect and kick back. Feel the vibes then get to your vibe coding. Arrive in the AM for bagels!

This event is FREE, but limited to 20 people and requires RSVP first. When RSVP'ing, be sure to also book time to see a quick demo of Intercom's new customer service AI agent, Fin!

Final admission of the day at 1pm.

This event is part of Intercom Takeover Week at Startup Grind Chicago!

Agenda

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Hosted By

Rajiv Nathan, Director

Hey there! Great to meet you! I'm Rajiv Nathan aka RajNATION. I started attending Startup Grind Chicago events in 2019, became a co-director in 2020, and started leading the chapter in 2022. My goal for the chapter is to provide you with *perspective*, whether that's through our content, event formats, or trainings.

My main gig is running the firm Startup Hypeman, building startup pitches for both fundraising and customer growth so you don't just go to market, you become The GOAT to Market.

Sid Khaitan, Head of Community

---

Global Partner

Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind)
Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com.

HubSpot for Startups (https://app.hubspot.com/signup-hubspot/hubspot-for-startups?partner-code=SEZ25e11iHIs&program=startups)
The HubSpot Growth Platform is a full suite of software for marketing, sales, and customer service, with a completely free CRM at its core. Start for free.

Partners

Intercom, Inc. (https://www.intercom.com)
The AI customer service company

One seamless customer service suite that delivers faster response times, more efficient agents, and a single consolidated view of customer service.

Startup Hypeman (https://www.startuphypeman.com)
Startup Hypeman develops fundraising and customer pitches so you don't just go to market, you become The GOAT to Market

---

Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.
---

Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-chicago-presents-free-community-coworking-day-at-intercom/.

Startup Grind Chicago

Brett Adler

S Johnson

akankshaP

Rhi Gladney

Free Community Coworking Day at Intercom

Intercom

Learn to Build Your Own B2B Lead Gen & Sales Automation System - Step by Step
This 2 hour practical workshop is designed for B2B founders, consultants, and service providers who want to learn how to build their own automated lead generation system, without needing a tech team. We’ll walk you through the exact steps to attract leads, qualify them, automate your follow-ups, and book meetings straight into your calendar. You’ll get the full blueprint, templates, and recordings so you can build the system yourself, at your own pace.

Workshop Details

Format:&nbsp;Live online sessionDate and Time: 15 October 2025 |&nbsp;18:00 - 20:00Price: R250 (once-off)

RSVP: Click here

What You'll Learn

Over two hours, we’ll guide you through:

Identifying your ideal client and building a lead qualification framework
Finding B2B leads (LinkedIn, Apollo, Search tools)
Setting up a lead tracking system (CRM)
Installing tracking pixels for future retargeting
Building your first automated email follow-up
Integrating a booking calendar into your sales funnel

Want to learn how to do sales the right way?

The August cohort of the&nbsp;Dealmakers Program is now full. You can sign up to join the waiting list for the next cohort.
Start building a proven system to generate leads, book meetings, and close deals with confidence.

👉 [Click Here To Sign up for the waiting list today]💡 Good news: Your R250 workshop ticket will be credited towards your program fees, you’ll only pay the difference.

Agenda

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Speaker

Brian Mlambo - Akha Ventures Partners (CEO & Founder)

I am a passionate entrepreneur, dynamic leader, and visionary ecosystem builder dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs to create scalable and impactful ventures. As a Partner at Akha Ventures Partners, I have focused my career on fostering South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by driving innovation, creating opportunities, and supporting sustainable business growth.
Over the y…

Hosted By

Brian Mlambo, CEO & Founder

Introducing Brian Mlambo - an esteemed entrepreneur, dynamic leader, and visionary ecosystem builder. As the CEO & Founder of Akha Ventures and Director for Startup Grind Johannesburg, Brian stands at the pinnacle of business ecosystem creation in South Africa. With a database boasting over 35,000 entrepreneurs, Brian has been the cornerstone for many startups, bringing their aspirations to fruition.

Brian's achievements are vast and noteworthy. In under six months, he amassed a database of over 10,000 SMEs and has graced many media platforms like Jozi FM, Kaya FM, Morning Live, Kasie FM, CliffCentral, and Radio 2000.

A lifelong learner, Brian continually pursues knowledge and innovation. He's organized over 100 entrepreneurship events in recent years, sharing a stage with industry giants such as Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Allon Raiz, Founder of Raizcorp, Vusi Thembekwayo, Group CEO of MyGrowthFund and Lebo Gunguluza, CEO & Founder of The New Gem Group.

Since the tender age of 14, when he clinched the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Step Up 2 A Startup Programme by Primestars, Brian has been a trailblazer in entrepreneurship. He's embarked on ventures that resonate with empowerment, inspiration, and nurturing South Africans toward entrepreneurship. Esteemed mentors like Allon Raiz, Sanjay Soni, and Lindile Xoko have guided him, solidifying his reputation.

Having organized over 100 entrepreneurial events, Brian has touched the lives of 50,000+ South African entrepreneurs over the past 5 years, solidifying his role as an ecosystem pioneer.

Brian's insightful speaking engagements reflect his profound expertise in various domains. Drawing from his rich entrepreneurial experience, he addresses topics that include ecosystem building in Africa, preparing entrepreneurs for investors, the art of effective communication, and digital transformation. His mastery over marketing and sales strategies enriches his perspective, making him a sought-after voice in the business community.

Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.
---

Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-cape-town-presents-the-b2b-sales-automation-workshop-october/.

Startup Grind Cape Town

The B2B Sales Automation Workshop - October

Startup Grind

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Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting entrepreneurs globally in partnership with Google for Startups. The cornerstone of our global community are monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Founded in Silicon Valley, Startup Grind has helped millions of entrepreneurs build their businesses, connect with strategic partners, and secure funding.

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