AI K-Pop Demon Hunters: Building Solarpunk Software Teams

Welcome to our next Python Meetup! Whether you're a seasoned developer or just beginning your Python journey, this event is designed to help you dive deeper into the language, meet fellow enthusiasts, and share insights. We’ve lined up an exciting main technical talk that will showcase innovative ideas in Python, followed by lightning talks where community members present quick, interesting projects or tips. It’s a great opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate.

Feel free to grab some refreshments, get comfortable, and get ready for an engaging evening of Python!

Date: 20 January, 2026
Time: 6pm-8pm
Location: Improving, 10111 Richmond Ave. # 100, Houston, TX 77042

### Welcome and Networking

• Time: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
• Description: Attendees check in, grab refreshments, and network with fellow Python enthusiasts.

### Opening Remarks

• Time: 6:30 PM – 6:40 PM
• Speaker: Dillon Niederhut
• Description: Brief introduction to the event, agenda rundown, and announcements.

### Main Technical Talk

• Time: 6:40 PM – 7:20 PM
• Title: AI K-Pop Demon Hunters: Building Solarpunk Software Teams
• Speaker: Kojo Idrissa
• Description: The way we hire developers and build our software teams isn't sustainable. I'll discuss two key aspects of the K-pop industry, rooted in an older American approach to music and business, that software companies could adopt to fix that. As a bonus (and since we've got this weird job market), I'll also discuss how you can become your own "self-producing" K-pop Demon Hunter. And then the ball is in your court.
• Bio: After a career as an accountant and a university instructor, Kojo became a software developer. He's been active in the Python & Django communities since 2013, a DjangoCon US organizer since 2016 & the DEFNA North American Ambassador since 2017. He's also led the Newcomer Orientation for PyCon US since 2022.

He's currently a software engineer at REVSYS. He has been fortunate enough to have spoken at multiple conferences in multiple countries on most continents.
You can find Kojo on Mastodon @kojoidrissa and Bluesky also @kojoidrissa. He's into a lot of disparate things and still sorting out his online presence, so... you've been warned.🤷🏾‍♂️

### Lightning Talks

• Time: 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Description: 5-minute talks on various Python-related topics. Lightning talks are meant to be quick and informal, showcasing small projects, tools, or quick tips. Lightning talk sign-ups are at the event!
• Format: Each speaker has 5 minutes to present, followed by 2 minutes for questions.