Intrapreneurship

Looking for quality **business networking in London**? Join an exclusive evening at **Tide HQ**, organised by **GMax Card**, **Getshop Today,** and **Tide** \- three products built by founders\, for founders\. **WHY ATTEND:** * Free premium digital business card (£65 value) - claim it on the night * Real connections - co-founders, customers, partners & more * 50% off premium GMax Card upgrades for your team * Practical tools & insights to run your startup smarter Connect with **tech founders, startup teams, business owners, and professionals** **across fintech, finance, banking, business and technology.** **Testimonials:** Check out [video testimonials from founders who've attended previous events.](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) **Please note:** Free ticket includes event access only. To receive a physical contactless GMax Card, please purchase a paid ticket when available. **DRESS CODE** Business or smart. Dress as you would for an investor, client or partner meeting - polished and professional. **VENUE** **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ - Featherstone Building, Silicon Roundabout, London** Right at the heart of UK's tech and startup hub, Tide's modern headquarters provides an open, professional environment designed for founders and operators and built for collaboration. **ABOUT THIS STARTUP AND BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT** In the **startup and business world**, success rarely happens in isolation. The right connections unlock **co-founders, early customers,** and relationships that accelerate **growth**. But most networking events don't deliver that. After hundreds of iterations, we've built a **format that actually works:** * Well-tested icebreakers (optional, but they work) to break the initial awkwardness * "Quick intros" round - 30-60 seconds each so everyone knows who's who in the room * Short talks from [GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/) on strategic networking and Tide on founder-friendly business tools * On-the-spot [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) consultations - bring your banking and ops questions, get real answers * Drinks and refreshments for real conversations to develop naturally Co-organised by **[GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/)** and **[Getshop Today](http://www.getshop.today/)**, hosted at **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ** \- the digital bank built for entrepreneurs\. Created by founders who've done it themselves\. Whether you're pre-seed or scaling, solo or building a team, this is where you meet the people who get it and can help you move faster. **WHO'S IN THE ROOM** Expect a mix of: * **Early-stage to growth-stage startup founders** * **Tech entrepreneurs** and product builders * **Fintech innovators** and operators * **Indie founders, solopreneurs** and **bootstrapped business owners** * **Finance professionals** and **startup advisors** * People working across **business and technology** **WHAT YOU WALK AWAY WITH** * Free [premium business card (£65 value) ](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop)\- ask the host to claim yours on the night * Real connections - potential co-founders, early customers, advisors, hires, or partners * 50% off [premium digital cards from GMax Card](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop) for your whole team * Actionable insights on tools that actually make running a startup or business easier Part of our bi-weekly series. Check out [video testimonials](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) from founders and business professionals who've attended previous events. **ORGANISERS** **[GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/)**[ - Free digital business cards](http://www.gmaxcard.com/), with Premium NFC smart cards and team networking tools. **[Getshop Today](http://www.getshop.today/)**[ - UK based eCommerce platform ](http://www.getshop.today/)to build your own independent online store in minutes instead of relying solely on global marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. **Hosted at [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)**[ - The digital-first business bank ](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)built to support entrepreneurs and SMEs. **IMPORTANT DETAILS** Dress code: business / smart Photography & Video: Content may be captured by [CineEye Audiovisual Production Studio in London](http://www.cineeye.co.uk/) for promotional use. If you do not wish to be captured, please refrain from attending. ID Requirements: Attendance for 18+ only. Proof of ID may be requested at reception. Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 1 day before the event if any. Meetup fees are non-refundable (if any). **Secure your ticket today!**

**We are holding an Agile Standup dinner at the Mercato Metropolitano food court.** https://mercatometropolitano.com/locations/elephant-and-castle/ The focus of the evening is to enjoy amazing food while networking, learning and discussing using agility to create better software, products, teams and organisations. **The evening will take the form of a round table discussion** \- Bring a great question or describe a problem which you'd like to share\, we will then discuss it at the table\. **Who might come along?** Whether you're a seasoned agilest or completely new to it, you are most welcome. **The Dinner** \- Be prepared to pay for your own food and drinks\, what you choose is up to you\. **On the night:** The event starts at 6:00pm, hopefully we'll not be that hard to find. When you arrive, join us and order a drink. We'll aim to eat at around 7pm. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to meet, mingle, discuss and maybe even find mentors or future work colleagues. If you have any questions, just drop us a line. We will finish at around 9:00pm, but you can leave earlier, if you need to. *Photographs may be taken throughout the evening, please let the organisers know if you would prefer not to be featured in them.* Looking forwards to seeing you there.

**Note: The cost is increasing for 2025 to cover increased court and shuttle costs** Central Badminton Club is a long-established, sociable group who enjoy badminton at an intermediate level. A reasonable standard of play is expected: guests should be regular players with a few years’ experience – no beginners, please. Join us for two hours of friendly, competitive badminton with like-minded enthusiasts. We use four courts, but even so we need to limit numbers so that everybody gets a fair number of games. We play from 8 to 10pm, with optional drinks and socialising in the pub afterwards. The cost of £12 per two-hour session includes feather shuttles. You can pay in cash at the session, or via bank transfer: * Account name: Central Badminton Club * Account number: 25977568 * Sort code: 30 98 97 Our commitment is to ensure that you have an enjoyable evening. However, since we are a non- profit club with tight finances, we expect that once you RSVP you commit yourself to play. You may cancel up to 24 hours before the the session to avoid any attendance charge and to allow other people on the wait list to play. If you do not show without notice we reserve the right to charge a full non-attendance fee if you come again and persistent offenders may be blocked from our club. So please be thoughtful and let us know in good time if you cannot attend.

The LSE offer publicly accessible free talks. Please note £3.40 attendance fee applies to go towards meetup costs, thank you. We can go for a quick drink afterwards. Please register for your QR code: https://www.lse.ac.uk/economic-history/events/2025-26-events/what-makes-innovation-possible Please note there is an **attendance contribution of £3.40** which goes towards the yearly Meetup platform fee, and our organisers voluntary time, both necessary to keep this club alive and running! This fee will be split 50/50 between the host, Giselle, and the group organiser Dul, thank you. \*\*🔷**Blue Diamond Membership:** If you like this event, we encourage you to join our 🔷*Blue Diamond Membership*, for a symbolic £10/year towards making the club sustainable in the long run. This will give you some extra benefits beyond helping to keep the Club running, **including but not limited to waiving all Meetup / organisational fees set up per single event** until next Meetup's Fee renewal (September 2026). You can send us your Blue Diamond Member contribution via Revolut: [revolut.me/dulom](http://revolut.me/dulom) Or bank transfer to: Dulcinea Ortiz. 04-00-75 acct 07592035 Please include your Meetup name as reference. \-\-\- ⚠️No Show Policy : London European Club is run by dedicated volunteers, whose time is important and whose efforts towards keeping the Club active must be respected. If you don't show up to three events that you have RSVPed to, you will be banned from the Club. Changing your RSVP in the last 24 hours prior to the event is strongly discouraged.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-basic-wood-joints-72/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-basic-wood-joints-72/) ⋆⋆⋆ A beginner's course that goes straight to the heart of woodworking. This five-week evening course will focus on timeless variations of wood joints that can be used for an endless amount of woodwork projects. Develop your skills with a saw, chisel and plane so that you can measure and mark out your work, cut, fit and glue joints accurately, ensuring your woodwork is strong, durable and darn good-looking. Learn these classic wood joints while you hone your making ability, and set free your ideas for furniture, box-making and all things fabulous. During the course, you will learn the uses and advantages of each joint as you construct a framework of sample joints. This project is a classic learning method. The **half-lap joint** can be used to make frames for pictures, perimeter door frames for panel or glass doors, dust dividers in cabinets and in many other situations. Because the half-lap does not add any thickness to the pieces of wood being joined, there are virtually no limitations for using it. The **mitred half** lap is an elegant yet strong corner joint, with its diagonal cut constructed with an internal half lap, The **tee halving** is a versatile joint which is often used in internal cabinet frames and simple framing and bracing. The **half dovetail** is a very strong type of joint because of the way the ‘tails’ and ‘pins’ are shaped. This shape makes it difficult to pull the joint apart and virtually impossible when glue is added. This type of joint is used in box constructions such as draws, jewellery boxes, cabinets and other pieces of furniture where strength is required. All use of tools and materials included. Perfect for beginners.

For our March meetup, we're back at the fabulous Accurx offices. We have two excellent talks lined up, the agenda will be: * 6:30pm - arrive, drinks, networking * 7:00pm - Welcome & Housekeeping * 7:15pm - **Talk 1: "Devops 2014 Revisited - a Dozen Years of Noise and Confusion"** It is 11th February 2014, a nervous Andy Burgin takes the stage at Agile Yorkshire and begins to share the current thinking from the burgeoning DevOps movement. Fast forward 12 years: DevOps is different — or is it? During a recent clear-out at chez Burgin, an old, forgotten laptop was discovered discarded between a box of floppy disks and a collection of old Computer Shopper magazines. While the laptop was no longer functional, a painstaking data recovery process rescued the files on its hard drive via a collection of old adaptors and half-working wires. Among the files saved from the Wakefield Council recycling centre was a copy of the very PowerPoint deck presented at that meetup 12 years earlier. But what was in this digital "time capsule"? What happened to DevOps? What did it become? Is it now a tool, a job title, or did something "bad" happen to it? Are the thoughts shared over a decade ago still relevant today? Join Andy as he looks at how we travelled from DevOps to Cloud, SRE, Platform Engineering, Team Topologies, Developer Experience, and VibeOps - Most importantly, we'll explore what the future of DevOps can learn from its past. **Speaker:** Andy Burgin, Principal Platform Engineer @ Flutter UK and Ireland *Andy is a Principal Platform Engineer at Flutter UK and Ireland. He considers himself a Kubernetes, AI and DevRel fettler, spending far too much of his spare time running software in containers that really shouldn't be. He is a small part of the organising team for DevOpsDays London and ran the DevOps meetup in Leeds for almost a decade hosting over 50 events. He’s attended and has spoken at a bunch of DevOps conferences and in his own words is an "all-round DevOps nuisance".* * 7.45pm - food, more drinks & networking * 8.00pm - **Talk** **2: "Navigating From Tension to Flow: A Human-Centred Guide to Overcoming Misalignment"** Behind every stalled project, missed milestone, or unclear decision is a story of tension between what people want, what’s needed, and what’s possible. But tension isn’t failure. It’s feedback. This talk explores how to recognize and respond to tension using Team Topologies principles, flow first thinking, and a healthy dose of human insight. We’ll show how organizational patterns, team boundaries, and interaction modes can either amplify or ease misalignment — and how trust, empathy, and bold conversation are just as important as structure, if not more so. Packed with real-world examples, this session blends organizational design with emotional intelligence to help you design for flow — and for people. **Speakers:** Faye Benfield, Product Leader, Independent & Rich Allen, Fast Flow Facilitator @ Conjurer *Faye Benfield is a Product Leader with over 15 years experience in product management, agile delivery and digital transformation. Specialising in helping organisations adopt product practices, Faye has a proven track record of embedding product teams, evolving ways of working, and aligning stakeholders to achieve strategic goals. Faye has held leadership roles, including Head of Product and Delivery at Parkinson’s UK and Head of Product at Comic Relief, where she spearheaded digital transformation initiatives and cultivated effective, people-centred teams. As a consultant at Armakuni, she combined hands-on coaching with practical tools and techniques to help clients navigate the complexities of product delivery, with a focus on balancing human dynamics and practical constraints.* *Rich Allen is a sociotechnical architect, consultant and creator of User Needs Mapping, a practical technique for aligning teams around what matters. With over 20 years’ experience across software engineering, technical leadership, and organisational design, Rich helps organisations reduce friction, clarify boundaries, and improve flow by working outside-in from real user needs. He was a foundational contributor to the development and teaching of Team Topologies, helping shape the core materials now used in Team Topologies training and consulting worldwide. Rich is the author of User Needs Mapping: Aligning Teams Around What Matters.* * 8.30pm onwards - drinks and networking. So, please come and join us, we look forward to seeing you there. The LOPUG team. * Food and drinks provided * Good time will be had by all

**AI on Tap: Real AI. Real People. Real Beer.** **📍** London’s monthly meetup for AI-curious business minds *Cut through the AI noise - over a pint.* ***Tired of AI hype and jargon? So are we.*** AI on Tap is a no-BS meetup for London’s business leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and knowledge workers who want to understand how AI is actually being used in the real world - without needing a computer science degree. No pitches. No slides. No tech bro talk. ***What to Expect*** Imagine a night down the pub with those mates of yours who’re actually doing AI – not just talking about it. You’ll meet leaders and technologists from London’s business community who are in the trenches every day, putting AI to work. They’ve seen what works and how to make it happen; what flops and how to avoid it. Now they’re here to share – pint in hand. **🎯 "Pick a Problem" panel discussion** Before the event, you’ll have the chance to submit your thorniest AI challenge – then vote on which problems the room tackles first. Our expert panel will dig into the top-voted challenges live on the night, share what they’ve seen work (and fail), and give you practical next steps. *Your problems. Honest answers. Usable solutions.* **🏆 "Wins & Bins" lightning round** Got an AI gem that’s saving you hours? A tool that actually delivers? We’ll pass the mic around for quick-fire tips from the room – the stuff that’s working (or what to avoid), shared by the people using it. *Two minutes, one tip, everyone learns.* **🤝 "Sip Sync" on-on-ones** Want a guaranteed chat with one of our expert hosts? No awkward hovering required. Book a 5-minute slot on the night, grab a drink, and talk through your AI challenges – see if there’s a fit to keep the conversation going. *Totally optional, zero pressure, pint in hand.* ***What You'll Walk Away With*** *Stories from the trenches* Hear from local leaders actually using AI – from streamlining operations to scaling sales. What’s working, what’s not, and what they’d do differently. *Ideas you can use tomorrow* Practical stuff you can immediately try in your own business – no fluff, just value. *People who get it* Like-minded professionals navigating the same AI questions and challenges. Share what you’ve tried, ask what you’re stuck on, and figure it out together. *Great beer and a relaxed vibe* The Old Ivy House is a proper London pub with a cracking beer selection. Grab a pint and settle in for an evening of laid-back, intelligent conversation. ***Who's It For?*** Whether you’re leading a team or just getting curious, if you want to understand AI’s real-world impact, you’re welcome here: * Business leaders trying to make sense of AI’s potential * Managers exploring tools to improve productivity * Founders and entrepreneurs experimenting with AI * Knowledge workers who want to stay relevant * Anyone interested in practical, human-first AI conversations *No technical background required - we speak human, not code.* ***Event Details*** 📅 **When:** Wednesday, March 11th, 6:00–9:00 PM (doors open from 5:30 pm) 📍 **Where:** The Old Ivy House: 166 Goswell Rd, London EC1V 7DT 🍺 **What to bring:** Yourself, your questions, and a thirst for both insight and beer 💰 **Cost:** £39 🎯 **Format:** Expert panel + lightning tips + mingling + optional one-on-one chats with hosts ***Why We’re Doing This*** We believe that businesses using AI will replace those that don’t - and the ones that thrive will be the ones that learn fast, adapt faster, and support each other along the way. **AI on Tap** is an initiative of **Proof to Production**, a community dedicated to helping business leaders share practical AI stories from the frontlines - no theory, just results. ***Ready to see what AI can really do for your business?*** Grab a pint and join the conversation. 👋 First-timers especially welcome!

**Looking for a business networking event in London to grow your network with founders and builders?** Join us for an evening of **business networking** in the elegant Sycamore Bar at the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel, **Covent Garden**, and connect with **startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, business owners** and professionals from the worlds of business, finance and tech. **Why Attend** • **Expand your network** with startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, business owners and senior professionals in business, finance and tech from London and beyond. • **Exchange ideas** and spark collaborations in an informal yet refined business mixer designed to help you build meaningful connections that go beyond LinkedIn. • **Experience luxury yet relaxed business networking** in one of Covent Garden’s most sophisticated venues. **Note re Contactless Cards** Free RSVP gives entry only - the contactless business card is not included.
To receive a contactless networking card, please book a paid ticket when available. **Dress Code** As this is a 5-star hotel, smart or business attire is required. Please avoid casual wear, hoodies, or sportswear. **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. **Important Info** • Ages: 18+ (ID required for bar purchases)
 • Photography Notice: The event may be filmed or photographed for promotional use by [CineEye (audiovisual production company in London)
](www.cineeye.co.uk) By attending, you consent to being included in this content. • Dress Code: Smart/business attire only (see above). • Contactless Cards: Free RSVP does not include contactless business card (see above). Step into an evening where business conversations flow naturally in an elegant setting. Join founders, entrepreneurs and professionals for relaxed yet meaningful networking in the heart of Covent Garden. **Limited spots - reserve yours today!**

**Dead Product Society \| After Work Drinks** Come along, bring a friend/colleague or two and join us for a relaxed evening of informal product and tech chats over a few drinks and doughnuts. We aim to connect everyone without awkwardness or LinkedIn spiel, and value good conversation over boring presentations. **Who is welcome?** Product Managers, CEOs, UX/UI Designers, Developers, Scrum Masters etc. We welcome anyone who works in, with or wants to break into product. *Note: We intentionally keep our After Work Drinks on the smaller side to allow for more in-depth conversations.* **The Bike Shed** We'll be hanging out in the lounge area (behind the area with all the tables, next to the store). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Dead Product Society** Dead Product Society is a collective of like-minded professionals sharing real-talk and joining forces to navigate the twists and turns of the product world. Our down-to-earth community is for anyone who works in, with or wants to break into product teams regardless of their background or experience. **Our Sponsors** Shout out to our generous sponsors at Waggel Pet Insurance; Lifetime pet insurance, simplified. With their support we are able to host these events for you and create a space for those important, honest conversations.

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

**\*Please note we had to increase the session fees to £15 due to increase in court hire and shuttles.** Thursday Evening Badminton, High Intermediate/ Advanced Date: 12 March 2025 Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Courts: 3 courts available Shuttles: Feather (quality feathers) Session Fee: £15 per person. TWO HOURS OF BADMINTON - £15, Venue: Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ. 1 Drummond Crescent London NW1 1LY This session is for those that are high intermediate and above (strictly no beginners/ improvers/ Low Intermediates). We want to ensure the quality of play while controlling the standard of the club, this means that players who are not quite up to the standard may be asked politely to leave. PLEASE PAY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION EITHER VIA BANK TRANSFER/ PAYPAL. IMPORTANT: OUR TERMS! Coronavirus: Stay Safe, Play Safe https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/boards/thread/52704882 Badminton Tactics: https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/messages/boards/thread/52043613 \*PLEASE NOTE: LATE CANCELLATIONS (AFTER 12 MIDDAY ON THURSDAY) OR NO-SHOWS WILL INCUR A PENALTY CHARGE OF £15. YOU WILL NEED TO PAY THE PENALTY CHARGE BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO RSVP AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SESSION. • You are responsible for your own well-being and we and the sports facility representatives will not be responsible for any injury, stolen or damaged property or any other occurrences during our sessions. • Organisers: Mohammed (mr. nice guy), Vin (the merciless) and Moynul (the dark side of badminton)

**PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND THE EVENT. YOU CAN RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE.** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982007694368?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982007694368?aff=oddtdtcreator) Welcome to our exclusive Networking Event tailored specifically for Solo Entrepreneurs – a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are navigating the thrilling yet challenging path of solo entrepreneurship. In this event, you'll find a supportive community where ideas are shared, collaborations are born, and experiences are exchanged. The event will be held in a sophisticated and vibrant venue, adorned with modern decor and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure your comfort and convenience throughout the day. Whether you're just starting out or have been on this journey for a while, our gathering is designed to provide you with valuable connections, insights, and resources. You'll have the chance to: * **Meet and Mingle:** Engage with fellow solo entrepreneurs from various industries. Share your stories, challenges, and triumphs in an environment that understands the solo journey. * **Learn from Experts:** Hear from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts who will offer actionable advice on key topics like time management, scaling your business, and building a personal brand. * **Explore Collaboration Opportunities:** Discover potential collaborations and partnerships that can help expand your business, diversify your offerings, and reach new markets. * **Boost Your Business Visibility:** Showcase your business, products, or services and gain visibility among a community that’s eager to support fellow entrepreneurs. This networking event isn’t just about making connections; it’s about building a community of solo entrepreneurs who can grow and succeed together. Come, be a part of this empowering experience, and take your solo business to new heights! **Who Should Attend:** * **Solo Entrepreneurs** * **Freelancers** * **Startup Founders** * **Consultants** * **Small Business Owners** * **Creative Professionals** * **Digital Nomads** * **Aspiring Entrepreneurs** * **Side Hustlers** * **Business Coaches and Mentors:** This diverse group of attendees ensures a rich and varied networking event, full of potential for learning, collaboration, and business development. **Why Attend the Event:** **Expand Your Professional Network:** Meet and connect with other solo entrepreneurs who understand the unique challenges and rewards of running a business single-handedly. These connections can lead to future collaborations, partnerships, or even friendships. **Learn from Shared Experiences:** Hear firsthand accounts of successes and setbacks from peers who are on a similar journey. These stories can provide valuable insights, saving you time and helping you avoid common pitfalls. **Find Potential Collaborators:** Discover opportunities to collaborate on projects, share resources, or combine expertise with other solo entrepreneurs. This can lead to new business ventures or help you offer more comprehensive services to your clients. **Get Inspired:** Being a solo entrepreneur can sometimes feel isolating. Surrounding yourself with fellow entrepreneurs can reignite your passion and inspire new ideas for your business. **Access Valuable Resources:** Gain information about tools, platforms, and communities specifically beneficial for solo entrepreneurs. These resources can help streamline your operations, increase your productivity, and grow your business. Join us at our Networking Event for Solo Entrepreneurs and take a step towards expanding your horizons and growing your business. Let’s connect, collaborate, and grow together! **How our event works:** **You will also be able to join the dedicated Whatsapp group for the event and start networking before the actual event.** 7.00pm - When you arrive your name will be checked off the guest list, the host will direct everyone to the reserved area and explain how the event will work. 7.30pm – Networking starts, you will be introduced to each other in a nice relaxed environment in the semi private reserved area. 10 pm - Event ends, all guests are welcome to stay and enjoy chatting with each other. This event will be hosted till 9 pm; the key to making the most of speed friending is to follow up with your contacts over time to develop friendships. Dress code is either business or office attire or smart casual, no T-shirts, no trainers. If you have any questions email contact@thebusinessminds.co.uk Ticket for 1 person allows 1 person to enter the venue from 7pm Please Note: **Tickets need to be bought online and are not available at the door.**

**SPACES ARE LIMITED – BOOK YOUR TICKET BEFORE THE EVENT:** **[https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982007694368?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982007694368?aff=oddtdtcreator)** Join us for the **Networking Event for Solo Entrepreneurs, Freelancers, Consultants, and Coaches**, where independent professionals from diverse industries come together to connect, collaborate, and grow. Whether you're a **solo entrepreneur**, a **freelancer**, a **consultant**, or a **coach**, this event provides the perfect platform to **expand your network**, **share ideas**, and explore **new opportunities**. In a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, you'll engage in meaningful conversations, share your expertise, and build valuable relationships. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a **1-Minute Elevator Pitch** session, giving you a chance to introduce yourself, your business, and your services to a wide audience of potential partners, collaborators, and clients. #### #### Event Highlights: * **1-Minute Elevator Pitch**: Take the spotlight for a minute to pitch your business, expertise, or services to the entire group and showcase your unique value proposition. * **Open Networking**: Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, freelancers, consultants, and coaches in an informal, engaging environment. * **Collaboration Opportunities**: Explore partnerships and collaboration possibilities with other professionals looking to grow and expand their ventures. * **Idea Sharing**: Exchange insights and strategies with like-minded individuals to enhance your business and learn new ways to thrive. #### #### Who Should Attend: * **Solo Entrepreneurs**: Promote your business and meet potential partners or clients to help take your venture to the next level. * **Freelancers**: Expand your client base and connect with professionals across industries who can help grow your freelance career. * **Consultants**: Share your expertise and meet new clients or collaborators who can benefit from your services. * **Coaches**: Connect with entrepreneurs, consultants, and freelancers looking for coaching, mentorship, or collaboration. #### Why Attend: * **Promote Your Business**: Use the **1-Minute Elevator Pitch** to introduce your services and expertise to a broad audience of professionals. * **Build Your Network**: Meet and connect with a diverse group of independent professionals who can provide referrals, partnerships, or collaborations. * **Gain Valuable Insights**: Learn from the experiences and successes of others, and share your own knowledge to help others grow. * **Foster Meaningful Connections**: In a casual and supportive setting, you’ll have the opportunity to build lasting relationships that can help grow your business. **Don’t miss out** on this unique opportunity to pitch your business, make valuable connections, and discover new ways to collaborate and thrive in your field! Dress code: business smart casual. **Register now - space is limited to 50 attendees only!** **P.S. Click Follow for future event alerts!**

Ready to think clearer, reason better, and express with clarity? Join us for a practical wholesome philosophy practice where we learn essential thinking skills through hands-on group practice. Leave academics and theory at the door— this is a skills-building adventure for everyday life! ✨ This event's focus: **Decision-Making Frameworks** 🎯 a part of the Wholesome Philosophy series — that help you build a complete thinking toolkit. **See below** **Why should you sign up?** ✅ Practical toolkit you can use immediately ✅ Small group practice ✅ Private, quiet venue for focus ✅ Standalone session - Previous parts help, but not required **What is Wholesome Philosophy?** Practical philosophy for everyday life - helping you build useful skills for thinking clearer and communicating better in work, relationships, and daily conversations. You'll learn through pair work, and group practice. spread across **different sessions:** * **Clear Thinking & Better Arguments** — How to reason * **Develop Thinking Habits** — Spotting biases and fallacies * **The Art of Dialogue** — Having productive disagreements * **Constructing Your Position** — Building solid viewpoints * **Decision-Making Frameworks** — Choosing wisely under uncertainty * **Self-Examination & Growth** — Questioning your own beliefs Each session works standalone — attend one, some, or all. ***Want to join all?*** Speak to the facilitator about discounted pricing for the full series ✅ **Who is it for?** * You want to think clearer and communicate better * You feel frustrated when your point doesn't land * You want to spot weak reasoning (including your own) * You enjoy learning through practice, not just theory * You crave thoughtful conversation with curious people * You want practical tools you can use tomorrow No philosophy background needed — just show up ready to practice. **What's in it for you?** * Make your points stick (without fighting) * Think more clearly about any topic even complex ones * Have disagreements that don't turn into arguments * Understand the world better * Connect with curious, thoughtful people ✨ * Gain confidence in your reasoning abilities **How does it work?** * Facilitated practice session (2 hours) with structured exercises ⏱ * Small group discussions (4-6 people) * Pair work for hands-on practice * Individual reflection moments * Whole group sharing (optional, not required) Everything is timed and guided — you'll know exactly what to do at each stage **What to expect** Collaborative discovery, without competitive learning. Practicing together, without performing for each other. What happens in the room stays in the room. * **Depth**: Beyond small talk, but it's not therapy — we're developing thinking skills * **Safety**: Wholesome Agreement principles apply — respect, curiosity, no judgment * **Practical**: You'll leave with tools, not just concepts — things you can actually use the next day ️ * **Participation**: These are practice sessions — your active participation creates the learning environment **Ready to upgrade your thinking skills?** Join us for a Wholesome Philosophy practice session and walk away with various thinking tools — it's for anyone who wants to navigate life with a sharper, kinder mind. We really hope to see you there! **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. ️ **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80)

# ✨ Real Founder Lessons for Builders & Career Pivoters (Ashburn) **Saturday, March 14 • 2–4 PM • Ashburn, VA** What if growing your work didn’t have to come with constant exhaustion? This entrepreneur-focused session is a behind-the-scenes conversation about how to build, pivot, and scale **without burning yourself out** — and without chasing work that drains your energy. Whether you’re launching something new, navigating a career pivot, or rebuilding after a layoff, the principles are the same: 👉 protect your energy 👉 make smarter pivots 👉 build momentum that lasts 👉 apply AI practically to support smarter decisions and workflows Over 12 years, I’ve launched **7 startups and side hustles** — alongside **21 years in corporate tech leadership**. The biggest lesson wasn’t scaling tactics… It was learning when to pivot, how to sustain momentum, and how to align what energizes you with what serves your customers — an approach that generated **revenue** in my first full-time year without burnout. A key part of that evolution has been learning how to integrate AI in grounded, practical ways — helping accelerate testing, decision-making, and workflow clarity without adding complexity. During this session, I’ll share real founder insights — including a live screen walkthrough — showing how smart pivots happen and what separates intentional growth from reactive hustle. *** ## What We’ll Explore 1. **How to recognize when to pivot — and when to stay the course** 2. **Building energy-first systems instead of burnout cycles** 3. **Founder decision-making under pressure** 4. **Designing work that supports long-term momentum** 5. **Why sustainable growth outperforms hustle culture** 6. **Using AI strategically to support pivots, experimentation, and smarter workflows** This is not a lecture or pitch — it’s a grounded founder conversation for people who want to grow smarter and build work that lasts. Expect practical thinking, humor, and takeaways you can use immediately. *** ## Event Details 💵 $20 RSVP — includes coffee + snacks 📍 Ashburn, VA (exact address shared after RSVP) 🕑 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 👥 Max 15 attendees — intentionally small for meaningful conversation Most attendees are professionals, founders, and growth-minded builders navigating reinvention, pivots, or startup ideas. *** ## About the Space — Startup Garage Style Hosted in my early-founder style startup garage — a **bright, spacious, comfortable Ashburn living room** designed for focused conversation and practical learning. These sessions are intentionally intimate — closer to a founder roundtable than a seminar. *** ## Background — Corporate to Founder Journey After **21 years in corporate tech leadership**, including senior director role, I transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship, building on years of startup and side-hustle experience. If you’re exploring a career pivot or next chapter, you’ll find this conversation highly practical. *** ## 🔗 Builder Ecosystem & Resources 🌐 Website: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) ▶ YouTube (300K+ views): [https://www.youtube.com/@midlife_mindfulness](https://www.youtube.com/@midlife_mindfulness) 💼 LinkedIn (4K+ followers): [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anju-debnath-0061524/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anju-debnath-0061524/) 🤝 Meetup Community: [https://www.meetup.com/ashburn-transition-meetup-group/](https://www.meetup.com/ashburn-transition-meetup-group/) 📚 Amazon Author Page (2 Books published, more on the way): [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anju-Debnath/author/B0FFNBVZLQ](https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anju-Debnath/author/B0FFNBVZLQ) Everything shared comes from lived founder experience — not theory. *** **Space is intentionally limited to ensure focused discussion, interactive learning, and practical takeaways you can use immediately.**

Join an exclusive hands-on portrait photography workshop at **Sarosh Photography & Studios** where creativity meets professional guidance. This immersive studio session will give photographers the opportunity to learn lighting techniques, posing direction, composition, and creative storytelling while working with **International model Cordelia**. Participants will gain real-world experience capturing elegant portraits in a controlled studio environment, while also learning practical tips on working with professional models, styling, and creating portfolio-worthy images. This workshop is designed to help photographers refine their artistic vision, improve technical skills, and elevate their portrait photography through guided demonstrations and live shooting sessions.

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Resource Presentation** **Why Not Today? Build Systems That Support Your Growth** **Presented by Leslie Kane, Founder of Why Not Today?** **Wednesday March 25th \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for a powerful resource presentation designed to help entrepreneurs move from scattered effort to sustainable momentum. *** ## **About the Session** Entrepreneurs rarely struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because everything lives in their head. In this session, **Leslie Kane**, founder of **Why Not Today?**, will explore how developing intentional systems creates clarity, focus, and forward progress in business. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and working with hundreds of entrepreneurs, Leslie shares how structure reduces overwhelm, simplifies decision-making, and transforms inconsistent action into repeatable success. If you’re building a business and constantly feeling stretched thin, this conversation will challenge you to ask a powerful question: **Why not today?** *** ## **What You’ll Gain** * Insight into why systems are critical for growth * Practical perspective on turning ideas into structured action * A framework for reducing overwhelm * A mindset shift from reactive to intentional leadership This is not about adding more to your plate — it’s about building the foundation that allows your business to grow without burning you out. *** ## **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through conversation and collaboration. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us for coffee, connection, and a conversation that may completely change how you approach your business growth.

Monthly meeting: Second Saturday of the month International House of Pancakes (IHOP) 775 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852 7:00 PM – 10 PM. Late arrivals always welcome. Look for the table with someone wearing a red hat. Questions, please call 1-240-644-5230 Agenda: What are more things we can do to wake people up? What can we do to get more people involved? Other things people would like to talk about. This will be a joint meeting with: DC 9/11 Truth [https://dc911truth.org/](https://dc911truth.org/) dc911truth Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/groups/dc911truth/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dc911truth/) 911 Meetup Group [https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-kyegaoqu/](https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-kyegaoqu/) Central Bank Digital Currencies CBDC Meetup Group [https://www.meetup.com/central-bank-digital-currencies-cbdc/](https://www.meetup.com/central-bank-digital-currencies-cbdc/) Freedom of Speech Meetup Group [https://www.meetup.com/silver-spring-freedom-of-speech-meetup-group/](https://www.meetup.com/silver-spring-freedom-of-speech-meetup-group/) One way to make it more difficult for them them to impose a digital currency on us is to use cash. Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) With Digital Currency they can: Have a complete government dossier on every detail of your life. Use your purchase history to maintain a detailed social credit score for every person. Provide tax breaks to corporations who hire people with admirable social credit scores. Only grant government contracts to corporations with employees with admirable social credit scores. Adjust health insurance premiums to incentivize people to develop admirable social credit scores. Connect your social credit score with a digital ID to encourage you to look at only approved web sites when surfing the internet. Viewing conspiracy web sites could lower your Social Credit Score and make it difficult to get a job. With their electronic chain around your neck, they can control where, when, how you travel, what food you are allowed to buy etc. They will love the power to only allow you to use your digital money only where they want you to shop and allow you to buy only what they prefer you to buy. Require you to have to have a license to use your money. They will call it a Digital Currency License. Require you to take any vaccine they want you to take to maintain your digital currency license. Tax you in ways we have not even imagined. Adjust your income tax rate based on your social credit score. Use AI to increase your income tax rate if you eat too many hamburgers because they will tell you eating too many hamburgers will increase global warming. This is just one example of many behaviors they might not approve of. Adjust individual prices for different individuals. They will be able to make you pay more per pound for hamburger if you purchased too much red meat during the past 30 days. Require you to buy so many pounds of soy burger for every pound of hamburger to save the planet and increase the profits for the soy burger manufacturers. Turn off the digital money of people they consider to be spreading misinformation. Turn off the digital money of people they consider to be dangerous conspiracy theorists. Turn off your money at 8 PM if they want a curfew at 8 PM Turn off your money in another state if they do not want you to drive to another state without permission. Turn off your money when buying guns or ammo if they do not want you to buy guns or ammo. Turn off your digital money more than three miles away from your home if they want you to stay within three miles of your home during the next epidemic. Etc. etc. etc. From the standpoint of the government, one beauty of digital money is that your money is one “state emergency” away from being the government’s money. All they have to do is to take your digital money out of your Central Bank Digital Account for the “good of all”. It is not as easy for them to do this with physical cash, gold, stocks, or silver etc. Anything they **can** do, they will do. The essence of slavery is control. Digital Currency will enable them to make you, their slave. (in a global digital concentration camp). .

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – March 11th Business Presentation** **Featuring Q Studio** **Wednesday \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for an engaging and forward-thinking presentation as we welcome **Q Studio** to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage. *** ## **About the Business** Q Studio operates on the belief that **peak mental performance** is a state of optimal functioning — where individuals intentionally control their thoughts, understand their emotions, and respond with clarity and wisdom to opportunities and challenges. Through science-backed **Mind Skills**, Q Studio helps individuals strengthen focus, resilience, emotional regulation, and performance. Their digital platform, the **MyQStudio app**, provides unlimited access to micro-learning courses, personalized assessments, practical techniques, habit-building tools, progress tracking, and a supportive member community — all designed to build sustainable mental excellence. Beyond individual development, Q Studio partners with organizations to help teams integrate Mind Skills into everyday work. With customizable tools, reporting, and expert guidance, companies gain insight into how developing Mind Skills as a core competency drives engagement and performance at every level. *** ## **Target Markets** Q Studio serves: * Organizations seeking workforce upskilling * HR and talent development leaders * Corporate teams focused on engagement and performance * Businesses looking to strengthen leadership and team resilience *** ## **Current Business Focus & Barrier** As Q Studio continues to expand, they are seeking feedback around: * Hiring strategic personnel * Expanding market reach * Scaling sustainably * Strengthening positioning in B2B markets Insight from leaders who have scaled teams, grown SaaS or app-based platforms, or expanded into new markets would be especially valuable. *** ## **Why Attend?** * Learn how mental performance directly impacts workforce success * Offer insight to a growing, innovation-driven company * Connect with business leaders focused on growth and development * Be part of a collaborative, solutions-oriented conversation **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us for coffee, connection, and a powerful conversation about unlocking peak performance in individuals and organizations. We look forward to seeing you there.

Hey!, I have got some exciting news -we are hosting a special premiere show! A family entertainer, a Telugu movie with title 3.2.1 . I’d love for you to join us. Since it’s a premiere show, tickets are free. I absolutely bet you wont be disappointed - let’s catch it together on 21st March (Saturday) at 5 45pm. Note: Movie starts on time and it’s first-come, first-served, so please try to be on time to secure good seats!

Attendance is $35 (cash, credit/debit card, or ApplePay - paid at the door), which includes water/soda/coffee, bread, choice of a plated lunch entrée, and a dessert assortment. Parking is also validated in the Reston Station garages (3 hours of validation). Join one of Northern Virginia's most successful business networking groups (part of BNI). Open to the public and is typically attended by business owners, business developers, and entrepreneurs. Meetings are typically attended by 30-40 members and guests. \*\*\*PLEASE RSVP here: [REGISTER HERE](https://square.link/u/0WvC6Eir) \*\*\*If you do not register on the BNI website, there may not be a seat available for you.