Business Development

**Looking for a high-quality business networking event in London** to connect with founders, entrepreneurs, and professionals? Join us in the elegant **Sycamore Bar at the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel, Covent Garden,** where real business connections happen**.** Co-hosted by London tech startups **GMax Card, Ciitab and Getshop Today.** **Why Attend?** * A more polished, higher-quality alternative to typical casual networking events * Build valuable business connections in a premium environment * Exchange ideas and uncover new opportunities **Who You’ll Meet:** * Founders and entrepreneurs * Tech, digital, and product professionals * Business owners, consultants, and senior decision-makers * Professionals in finance, banking, and investment * International professionals based in London **Hosted by founder-built tech startups:** * **[GMax Card](www.gmaxcard.com)**[ - premium digital and contactless business cards](www.gmaxcard.com) for modern networking * **[Ciitab](www.ciitab.com)**[ - AI-powered LinkedIn networking](www.ciitab.com) and outreach * **[Getshop Today](www.getshop.today)**[ - UK-built ecommerce platform](www.getshop.today) for independent online stores **What to Expect** Expect a relaxed, high-quality atmosphere with space for natural introductions and open business networking. Hosts are available on arrival to help facilitate introductions. **Venue** **Sycamore Bar, Middle Eight Hotel**
 A refined, design-led bar inside the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel.
Located in the heart of Covent Garden, within walking distance of Holborn, Covent Garden, and Tottenham Court Road stations. **Note re contactless cards:** Free RSVP includes event access only. [Contactless GMax Cards](http://www.gmaxcard.com/shop) are included with paid tickets (when available). **Dress Code:** Business / smart. This is a business networking event in a 5-star hotel rather than a fully informal gathering in a local pub. **Important Details** * **Age & ID: 18+.** ID may be required for bar purchases. * **Photos & Video:** The event may be filmed or photographed by [CineEye Audiovisual Production](www.cineeye.co.uk) for promotional use. Please inform the organisers on arrival if you do not wish to appear. * **Dress Code:** Smart or business attire only. * **Contactless Cards:** Free RSVP does not include a contactless business card. * **Liability:** Attendance is at your own risk. Organisers and venue do not accept any responsibility for loss, injury, or damage to you or your property. **Limited spaces available - early booking recommended.** You’re also welcome to join [our Meetup group](https://www.meetup.com/london-entrepreneur-startup-network-tech-business-ecommerce/) and [follow us on LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/company/gmax-card) for future events.

**Singers, musicians, hip hop artists, rappers, sound engineers, producers, filmmakers networking and Open Mic. Plus always Wednesdays Live Music from our very own band Satori Wave!**

Join fellow product people at The Product Group London on **Thu 2nd April** for an evening of learning, sharing and networking. **Topic of the Night: Product Outcomes Over Outputs** Product management is changing to be much more focused on achieving quantifiable outcomes over outputs and hitting dates. So how do product people make the shift and stay in the outcomes lane? On the night, we’ll explore what this really means incl. the important outcomes to focus on; making the culture shift to outcome focused; adjusting success metrics; using outcomes to drive product strategies, roadmaps, discovery and delivery; getting stakeholders onboard with a different way of thinking, and much more. **Featured Guest: Phil Hornby, Global Product Lead, ZF Group** Phil is a product leader, coach and technologist with over 20 years of experience across SaaS, IoT and Automotive. His career has spanned development, sales and operations, but product management is where he found his home, focusing on solving complex customer problems with scalable solutions. Today, Phil works as Global Product Lead at ZF, leading a tier 1 commercial vehicle diagnostics platform. As a senior IC, he works across multiple product teams to shape cohesive products that combine commercial thinking with deep technical expertise. He also founded a ZF community of practice to connect and grow digital product professionals. Alongside his ZF role, Phil continues to coach product leaders and teams, having supported thousands of individuals across hundreds of companies. He is known for helping people think clearly, make better decisions and take action that drives real impact. Phil is also a regular speaker and co-host of the Talking Roadmaps podcast. **About The Product Group London** The Product Group London is a monthly meetup designed to bring product people of all levels together for topical discussions, as a group and with our guest speakers. With attendees from startups to large enterprises, there is no shortage of opportunities to network and make new connections. And whilst the focus is on product management, we welcome product designers and engineers to join for some friendly and lively discussions. **A word about our sponsor and host, BrainStation** [BrainStation](https://brainstation.io/london) is a global leader in digital skills training, empowering businesses and brands to succeed in the digital age. Established in 2012, BrainStation has worked with over 500 instructors from the most innovative companies, developing cutting-edge, real-world digital education that has empowered professionals and some of the largest corporations in the world.

Welcome to our second London meetup of 2026, where we discuss Gen AI and Kubernetes! Details below: **Location:** Civo Tech Junction, First Floor, 32-37 Cowper St, London EC2A 4AW **Time:** Doors open at 6PM **Drinks, snacks, talks, and networking.** We’re excited to invite you to our second in-person **DevOps Society Meetup** of 2026, proudly **sponsored by Cast AI**. This event is focussed around Gen AI and Kubernetes, with two really exciting speakers lined up for this one in Carly and Kunal. Format of the Meetup: 6:00pm – 6:30pm — Networking on arrival, with food and drinks provided by CastAI 6:30pm – 7:10pm — First speaker + Q&A 7:10pm – 7:20pm — Break for refreshments and networking 7:20pm – 8:00pm — Second speaker + Q&A 8:00pm onwards — More networking at the venue, then at a nearby pub. *Timings can vary slightly depending on Q&A.* We’re excited to welcome everyone to our next DevOps Society London meetup, where we’ll be diving into two incredibly relevant topics in modern infrastructure: observing GenAI applications in production and optimising Kubernetes clusters. We’ll be joined by two brilliant speakers from the ecosystem who are working at the forefront of developer tooling and cloud infrastructure. As always, expect a relaxed evening of technical learning, discussion, and networking with fellow engineers from across the London tech community. *** ## 🎤 Speaker 1 - Carly Richmond **Developer Advocate Lead @ Elastic** ### Observing AI Applications with OpenLit and OpenTelemetry Observability is the ability to measure the current state of a system. With the rapid emergence of LLMs and GenAI applications moving into production, teams now need deeper insight into how these systems behave in real-world environments. In this talk, Carly will explore best practices for observing production AI applications, covering how engineers can capture logs, traces, and metrics to better understand how LLMs interact within their application ecosystem. She’ll walk through a real example of instrumenting an AI agent application written in TypeScript, using OpenLit to generate OpenTelemetry signals. The session will show the types of telemetry data teams can capture to identify usage patterns, detect errors, and troubleshoot issues commonly seen in production GenAI applications. ### About Carly Carly Richmond is Developer Advocate Lead at Elastic, based in London. She’s a UI developer who also writes backend services, a keynote speaker, and a tech writer who is passionate about helping developers build better systems. Outside of tech, Carly enjoys cooking, photography, drinking tea, and chasing after her young son. *** ## 🎤 Speaker 2 - Kunal Kushwaha **Senior Developer Advocate @ CAST AI** ### Optimizing Kubernetes and Unlocking Blockers with Container Live Migration Kubernetes promises automation, yet most clusters run at around **10% CPU utilisation**, leaving large amounts of infrastructure sitting idle. With endless instance types, constantly shifting prices, and the complexity of modern workloads, maintaining efficient clusters can quickly become a full-time job. In this talk, Kunal explores the real-world challenges teams face when running Kubernetes in production. He’ll cover where Kubernetes automation works well, where it falls short, and why optimisation remains difficult for many teams. Topics include: * Why most Kubernetes clusters are underutilised * The realities of autoscaling in production environments * Challenges around instance types and Spot capacity * Common mistakes teams make with HPA and VPA Once these challenges are laid out, Kunal introduces Container Live Migration as a way to overcome some of these long-standing blockers. To bring the concept to life, he’ll run a live technical demo where Pods running a small video game are migrated across nodes in real time, while the audience participates. The game continues running without downtime, demonstrating how live migration can improve cluster efficiency without disrupting workloads. Please register below to secure your spot. Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. We’re really looking forward to getting the community back together again for our first event of 2026. [Our slack community](https://join.slack.com/t/devopssociety/shared_invite/zt-3mswuylw7-MhJg1IZ70rX_GpJTluG2Cw) \- join in and introduce yourself\! [Our Youtube Channel ](https://www.youtube.com/@DevOpsSociety)for regular podcasts with DevOps professionals + more DevOps content. [Website](https://thedevopsociety.com/) [To partner with us](https://thedevopsociety.com/partnerships) CAST AI website - https://cast.ai/ Thanks! From the DevOps Society team [Ben](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwhitmarsh/) and [Vytas](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vytasdevops/)

If you’ve recently stepped into leadership, you’re probably facing decisions that feel heavier than expected. Not because they’re complicated. Because they involve trade-offs. You might be circling: * A hire you’re unsure about * A pricing change with ripple effects * A pivot that feels risky * A messy internal process * A trade-off with no clean answer This is a small, facilitated working session (max 3 participants). We take real decisions and think them through properly. Not networking. Not theory. Not pitching. Structured thinking. ### Format • 3 participants • Each brings one real decision • We clarify the actual problem • Separate facts from assumptions • Map options and consequences • Identify trade-offs • Define the next move

Join us for a free lunch / roundtable about how to use AI when recruiting. Learn about the best sourcing and screening tools!

BOOK YOUR TICKET 👉🏼 [HERE](https://itsadate.club/event/speed-dating-in-the-city-143/). Meet a social bunch of singles as you enjoy 5-minute dates with 18 potential matches during this super-popular, fun, and fast-paced Friday evening of introductions. In the heart of The City, just moments from Liverpool St. Station, The Otherist is an elegant and relaxed setting for meeting new people. A spacious and comfortable sunken lounge sets the scene for our speed dating event, a great space for making connections. Great music, a chilled atmosphere, and excellent service from the venue team make this a stress-free evening for all. Our host will be at the venue ready to welcome you at 19:30. Please arrive on time for registration, to grab any drinks from the bar, and receive a summary of how things will work. You will be given an optional name sticker, a pen, and a note card to keep track of everyone you’ve met. Ladies will be seated on tables adequately spaced, discreetly numbered, and arranged in a comfortable area of the venue. When speed dating commences, gents will join ladies for 5-minute dates to get to know one another. Your host will notify all guests at the end of each date, signalling for gents to move to the next table in ascending numerical order. During table rotations, you will have a moment to record on note cards your feelings towards the previous date and intention to reconnect, for your reference only. Midway through the evening, your host will indicate a 15-minute comfort break to use the restroom, head to the bar, or socialise with new connections. Dating will then resume for the second half of the evening. At the end of the speed dating, the bar will remain open for more socialising. You can then access the event listing in your dashboard to enter feedback on dates and await your matches. If you have any questions on the event or how things will work, please get in contact with James on 07517 065 492 or [james@itsadate.club](mailto:james@itsadate.club).

Community Pop-Up Market & Small Business Fair Limited Vendor Spaces Available! Date: 4th of April, 2026 Time: 12PM – 6PM Venue: Goodmayes Methodist Church & Community Centre, Percy Rd, Ilford IG3 8UA

**eCommerce & marketing course in London. Build your online store free.** By Getshop Today, Tide Bank & Temu. In-person expert training. This isn't just a course. It's a launchpad and Opportunity. Learn how to build and market an online business, and if you decide to move forward, we'll set everything up for you - at no cost. **Who's Teaching This?** The people behind this course actually built the tools you'll use: * **Getshop Today** \- a UK\-based eCommerce platform that builds your independent online store * **Brand Backie** \- an AI marketing tool that helps you promote your products We're not just instructors. We built the technology. **In official partnership with:** * **Tide Bank** \- providing smart banking solutions tailored for new eCommerce businesses\. * **Temu** \- unlocking complimentary Temu shop access for 12–18 months to accelerate your launch\. **Two Afternoons. Real Results.** **Day 1 \- Saturday\, 4\-7 PM \| Intro Training** Learn the foundations: how online stores work, dropshipping vs. selling your own products, multi-platform selling, and how to market effectively. Includes live demos. At the end, you choose whether to take up the **Opportunity**. **Day 2 \- Sunday\, 4\-7 PM \| Implementation Masterclass** For those who join the **Opportunity** only. We go deeper - advanced setup, marketing strategy, and a step-by-step launch plan. We start building your store live. *** **The Opportunity** By the end of Day 1, you’ll decide whether to take the leap. If you’re in, we’ll help you open a Tide business account right then and there - equipping you with the legal and financial foundation to launch and run your store immediately. As part of this, you’ll deposit a small initial amount (typically around £100) into your own account to get your business operational (this is not a fee and remains your money). **This unlocks 2 Options for you:** **Option 1 - Sell Your Own Products** We build your independent store, set up your Temu seller account, and train you to manage and market everything using Brand Backie. ✅ 12 months free independent online store ✅ 18 months free Temu shop ✅ Full marketing training **Option 2 - Dropshipping** We build your store and integrate it with eBay and TikTok Shop, then train you to market and scale across platforms. ✅ 12 months free independent online store ✅ 12 months free Temu shop (no dropshipping here) ✅ eBay & TikTok Shop integration ✅ Full marketing training *** **What You Get** Proprietary UK-built technology, 12–18 months of tools for free, multi-platform setup, and direct access to the founders. A real business, built from day one - not theory. **Bring your laptop. Basic computer skills needed. Arrive on time** \- sessions are step\-by\-step and build on each other\. **Spaces are limited. Register now!**

Join this interactive live workshop to learn how to start your first online business from scratch. You’ll discover the main online income streams—services, digital products, content creation, and AI-powered side hustles—and get step-by-step guidance to launch your business this week. The session includes a practical exercise, live Q&A, and a downloadable action plan so you can take immediate steps toward earning online. Key Takeaways: • Understand the top online business models • Identify your first actionable step to start earning • Access tools and tips to speed up your startup • Receive a one-page summary handout for quick reference Who Should Attend: Beginners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to start earning online.

We playtest all sorts of games - strategic, silly, creative, or whatever. Some games are almost done. Some are very early ideas. We test anything that will fit into 90 minutes. You don't need to bring a game - we always love to have new playtesters! Please let us know in the comments when you plan to arrive/leave and whether you are bringing a game or not. This helps us to plan the day better. The schedule is: 10am onwards - gathering, chatting 11am sharp - playing for 90 min ('slot 1') 12:30ish - break for food/chat 1pm sharp - playing for 90 min ('slot 2') 2:30ish - break for food/chat 3pm sharp - playing for 90 min ('slot 3') 4:30ish - finish up Often, we might hang around afterwards, to play some already-published games. We are strict on timings, so please try to arrive a few minutes before the session to limit disruption. You can just come for part of the day if you wish. The reason we have fixed timings for the 3 'slots' is to make it easier for folk to do so. Designers of all levels of experience are welcome! But if it's your first time, we ask that you don't bring a game and just spend some time learning how the group works. The group works based on reciprocation. If you expect to test your own game, make sure stay for long enough to play other games. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to play one of your own games every third 90-minute session. So if you stay a whole day (3 sessions), you can expect to have one session to play your game(s). A good rule of thumb is that if you come all day, you will have one 90 minute session with two other playtesters in which to test your own games. It is sometimes possible to test games with more players. If your game requires 4 or more, please note that as standard you will be allocated half of a session (45 minutes). Pre-covid, we were getting unmanageable. As a result, we may have to limit attendees. This is a free-to-use venue, and we have to be mindful that other folk want to use the same space. Please note: This is an adults only event. We look forward to seeing you!

**​Founders Running Club (FRC)** brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome. ​9:15 Bag drop at the Regent's Bar and Kitchen, Regent's Park: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MmZdAVM8yXT9euKc7 ​9:30 Warm Up starts at the Inner Circle & York Bridge, South Gate: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/qw45ehLmDQY7maMD6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qw45ehLmDQY7maMD6) 🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 27 cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats)** **Stay updated:** **Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/)** **Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/)** **LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/)** **Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC)** **Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)**

[TICKETS are on sale NOW!](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/4-april-easter-weekend-sparks-steps-singles-event-age-50-tickets-1984410538339?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl) **Early bird and 2 for 1 are on sale NOW! Don't miss out!** **DONE WITH SWIPING? READY FOR REAL CHEMISTRY?** London professionals — it’s time to log off and show up. **Welcoming Drink!** If you’re 50+, social, and completely over dating apps, this night is for you. No algorithms. No ghosting. No endless texting. Just real conversations, real energy, and real sparks. ### 💃 Ice Break the Right Way Forget awkward small talk. We kick things off with guided dance sessions designed to loosen you up, get you laughing, and make introductions feel natural — not forced. Movement creates chemistry. Trust us. ### ❤️ Back to Traditional Dating Remember when dating meant: * Meeting face-to-face * Making eye contact * Feeling nervous (in a good way) * Asking someone for their number * Actually planning a proper date That’s what we’re bringing back. This is traditional dating with a modern twist — respectful introductions, genuine conversation, and the chance to build real connection from the very first hello. ### 📍Barbican-City of London, Convenient Location Easy to get to after work. Close to transport links. Stylish venue. Effortless vibe. ### ✨ Who’s It For? People who: * Are serious about meeting someone * Miss traditional dating values * Prefer presence over profiles * Want quality connections in a relaxed setting ### 🥂 What to Expect ### Welcome to Sparks & Steps — where we bring back traditional dating with elegance, confidence, and a touch of excitement. * Your evening begins with a complimentary welcome drink — the perfect way to relax and settle into the atmosphere. * Then we turn up the energy with salsa dancing and Latino vibes — fun, guided, and designed to break the ice naturally. No pressure, no awkward introductions — just movement, laughter, and connection. * As the night unfolds, the music softens into a more relaxed rhythm, creating space for meaningful conversations. * Not sure how to start the chat? Don’t worry — we’ve placed conversation cards on each table to help spark engaging, effortless discussions. **And here’s where it gets exciting…** 🌹 If you meet someone you’d like to know better, simply pick up a rose and ask for their number. A simple, confident gesture — just like traditional dating should be. This isn’t speed dating. This isn’t a night club. This is dating the way it used to be — confident, intentional, and in person. **Limited spaces. Real people. Real potential.** Ready to meet someone the traditional way? https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/4-april-easter-weekend-sparks-steps-singles-event-age-50-tickets-1984410538339?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/houseofcana

4 April \| Age 50\+ \| Sparks & Steps \|Singles Event \| salsa dancing\| [Tickets are available now](https://linktr.ee/houseofcana) 2 for 1 tickets available DONE WITH SWIPING? READY FOR REAL CHEMISTRY? London professionals — it’s time to log off and show up. Welcoming Drink! If you’re 50+, social, and completely over dating apps, this night is for you. No algorithms. No ghosting. No endless texting. Just real conversations, real energy, and real sparks. 💃 Ice Break the Right Way Forget awkward small talk. We kick things off with guided dance sessions designed to loosen you up, get you laughing, and make introductions feel natural — not forced. Movement creates chemistry. Trust us. ❤️ Back to Traditional Dating Remember when dating meant: Meeting face-to-face Making eye contact Feeling nervous (in a good way) Asking someone for their number Actually planning a proper date That’s what we’re bringing back. This is traditional dating with a modern twist — respectful introductions, genuine conversation, and the chance to build real connection from the very first hello. 📍Barbican-City of London, Convenient Location Easy to get to after work. Close to transport links. Stylish venue. Effortless vibe. ✨ Who’s It For? People who: Are serious about meeting someone Miss traditional dating values Prefer presence over profiles Want quality connections in a relaxed setting 🥂 What to Expect Welcome to Sparks & Steps — where we bring back traditional dating with elegance, confidence, and a touch of excitement. Your evening begins with a complimentary welcome drink — the perfect way to relax and settle into the atmosphere. Then we turn up the energy with salsa dancing and Latino vibes — fun, guided, and designed to break the ice naturally. No pressure, no awkward introductions — just movement, laughter, and connection. Ice breaker through salsa dancing-no experience needed, as we have a dance teacher leaidng the way As the night unfolds, the music softens into a more relaxed rhythm, creating space for meaningful conversations. Not sure how to start the chat? Don’t worry — we’ve placed conversation cards on each table to help spark engaging, effortless discussions. And here’s where it gets exciting… 🌹 If you meet someone you’d like to know better, simply pick up a rose and ask for their number. A simple, confident gesture — just like traditional dating should be. This isn’t speed dating. This isn’t a night club. This is dating the way it used to be — confident, intentional, and in person. Limited spaces. Real people. Real potential. Ready to meet someone the traditional way? Get Tickets Now! [2 for 1 tickets available Buy NOW](https://linktr.ee/houseofcana) Tickets are available on eventbrite and designmynight https://linktr.ee/houseofcana www.instagram.com/houseofcanaevents www.tiktok.com/@houseofcanaevents

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

**Confidence & Connection: Using Your Authentic Truth to Find Your People** Confidence isn’t just about believing in yourself, it’s about knowing where you belong and who you can grow alongside. In this April Confidence Lab Happy Hour, we’ll explore how living in your authentic truth helps you find your people, build meaningful collaborations, and create spaces where vulnerability is met with respect rather than risk. Together, we’ll reflect on what it looks like to advocate for yourself with clarity and care, and how confidence deepens when it’s rooted in connection rather than comparison. Featured speaker **Lachandra Baker**, founder of **[LBB Edutainment](https://www.lbbedutainment.com/)** and author of *Your Own Biggest Cheerleader*, will share reflections on authenticity, psychological safety, and the power of community over individual achievement. Drawing from personal stories—including the significance of turning 53—Lachandra will invite us into a conversation about showing up fully, being seen, and choosing relationships that support who you truly are. Expect a warm, welcoming atmosphere with space for reflection, shared insight, and intentional connection—plus drinks, light bites, and the kind of conversations that remind you you’re not meant to do this alone. Come as you are. Leave feeling clearer about your voice, your people, and the confidence that grows when both are aligned. **What is Confidence Lab?** Confidence Lab is a monthly community experience for bold, thoughtful leaders building confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, navigating change, or simply striving to show up more fully—you belong here. Our work demands clarity, courage, and conviction—but the pace of daily life can erode our sense of self. Confidence Lab creates space to reflect, reconnect, and grow with others doing purpose-driven work. It’s designed for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, creatives, corporate professionals, activists, and anyone ready to lead with authenticity and impact. ***Please note:*** *All are welcome! If cost is a concern, please use promo code PUBLIC to access a free ticket—we want you to join us.*

Join us for lunch and meet our very successful group. We are each others sales team...always looking for referrals for our members. If you are looking for new clients, let us help you out! Bring your business cards and brochures to share with us. We have a speaker each week so that we can learn about their business. Because we have only one member per business, we have many of the spots filled. However, we are specifically looking for an estate attorney, a handyman/electrician, and an event planner. We have referrals for you! All visitors are welcome. Any questions contact [pmarchio@farmersagent.com](mailto:pmarchio@farmersagent.com)

At Evolve Synergy Sessions, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.com) for more information.

**The Data-Driven Brand: Using Analytics to Shape Perception** Can you use analytics to improve tacos? This being CBUSDAW, we think the answer is probably “yes”, but we’re not sure how to implement or test this theory. For our April meetup we’ve got Sara Kear, CMO of Condado Tacos, to investigate this delicious question. Sara will explore how she blends quantitative data and qualitative customer feedback to shape brand positioning and drive business decisions. We all know that marketing and analytics go way beyond attribution. Sara will show how Condado uses customer insights to inform product and pricing strategy. She’ll also highlight how Condado leverages customer feedback at scale to influence operational priorities, positioning marketing as the voice of the customer across the organization. In the last 12 years Condado has gone from one location in Columbus to 52 locations across 10 states, so we’re guessing there’s more to that growth than really good guac (though the guac probably helps). Ultimately, this talk focuses on the intersection of art and science—using data to inform creativity and build a brand that resonates with customers in a measurable way. **About Our Speaker** Sara Kear is Chief Marketing Officer at Condado Tacos, where she oversees brand, restaurant design, menu and pricing strategy, off-premise including catering, and customer data strategy. Since joining in 2021, she has helped grow the brand from 19 to 52 locations while building a data-driven marketing organization focused on loyalty and customer insights. Condado has since been named to the Inc. 5000, recognized as Breakout Retailer by Chain Store Age, and consistently ranked among FastCasual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

**Connected Westerville Night of Networking** *April Edition: The Introduction Economy* You've been to the networking events. You've done the small talk. Collected the cards. Forgotten the names. And walked out feeling like you just wasted two hours of your life. The problem isn't you. It's the format. Most networking events put you in a room and tell you to figure it out. So everyone defaults to elevator pitches and business talk, and nothing real gets built. Here's the truth about networking that most people miss: Your network isn't just who you know. It's who thinks of you when they're talking to someone else. *That's* The Introduction Economy. And it only works when relationships are real. There's a reason people who come once keep coming back. It starts with seven minutes that feel nothing like networking. Then we open it up. Free networking. More conversations. More momentum. This is a room full of corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, and career builders in the Westerville and Columbus area. The mix is the magic. You might never do business with everyone you meet tonight. But someone in this room will think of *you.* **By name**. So, the next time someone needs exactly what you do, you get the recommendation. **April 14th. RSVP now.** **When:** Tuesday\, April 14th \| 6:15 PM \-\- 8:00 PM **Where:** Vineyard Community Center \| 6000 Cooper Rd\, Westerville\, OH 43081