Business Planning

**📣** Welcome to **our first meetup in 2026** that also marks **a new chapter** for the Green Software Foundation and Sustainable IT Netherlands communities, merged into one: **Sustainable IT Action NL!** We look forward to connecting again and continuing the shared communities passion around green IT, exchanging ideas and creating a space for learning, discussion and action. **🌿** We’re excited to gather peers who care about green, efficient, and responsible cloud practices on **February 10th**, kindly hosted by Yoink in Utrecht. *** **⏳ Time schedule** 17:30 – 18:00 Welcome 18:00 – 18:30 Vegetarian bites & networking 18:30 – 18:45 Kick-off & community introductions 18:45 – 19:15 From Overwhelm to Action: Practical Steps for Energy-Aware IT – Jan-Hendrik Kuperus@Yoink 19:15 – 19:45 Building a cost-aware cloud culture without starting from tooling – Femke Kunst @ a.s.r. Verzekeringen 19:45 – 20:00 Pitches 20:00 – 20:45 Drinks & networking **📍** 📍 **Location:** Tractieweg 41, Atelier N, Utrecht. This meetup is kindly hosted by Yoink **❗ Capacity is limited to 50 participants, so please register early.** *** **✏️ Title: From Overwhelm to Action: Practical Steps for Energy-Aware IT** **💡 Speaker: Jan-Hendrik Kuperus** **🍃 Abstract:** Sustainability can often feel overwhelming and lead to inaction. In this talk, you'll learn two key things: how to assess your energy footprint and what practical steps IT personnel can take. Explore topics such as energy-saving automation, playing responsibly with AI, and integrating Green Software Development into your next PI planning session. **📖 About the speaker:** Jan-Hendrik is an all-round Developer, Software Architect, and Trainer with a passion for sustainability. Through his company, Yoink, he demonstrates how sustainability can be integrated into businesses while inspiring others to do the same. **✏️ Title: Building a cost-aware cloud culture without starting from tooling** **💡 Speaker: Femke Kunst** **🍃 Abstract:** In this session, Femke explores how to build cost awareness in cloud environments before the right tooling is in place. She will discuss how to involve different personas across the organization — and the typical obstacles that come with this approach. The talk covers the value of setting up a FinOps champions network, how to approach it pragmatically, and why internal FinOps training courses and workshops matter. The focus is on culture, behavior, and shared ownership: fostering cost awareness as a mindset, even when tooling maturity is still evolving. **📖 About the speaker:** Femke Kunst is a FinOps professional at a.s.r. Verzekeringen, working at the intersection of cloud, cost management, and organizational change. She focuses on helping teams develop sustainable, cost-aware practices that scale beyond tools and dashboards. *** **🎤 Pitches** Our goal is connect people around Sustainable IT. In order to build more connections, we would like to offer the stage to everyone who wants to share something. We will timebox each pitch on 2 minutes exactly! Please note that this session is intended as a community gathering, so commercial pitches are to be avoided :) **🔎 Looking forward to seeing you there!** **👥 Organizing team** Claire Baars (Yoink, host) Wilco Burggraaf, Chris Stapper, Corina Milosoiu, Sabrina Hsieh (Sustainable IT Action NL)

This time, we will have a slightly different meetup than usual, as we want to gather some feedback about how we should shape the future of PHPAmersfoort. Should we continue as a PHP meetup, or switch to a broader topic such as web development? Should we continue with monthly meetups, or reduce the frequency to bimonthly or quarterly meetups? **Nic Wortel** will open the evening with a short talk about **What's New in PHP 8.5**, and then we will have a group discussion about the future of PHPAmersfoort. Once again the kind people at Enrise are opening their doors for us. 19:00 - Doors open 19:30 - **What's New in PHP 8.5** \- Nic Wortel 20:00 - **The Future of PHPAmersfoort** 21:00 - Social

**Welcome to our February UX Beers in Brussels!** This time, we will host our event on Tuesday the 10th of February at [Proximus](https://www.proximus.be/en/personal/) in Brussels. [Ariad](https://www.ariadgroup.com/) and [Creative Skills](https://www.creativeskills.be/) sponsor our events. 📺 Follow the event online? We stream live via [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqyTDAyQBw) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ***Spots for this event are limited to 45 people in person. We kindly ask you to confirm your attendance and to change your availability on Meetup in advance if you can’t make it, so your spot can be given to someone else.*** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# UX TALKS **Talk 1: Lavender: One Year to Reimagine Design at Proximus** Julie Toussaint and Julien Bertholet from Design System team @Proximus This talk explores the journey of building a Design System from the ground up at Proximus. Julie and Julien will share the challenges they encountered, the design choices they made, and how they laid strong foundations through design tokens, variables, and scalable component libraries. Beyond the system itself, they will look at how they collaborated with multiple teams and supported designers after launch, introducing a new, more consistent way of working across the organization. **Talk 2: Panel discussion about design leadership** [Joana Silva](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanasf/), UX Design Manager @Lighthouse [Mathias Van Daele](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-van-daele/), Service Design Lead @Luminus [Adrien David](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidadrien/), UX/UI Design Lead @Proximus \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SCHEDULE 18:00 - Doors open. Drinks & snacks 19.00 - 19.15 - Introduction to UX Belgium Meetup, announcements 19.15 - 19:45 - Talk #1 19:45 -20:15 - BREAK 20:15 - 20:45 - Talk #2 20:45 - 21:30 - Socialize \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SLACK CHANNEL We have our own UX Belgium slack channel. [Come join us and say hi!](https://join.slack.com/t/ux-belgium/shared_invite/zt-1bjpnuiog-T4Di4flXYPWgbT9KrZ53CA) \*\*\* \#\#\# YOUTUBE CHANNEL All our livestreams and talks are recorded and available on our [UX Belgium youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCno7V18T-EglYXprgrUZQ7A). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# ABOUT UX BELGIUM UX Belgium is a growing community of User Experience (UX) professionals in and around Belgium. Look for these types of events: UX Beers Periodically, we gather at a different company, agency or venue to drink beers, network and listen to speakers on various themes in the world of UX and digital design. UX Antwerp: Each last Tuesday of the month UX Brussels: Each second Tuesday of the month, 4x per year UX Hasselt: 4x per year UX Workshops Now and then we organize events to dive deeper into specific skills and techniques in UX. These are smaller, hands-on workshops designed to boost your UX toolbox. \*\*\* The UX Belgium Meetup Team

**Um was geht es dieses mal?** Dieses Mal haben wir zwei Talks für euch! **KI in der BIG direkt gesund - Von der Vision zur Realität - Stephan Rex (BIG direkt gesund)** BIG direkt gesund zeigt in dieser Präsentation, wie die strategische Einführung von Künstlicher Intelligenz im Unternehmen umgesetzt wird. Im Fokus stehen die Rolle des KI-Boards, das Architektur-Zielbild und die ersten praktischen Anwendungsfälle. Die Inhalte geben Einblicke in Erfahrungen aus Pilotprojekten und verdeutlichen, welche Faktoren für eine erfolgreiche Implementierung entscheidend sind. **F\*ck Feature Branches - Felix Fischer (codecentric AG)** Direkt auf Main pushen – das klingt ziemlich gruselig. Wie sollen wir nur ohne PRs und asynchrone, ineffiziente Code Reviews Kontrolle über unsere Kollegen ausüben? In diesem Talk werden wir die Geheimnisse des Trunk-Based-Development lüften. Wir wollen herausfinden, warum die angestaubten Wege der Software-Entwicklung hoffnungslos veraltet sind. Lerne durch Feature Flags, Dark Launches, synchrone Code Reviews und Pair-/ Mob-Programming Dich vom Drama der Feature Branches zu verabschieden! **Hybrides Setup!** Wir freuen uns, euch bei uns in den Räumen der codecentric AG in Dortmund willkommen zu heißen. Vor Ort versorgen wir euch mit Snacks und Getränken und freuen uns gleichzeitig über interessante Diskussionen und einen guten Austausch. Für alle, die es nicht zu uns ins Office schaffen, werden wir das Meetup Hybrid durchführen. Der Stream beginnt ca. 10 Minuten später, damit wir vor Ort ausreichend Möglichkeit für persönliches Kennenlernen haben. Den Live-Stream findet ihr auf dem [YouTube-Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@codecentricAG) der codecentric AG. **Anreise**: Per Zug: Vom Dortmunder HBF sind es ca. 10 Minuten zu Fuß. Mit dem Auto: Rund um das Office gibt es einige Parkflächen, dazu befinden sich in dem Parkhaus der Thier-Galerie weitere Parkplätze.

Donderdag **26 februari 2026** is het weer tijd voor onze **Techday**: hét vaste moment waarop we kennis delen, elkaar inspireren en nieuwe ideeën direct in de praktijk brengen. Deze editie komt een spreker van Onyx langs. Onyx is gespecialiseerd in cybersecurity. Tijdens deze techday worden theorie, praktijk en nabespreking gecombineerd met directe toepasbaarheid in jullie dagelijkse werkzaamheden. Tijdens de Techday duiken we hands-on in veelvoorkomende kwetsbaarheden en misconfiguraties binnen moderne softwareontwikkeling. Theorie, demo’s en realistische scenario’s wisselen elkaar af. Met de interactieve CTF‑opdrachten leer je niet alleen hoe deze problemen ontstaan en misbruikt worden, maar vooral hoe je ze direct kunt toepassen en voorkomen in je dagelijkse werk. **Wanneer:** Donderdag 26 februari 2026 **Wat:** Cybersecurity in de Praktijk: Hands-on met Onyx **Voor wie:** Iedereen die nieuwsgierig is en wil leren **Agenda** 14:45 - 15:00 - Inloop 15:00 - 18:00 - Opening en introductie Praktijkvoorbeelden: Wat zijn wij in het echt tegengekomen Security misconfiguration: Gezamelijke spot-de-fout met code-snippets CTF opdrachten 18:00 - 19:00 - Eten en napraten We zien je graag op de Techday!

**3D Workshop** * **Ontwerpen met Fusion360** * **Scannen in 3D** * **Het gebruik van 3D printers** **Je bent nu welkom in de nieuwe locatie NewTechPark** Je kunt ook online aan deze fysieke bijeenkomst deelnemen. De bijeenkomst is dan op de locatie te volgen. Als je [hier](w.j.put@hccnet.nl) vooraf een mailtje stuurt kun je dinsdagavond tussen 19.00 en 20.00 uur inloggen met Jitsi voor vragen, of ter kennismaking met hcc!3D. Online neem je deel aan de bijeenkomst met [https://wij.hcc.nl/3D](https://wij.hcc.nl/3D) [(Alleen toegang als je zichtbaar bent met voor- en achternaam. )](https://wij.hcc.nl/3d)

*(🇬🇧 English below)* Voordat een bordspel of kaartspel kan worden uitgegeven, moet er veel aan het spel getest worden om zeker te zijn dat het leuk is, duidelijk is en altijd goed werkt. Daarom komen we **elke 2 weken** met spelauteurs uit de regio samen om prototypes van spellen te testen en ze zo beter te maken en misschien ooit wel gepubliceerd te krijgen. Om 8 uur verzamelen we bij [StartUp Nijmegen](https://startupnijmegen.nl/) voor een speltestavond. Afhankelijk van het aantal aanwezigen en prototypes dat er wordt meegenomen (neem zelf ook iets mee als je wilt) vormen we een aantal groepen. Bij kleinere spellen kun je in de loop van de avond van groep wisselen, bij grotere spellen moet je dat even overleggen. **Ook als je zelf** **geen spellen maakt** of een spel hebt dat je wilt testen, ben je natuurlijk van harte welkom. Het is voor ontwerpers heel fijn om de mening van zo veel mogelijk andere mensen te krijgen. En heel eerlijk: het testen van nieuwe spellen is ook gewoon heel leuk! We gaan door tot een uur of 11, maar voel je vrij al eerder naar huis te gaan. Er is **gratis koffie** **en thee** bij StartUp Nijmegen. Voor fris, bier of wijn wordt een kleine bijdrage gevraagd. StartUp Nijmegen ligt tegenover het station. De auto kun je parkeren in de naastgelegen Keizer Karelparkeergarage (50 cent per uur). Er is hier ook een afgesloten fietsenstalling. De testavonden in Nijmegen zijn elke **2e dinsdag** en elke **4e woensdag** van de maand. Zet die dus vast in je agenda (tip: zet met [deze iCal link](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_d2267afce516f9296468270649b3f44da6c06cbc0bc3de05f049992373db5f4f%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics) ze automatisch in je agenda)! Spellenmaakgilde Nijmegen maakt onderdeel van het [Nederlandse Spellenmaakgilde](https://spellenmaakgilde.nl/) en is onderdeel van het SAZ. Je vindt ons daarnaast ook in het #Nijmegen kanaal op de [Discord-server van het Spellenmaakgilde](https://discord.gg/6JzD6Sz2m5). 🇬🇧 **For English-speaking guests:** Before a board game or card game can be published, it must undergo extensive testing to ensure that it is enjoyable, clear, and always functions properly. Therefore, **every 2 weeks**, we gather with game authors from the region to test prototypes of games, thereby improving them and, perhaps, getting them published someday. At 8 PM, we gather at [StartUp Nijmegen](https://startupnijmegen.nl/) for a game testing evening. Depending on the number of attendees and prototypes brought (feel free to bring something yourself), we form several groups. For smaller games, you can switch groups throughout the evening, but for larger games, you should discuss this. **Even if you** **do not design games** or have a game you want to test, you are, of course, very welcome. It is very beneficial for designers to receive feedback from as many people as possible. And to be honest: testing new games is just a lot of fun! We continue until about 11 PM, but feel free to go home earlier if you wish. There is **free coffee** **and tea** at StartUp Nijmegen. A small contribution is requested for soft drinks, beer, or wine. StartUp Nijmegen is located opposite the station. You can park your car in the adjacent Keizer Karel parking garage (50 cents per hour). There is also a secure bicycle parking facility here. The testing evenings in Nijmegen are every **2nd Tuesday** and **4th Wednesday** of the month. So be sure to mark those in your calendar (tip: automatically add them to your calendar with [this iCal link](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_d2267afce516f9296468270649b3f44da6c06cbc0bc3de05f049992373db5f4f@group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics))! The Spellenmaakgilde Nijmegen is part of the [Dutch Game Designers Guild](https://spellenmaakgilde.nl/) and is also a part of SAZ. You can also find us in the #Nijmegen channel on the [Discord server of the Game Designers Guild](https://discord.gg/6JzD6Sz2m5). And don't worry if you don't speak Dutch! We regularly have non-Dutch speaking guests, and everyone is welcome to join and have fun with us.

We zien dat AI inmiddels door veel mensen en organisaties wordt gebruikt, vooral voor tekst, plannen en ideeën. Tegelijkertijd merken we dat dit gebruik vaak onzeker en oppervlakkig blijft. Mensen experimenteren, maar twijfelen: * Klopt dit wel? * Gebruik ik AI “goed”? * Haal ik er echt voordeel uit, of kost het vooral tijd? De kern van het probleem is niet een gebrek aan tools of kennis, maar een gebrek aan grip, overzicht en vertrouwen in het eigen oordeel bij het werken met AI. **Wat houdt deze workshop in?** We willen een kleinschalige pilot-workshop (halve dag) organiseren waarin we professionals helpen om: * AI anders te leren zien (als denkpartner, niet als antwoordmachine) * Bewuster vragen te stellen en context te geven * AI‑output te beoordelen in plaats van blind te volgen Het is nadrukkelijk geen technische training en geen overzicht van tools. Het is een leerervaring die zich richt op denken, beoordelen en professioneel gebruik. **Voor wie is dit bedoeld?** De Training richt zich op: * Niet-technische managers en professionals * Die veel werken met tekst, plannen en besluitvorming * Die AI al gebruiken (bijv. ChatGPT), maar daar nog te weinig zekerheid en rendement uit halen **Wat maakt deze aanpak anders?** * Interactief en herkenbaar: deelnemers werken met hun eigen praktijk en leren van elkaar * Beperkt en scherp: geen overload, maar drie kerninzichten * Veilig en menselijk: twijfel wordt genormaliseerd, niet weggepoetst Deelnemers weten na afloop wat ze “maandag anders doen” **Pilot2** Na een succesvolle eerste pilot op 16 januari hebben we weer verbeteringen anagebracht voor deze pilot. We verwachten dan ook eerlijke feedback om deze workshop nog gerichter in te kunnen zetten om professionals meer bewust te maken van de mogelijkheden en onmogelijkheden van AI. Deze workshop wordt verzorgd door Edgar Stormbroek en Ziryan Salayi 9:00 9:30 Inloop 9:30 - 12:00 AI in praktijk 12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 - 14:00 Vervolg AI in praktijk 14:00 - 14:30 Afronding en feedback

Scaling a Mendix landscape requires more than just rapid development; it requires a solid foundation. In this Meetup, we will explore the journey towards software architecture when reaching seniority, find out what architecture is, what an architect does, together with some practical examples. **What You’ll Learn** Now you have finished the Mendix game, you played all the cards, harvested all the points and gathered all the badges... so what now? As a seasoned experienced Mendix developer you probably have seen it all. You have build your fair share of microflows, pages, and integrations. You coached your team members and challenged team to be the best version of themselves while enlighten your client with innovative solutions and ideas. What will be your next step or does it all end here or is it Groundhog day all-over? Being a Mendix Developer puts you in a unique start position to explore new endeavours. In this we give an insight in one of plenty exploration opportunities: the life of an Architect. Find out what architecture is, what an architect does, together with some practical examples. You’ll leave the meetup knowing there is an architect in you. The second session explains how Mendix and AI can help companies build better digital solutions. You will hear when Mendix is the right tool, how AI is changing daily work and software development, and what architects should know to design larger systems using Mendix. The presentation also shows how AI agents can be added safely into business processes. Participants will leave with practical guidance on using Mendix to build scalable applications, how to organize teams and roles, and how to support business goals with low‑code and AI. In short, you will learn how to move from small apps to a secure, efficient, AI‑ready Mendix landscape. **Agenda** * **16:00 - 16:30:** 🚶 Walk-in * **16:30 - 17:30**: 🎙️ Presentations & Q&A * **17:30 - 18:30:** 🍽️ Dinner (for in-person attendees – don’t forget to RSVP with your dietary preferences!) * **18:30 - 20:00:** 🍻 Drinks & Networking **Speakers** 🎤 Zefanja Kleuters - Sopra Steria Mendix Expert with a wide array of experience in development and architecture. 🎤 Andreas Lennevi - Mendix Andreas is an Enterprise Architect with extensive background experience in Mendix and AI **About this event** This is an in-person event hosted at the Sopra Steria office in Nieuwegein. A recording will be made available for those who can’t attend live. Mendix Meetups are all about community, learning, and real-world experience — no sales pitches, no recruiting, just valuable insights and knowledge sharing.

## **Making Smart Money Decisions in Relationships** *Live expert discussion + facilitated breakout circles on 'Love & Money'* RSVP (**https://luma.com/b3dphgts)** Money is rarely just about numbers. It’s about who decides. Who carries responsibility. Who plans ahead — and who assumes things will work out. This Valentine’s FinFit Circle session is ***for women who want to build relationships — new or ongoing — that are loving, fair, and financially secure***, without being naïve, pessimistic, or afraid to ask real questions. Whether you’re dating, in a long-term commitment, separating, or starting again, this conversation helps you think clearly about money before emotions or circumstances decide for you. *** ## **What this session is really about** This live FinFit Circle session explores how money shapes relationships in practice — through everyday decisions and conversations. Together, we’ll look at: * **Where money decisions actually get made** (often earlier than we think) * **Which assumptions tend to create tension or imbalance over time** * **Which questions, financial and legal arrangements, and boundaries matter most across different stages of relationships**, while you still have room to choose differently *** ## **Three expert lenses, one grounded conversation** Money in relationships doesn’t sit in one domain — which is why this session brings together emotional, financial, and legal perspectives: * **[Stephanie Clifford-Kroon](https://clifford-kroon-coaching.lovable.app/about)**, Certified Relationship Coach * **[Nadam Schmidt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadamschmidt/)**, Certified Financial Planner * **[Siham Maachi](https://silkadvocaten.nl/en/team/siham-maachi/)**, International Family Lawyer & Solicitor *** ## **What you’ll walk away with** * **Clarity on your money patterns** and how they show up in relationships * Key questions and **practical tips** **to discuss money constructively** with a (future) partner * ​Ways to think about **shared vs individual finances**, including what’s smart, why, and tradeoffs * **Legal realities** worth knowing early (agreements, rights, timing) * **Perspective and connection** from women navigating similar questions *** ## **How the session works** * **60-minute live fireside conversation** * **30-minute interactive breakout circles** (4–6 women) **Location:** FinFit Circle · Online *** ## **Contribution** This session is **€30**. If you’re able, you can **pay it forward** by sponsoring another woman’s place at the same introductory rate, helping keep these conversations accessible in the FinFit community. *** 👉 **Reserve your spot: https://luma.com/b3dphgts**

Ha mannen! Weer een reguliere ManKracht meetup op de vrijdagavond in Amersfoort! Zoals altijd is de intentie voor onze meetups op locatie om een gemakkelijke, veilige en open atmosfeer te ervaren waarin we allemaal kunnen delen of inbrengen wat ons bezig houdt als man. Uiteraard zijn tijdens de ManKracht Avond nieuwe deelnemers welkom, we streven zoals altijd naar een groepsgrootte aan van 6 tot maximaal 10 man. Hier kort wat belangrijke info op een rijtje: * De offline meetup begint stipt om 20:00, vanaf dat moment zijn de 'deuren' gesloten. We vragen je dus om uiterlijk 5 minuten van te voren aan te komen. Je bent vanaf 19:30 welkom. * De avond duurt tot ongeveer 21:30. Voel je vrij om daarna het gesprek met andere deelnemers voort te zetten op een andere locatie (café/bar/kroeg). * Graag op tijd de RSVP in te vullen i.v.m. beperkte plaatsen. Mocht je op tijd weten dat je verhinderd bent, graag je RSVP aanpassen zodat mannen op de wachtlijst op tijd weten dat ze toch kunnen deelnemen. * Voel je vrij om een vriend mee te nemen, geef dit in dat geval ook even aan in de RSVP. Hopelijk zien we elkaar weer en mocht je nog vragen hebben dan hoor ik het graag natuurlijk. P.S. locatie is thuis bij Sam

Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://www.shutupwrite.com). **Other Important Details:** WiFi name/password: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS] Travel / Parking info: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS]

Join us for a practical, founder-friendly deep dive into trademarks and brand protection with a licensed business and intellectual property attorney. **Speaker:** Gaea Kassatly Founder & Managing Attorney, GK Law Co. Startup & Intellectual Property Attorney In this session, we will break down what trademarks are, how they work, and how to use them strategically to protect and grow your brand. Whether you’re a startup founder, creative, or small business owner, this workshop will help you avoid common (and costly) trademark mistakes. ### **What we’ll cover:** * What qualifies as a trademark (and what doesn’t) * The core elements of a trademark, explained in plain English * Types of trademarks (word marks, logos, slogans, and more) * A detailed walkthrough of each trademark element * Non-traditional trademarks (sounds, colors, product shapes, trade dress, etc.) * Common trademark myths and pitfalls for small businesses * How to think about trademarks strategically as your business grows This is a paid event (small fee) to help ensure attendance and engagement. ⚠️ **Important note:** This event will be recorded. By registering and attending, you acknowledge and consent to being recorded. The session will include time for Q&A, and attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to protect their brand with confidence. 🎁 Bonus for attendees: Everyone who attends will receive a free consultation at the end of the workshop and will be entered into a raffle to win a free trademark clearance search (a $750 value).

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!

**PLEASE BUY TICKETS THROUGH EVENTBRITE. RSVP THROUGH MEETUP IS NOT A TICKET PURCHASE CONFIRMATION.** Strive welcomes you to 'General Business Networking', Columbus' hottest networking event! We are set in the perfect central location in Downtown for all to join. Are you interested in business? Want to elevate your career? Meet Consultants, Analysts of all types, Bankers, Software Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and more who are active in the space or are eager to get started. **\*\*This will be a multi-vertical event\*\*** **There will be professionals with backgrounds in the arts, finance, tech, real estate, healthcare, and more. Come with an open mind, and leave with connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise!** Pack some business cards and come with an open mind! Meet your future business partners, employers, coworkers, investors, and friends. You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your network and create a brighter future. We will have a space for our event to check-in. The event will go from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (feel free to come at any point in this timeframe). Name tags will be provided. Business casual dress code. Job fair attire. **Remember, it's not who you know, it's who you meet tomorrow!** We look forward to meeting you at the event! Sincerely, Strive Networking Team *Refund requests are permitted up to 24 hours after purchase, so long as we are not within 48 hours before the event start time. Refunds will be made in full and repaid to your method of payment. Note that we are unable to reimburse PayPal fees.* *Disclaimer: By attending Strive Networking events you agree to photos/videos taken during the event being used to promote future events.*

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.

Evolve exists to connect women entrepreneurs connect with one another, serve one another, and help one another overcome challenges in marketing, sales, networking, and professional development. [Add to Calendar](evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com) What to Expect: \~ Welcome team to greet you, introduce you to others, and make sure you feel a part of the group from your very first meeting \~ Welcome & Introductions: 15 second introductions \~ 15 Minute Speaker Spotlight: Member speaker who shares a bit of her story, how she got to doing what she does, and a tangible tip she uses to gain success in her business. No hard selling...no expectations. Simply giving the group an opportunity to get to know her and her journey. \~ 20 Minute Break Out Sessions: Small groups is where we connect best. Extroverted and Introverted alike get the opportunity to share on a deeper level and learn from one another. \~ Take Aways: Hear what the other groups talked about and share resources to grow yourself and your business \~ Grow Time!: Do you need a specific connection to a person, company, or industry? Share it with us! We love to open our networks to one another and grow together! Guests are always welcome. Please contact Mentor Director Donna Schomer at Donna@EvolveWomensNetwork.com for more information. We'd love to meet you!

Calling all founders, CEOs, lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs to join our special *Founder Edition* of Sip & Read meetup event. Let's sip on fine wine and discuss our first book **The 5AM Club- Own Your Morning Elevate Your Life, by Robin Sharma**. We will pair this book with our favorite wine at **Wine on High** and engage in thought-provoking discussions on startup businesses and entrepreneurship, and network with like-minded individuals in a cozy book club setting. Come prepared to discuss this month's book. At the end of each book club meeting, we will take next book and venue suggestions from the participants for the next meeting. Whether you are a book lover, women entrepreneur, or a content creator, this event is perfect for sharing ideas and insights with other funders and founders in the entrepreneurial world. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Sign up now to reserve your spot! *Fun fact! This meetup was established in 2015 and had over 1,000 members. I had to shut down operations while attending law school, but we're back!!*