Lean Product Management

Save the date: on 13th January we will host the next iteration of our monthly Audio Developer Meetup where **Jan Wilczek** from WolfSound and **Oli Larkin** from iPlug/Ableton will be giving talks. See below! As always, there will be a chance to network over drinks and pizza. Anyone interested in Audio development is welcome! Doors open at 18:00, talks start at 18:15. Please note: Attendance is **strictly limited** to people who have RSVP'd. You will receive further instructions on how to attend once RSVP'd. Talk details: **From Zero to Hero in Audio Programming: Building an Education Business in the Audio Space** \- Jan Wilczek “How do I get a programming job at an audio plugin company?”—that’s the question that I get most often (maybe apart from “Are you German?”). To beginners, the audio industry appears to be an inclusive, invite-only community of privileged people who can do what they love every day: write code that processes sound. Regardless of whether that’s true, there’s a lot we can do to make audio development more accessible, benefiting both insiders and outsiders. This talk will show you how you can: * leverage your existing experience to raise your competitive advantage on the audio development job market * improve your learning process to sharpen your coding skills * position yourself as an expert in the field and helping others at the same time * enter the audio industry if you’re just starting out * accelerate your audio development career Since the talk won’t be very technical, it is suitable for beginners and industry veterans alike. Jan is an audio programming consultant and educator, the creator of [TheWolfSound blog](https://thewolfsound.com/) and [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/WolfSoundAudio) dedicated to audio programming. He is the author of "[DSP Pro," an online course on digital audio signal processing](https://www.wolfsoundacademy.com/dsp-pro), and a co-author of the [official JUCE audio plugin development course](https://www.wolfsoundacademy.com/juce). He also offers coaching and software development services related to audio plugins and audio software. Jan works from home in Katowice, Poland. **iPlug3 - A modern cross platform audio plug-in framework for the agentic era** \- Oli Larkin In this short talk Oli Larkin will give a sneak peak of his latest audio plug-in framework, a green field project designed for the latest AI coding tools. Oli Larkin is a software engineer at Ableton where he works on a team bringing machine learning features to Live, including sound similarity and most recently stem separation. He's also a prolific contributor to open-source audio projects over the last 20 years, and is passionate about spatial audio and XR. He has worked with many artists in this domain. He has developed his own successful audio plug-in products (VirtualCZ, Endless Series), as well as working with brands such as Arturia, Focusrite and Roli on well known products. Oli maintains iPlug2 (and before that WDL-OL) which many other developers use to realize their projects. He is the co-author of the original WebAudioModules v1 (2015), and with the work he presents today, hopes to continue this tradition of innovation in the audio plug-in space.

We are back in the c-base! Do you already run NixOS and want to talk to other people or want an introductory session with some NixOS users. Just bring your machine! Usually there are no topics, we just sit in front of our computers, talk about stuff, debug some problems or review some PRs on nixpkgs. There are drinks usually available from the c-base bar. If you can't find us. just ask around or ask in irc (#krebs on hackint)

Dear Community, as we step into the year ahead, we’re full of excitement for what’s to come and can’t wait to welcome you to our first session of the year at our new home, NLND Berlin. Check out the details below, and we look forward to having all of you with us! 18:30 - Warming up and networking chat 18:45 - Intro by AWS UG Berlin & NLND 19:00 - 19:40 - **Dr. Andreas E. Wagner // Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for An AI-powered Future** As leaders create an AI-powered future, they need to integrate their cognitive intelligence with their emotional intelligence to build adaptable, resilient, and innovative organizations. These leaders have deep empathy for customers and foster a culture of creativity and psychological safety among their employees. They need to be data-driven but also authentically human. This session will help leaders understand the EPIC attributes needed to drive successful outcomes in the new human+AI era. Andreas is an experienced Business Coach. He has held senior management functions in sales, services, business development, and marketing. Through his experience at AWS, Ericsson, Huawei, Hitachi, Fujitsu, and Ingram, Andreas has gained a very good insight in several industries and diverse cultural leadership contexts. 19:40 - 20:00 - Network break with snacks & drinks 20:00 - 20:30 - **Ask Me Anything with** **Dr. Andreas E. Wagner** Dr. Wagner and our community leaders will accept your questions and comments on a cozy, roundtable setting by some more drinks and pizza! =================================================== **Very Important: There is no "waitlist" for our regular sessions.** However, there are limited seats available. If you want to make sure you can attend: Register yourself with your "full name" here at Meetup.com, Arrive on time - seats are first come, first serve. As soon as there are seats available, you are welcome to join with your registration. In case there are no more seats available, we won't be able to let you join us this time.We thank you very much for your understanding! =================================================== Additional Information **This event is wheelchair friendly.** Help us spread the word, and invite your friends & colleagues! If you're attending with wheelchair and need assistance, please mail us: organisers@berlinawsug.de for further details. Would you like to host AWS UG Berlin events at your company? [Register here](https://bit.ly/aws-host) Would you like to speak at AWS UG Berlin sessions? [Submit your talk here](https://bit.ly/aws-talk)

* **NEW IG ACCOUNT: [@neurocrafting.berlin](https://www.instagram.com/neurocrafting.berlin?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==) (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\*:･ﾟ✧** Calling all neurodivergent individuals! Are you tired of starting hobbies that you never seem to finish? Join us for an evening of guilt-free creativity where there is absolutely no pressure to complete anything. This event is designed to be a safe space where you can freely express your creativity without fear of judgment or criticism. We will have a variety of crafting supplies available including paint, yarn, crochet needles, beads, coloring books, origami paper, markers... However, feel free to bring your own supplies or current projects if you'd like to work on something specific. **There is a donation of a minimum of 4-5 euros to cover the materials and space.** In case you wish to pay via paypal: neurocrafting.berlin@gmail.com

Ok everybody, it's 2026, and after taking a break for the holidays, games are starting up again as usual. We'll meet, have a beer, and play a round of cards against humanity. Laughs will be had, groans will be groaned, beer will go down the hatch. This event is public, and prior experience with the game is not required. You are not required to drink alcohol, but please note that we are crashing a bar, so a beverage purchase or two is appropriate and necessary for us to maintain their goodwill. Bringing snacks to share is encouraged. See you there!

Wir bieten allen Interessierten die Möglichkeit, mit Elektronik zu basteln. Workshops und Vorträge zu verschiedenen Themen rund um Elektronik und Software sind willkommen. Von Arduino bis zu komplett selbst entwickelten High-End Schaltungen sind wir für alle kreativen Ideen offen. Wir haben auch Gruppen rund um das Nähen, Programmieren, Retro Computer. Wir treffen uns immer am Dienstag und am Freitag ab 18:00 Uhr. Egal ob Anfänger oder Profi – hier seid Ihr jederzeit Willkommen. Ihr könnt mit anderen fachsimpeln oder auch mit unserer Hilfe Eure ersten elektronischen Gehversuche starten. Wenn zeitgleich in den vorderen Räumen Workshops oder Vorträge stattfinden, kann hinten Werkstattbetrieb stattfinden.

BerlinFilmMakers presents: PITCH YOURSELF! We start the new year with a new spin on our networking events: Everyone will get the chance to pitch themselves, the projects they are working on and what departments and/or project they are looking for right now. 🗓 Event date: 13.01.26 🕡 Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM, pitching start 7:00 PM sharp 🏠 Location: SAE Institute Berlin (Cuvrystraße 4, 10997 Berlin) ✔️ Free admission Disclaimer: The time limit for each pitch depends on the amount of people attending. In the unlikely occasion of way to many filmmakers being present we'll take it to the lots if needed. Can't wait to see you on the 13th and hear of your 2026 filmmaking resolutions 💯 Your BerlinFilmMakers

Please note, this event is free but please sign up here so we can inform the venue of your attendance: [https://uxdx.com/community/community-berlin-2026-01-15/](https://uxdx.com/community/community-berlin-2026-01-15/) This January, UXDX Berlin is excited to kick off our first in the series of in-person meetups before our main conference in May 2026 : focused on bridging Design, Product, and Development to move faster, together. In this session, we're exploring how trust and compliance become competitive advantages in product design. There will be two talks in this event. Hear from practitioners at Oviva and AWS about designing products that users believe in, even under strict regulatory constraints. Whether you're building fintech, healthcare, or enterprise products, this is for you. **Who can attend:** Designers, Product Managers, Developers, and anyone involved in building, shaping, or supporting products—especially where trust, ethics, and regulatory compliance matter. **What to expect:** Insightful talks from industry practitioners, real-world challenges, and a chance to connect with Berlin's design, product community. **Event Details** **📅 January 15\, 2026 \| 6:00 – 8:30 PM** **📍 Engelnest Coworking Space and Event Venue, Berlin [https://maps.app.goo.gl/jVaQ5f2vQky4Dpnv7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/jVaQ5f2vQky4Dpnv7)** **🎟️ Free. Limited seats** **Speakers** * **Marjo Tikkanen,** Senior Product Designer @ Oviva *"Designing for trust: Growth in a medical product"* *[https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjo-tikkanen-56557b80/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjo-tikkanen-56557b80/)* * **Dorra Mlouhi,** Product Manager @ AWS, Berlin *"Fast Prototyping with AI: Collaboration between Design and Product teams" [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorramlouhi/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorramlouhi/)* *** **Schedule** 6:00 PM – Doors Open, Registration & Networking 6:20 PM – Welcome from UXDX Berlin 6:30 PM – Talk 01 - Marjo Tikkanen, ‘Designing for trust: Growth in a medical product’ 7:00 PM – Talk 02 - Dorra Mlouhi, ‘Fast Prototyping with AI: Collaboration between Design and Product teams’ 7:30 PM – Closing Remarks 7:40 PM – Networking *** **About UXDX Berlin:** We're building a community where researchers, designers, and engineers collaborate on solving real product challenges. Our events focus on practical insights, shared learnings, and the connections that drive better product decisions. **UXDX Berlin — Stay updated, Be inspired!**

Dear Friends, In 2026 we will continue aiming at meeting again more **onsite in Berlin**, but will still try to also run **online meetups** on a regular basis (to account for all our international members!). "Aroundhome" will be our host in January 2026! YAY! Address is: Potsdamer Platz 11, Berlin I heard the entrance is not that easy to find, but we will find options to guide you to the location. Our standard-text: Are you an agile practitioner and learner? A Problem-Solver, Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developer, Agile Coach or an awesome Manager? This is our space to learn together. Bring your challenge, opportunity or problem! Anything you want to share, practice or learn about! This afternoon will be all about learning through exchanging. We will create a list of topics and form small groups to work together in an open space format. Options include: * ask for help with a current situation * bring and practice a method or technique * practice coaching, where the coach and the coachee both learn ...this space is safe to fail! Happy to have you as a part of our awesome community! Your ALL crew: Alex & Simon

Welcome to Sunday Tech Coffee. This is a **networking** event for those in the tech industry in Berlin. We are usually inside and to the right

The Language Café is primarily aimed at people who are struggling with their mental health which can make it hard to go to regular courses. We want to create a safe space for everyone to learn and practise without pressure. Everyone is welcome! Please try to be on time so we can all get started together :) We mainly practise on a beginner/lower intermediate level and adapt to everyone's prior level of German. The Language Café will focus on teaching you the most important words and phrases and basic grammar in German. The content of the course is adapted to real life. (everyday life in Germany, dealing with authorities, etc.) We will cover different topics every week and you can join us anytime, since the topics do not necessarily build on each other. The Sprachcafé is for free. \*If you cannot make it please cancel your participation so someone else from the waiting list can join, thank you!\* \| \| \| \|

Meet other people in the Berlin tech industry in a low key, no expectations setting. We all have to eat, so don't eat alone! Rules: 1\. Register 2\. Show up \(we have limited seats\) 3\. Meet people 4\. Be nice and enjoy dinner\! There are no other expectations :)

How are you? It has been a long time! I would like to re-activate this meetup, because there are so many interesting hardware projects going on in Berlin. In this next meetup we plan two short presentations. 1\. Bram de Vries\, co\-founder of **Growy**, a fully automated and robotized vertical farm, developed in Berlin, built in Amsterdam. A presentation about the challenges of how to make low-cost automation for the food-industry. 2\. Ahmad Taleb\, co\-founder of **Wunderpen**, automated hand-writing. The story about robots that can write personal messages with a pen, and handling lots of paper and ink. After that there is plenty of time to network and to talk about your own projects. The location is at the Office of Growy Germany in Berlin Hohenschönhausen/Lichtenberg. We will take care of snacks and drinks. **Address:** Growy Germany GmbH Große-Leege-Straße 97/98 Enter the courtyard through the gate, walk straight to the grey door at the loading dock 13055 Berlin Can be reached with the M5 Tram or Bus 294 or Bus 256 Please RSVP

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – January 14 Business Presentation** **Featuring Eric Wojtkun of Focal Point Coaching** **Wednesday\, January 14 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun – Ashburn** Join us for our **January 14th 1 Million Cups Loudoun** meeting as we welcome **Eric Wojtkun**, founder of **Focal Point Coaching**, for a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, and preparing businesses to thrive before challenges arise. **About the Presenter** Eric brings a rare and compelling background to entrepreneurship. An **Army BRAT, Army Veteran, and FBI Agent**, Eric has lived in 17 places, served two overseas deployments (Bosnia and Kosovo), and worked across nearly every major FBI discipline — from violent and white-collar crime to cyber, counterintelligence, crisis response, and national security. After decades of leadership in high-stakes environments, Eric launched **Focal Point Coaching** to focus on what mattered most to him throughout his career: **helping people and organizations build resilience in the face of change and adversity**. Through executive coaching and team development, Eric helps leaders move from survival mode into what he calls **“BEAST mode”** — prepared, confident, and proactive. His exclusive resilience-focused coaching framework supports leadership, teams, processes, culture, and cyber readiness before a crisis occurs. **Where Eric Is Seeking Community Feedback** * How do you effectively market **resilience preparation** *before* a critical incident occurs? * What helps leaders and business owners clearly understand the **ROI of resilience coaching**? * How can resilience training be integrated into the flow of **normal business operations**? * What motivates leaders to prepare mentally and emotionally for the inevitable challenges of business? **Who Should Attend** Eric is especially eager to connect with: * Small to mid-sized business owners in the **hospitality industry** * Leaders responsible for teams, culture, and operations * Entrepreneurs experienced in scaling service-based businesses * Anyone interested in leadership, preparedness, and sustainable growth Come ready to listen, learn, and offer meaningful insight to support a founder building something impactful. ### What Is 1 Million Cups? 1 Million Cups is a national program powered by the Kauffman Foundation that brings together entrepreneurs and community members for weekly conversations that educate, support, and inspire. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Join us on **January 14 at 9:00 AM** for coffee, connection, and a meaningful conversation about reimagining after-school education in Loudoun County. **We look forward to seeing you there.**

Learn to manage stress and achieve self-growth through simple relaxation and Meditation. Heartfulness Meditation is a simple, modern, methodical approach to meditation. Rather than homing in on your breath or repeating a mantra, you simply focus inward, on your heart, to cultivate inner strength and serenity. Heartfulness meditation is gaining traction in recent years. It focuses on the heart, allowing individuals to connect with themselves on a deeper level, and ultimately achieve peace, relaxation, and clarity. It is a practice that encourages patience, self-compassion, and acceptance, helping cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment. This practice is offered with love and at no cost

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun Workshop: How AI Can Work for Your Business** **Wednesday\, January 28 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun – Ashburn** Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword — it’s a practical tool that businesses of all sizes can begin using today. Join **1 Million Cups Loudoun** for a special **workshop-style presentation** led by **Victor Meer of AI Prime** and **Jay Jay Billings of Band Gap AI**, designed to help entrepreneurs understand how AI can realistically support their business operations. This workshop will provide: * A clear, practical overview of what AI actually is * Real-world examples of how businesses are using AI today * Insight into where automation can save time and reduce friction * Guidance on how to start leveraging AI without needing technical expertise Whether you’re AI-curious, overwhelmed by the noise, or ready to explore automation in your business, this session will help you think clearly about where AI fits — and where it doesn’t. As always, coffee, conversation, and community are at the heart of 1 Million Cups Loudoun. ### What Is 1 Million Cups? 1 Million Cups is a national program powered by the Kauffman Foundation that brings together entrepreneurs and community members for weekly conversations that educate, support, and inspire. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Join us on **January 14 at 9:00 AM** for coffee, connection, and a meaningful conversation about reimagining after-school education in Loudoun County. **We look forward to seeing you there.**

Discover the path to stress management, life's tranquility, and self-improvement through Heartfulness Meditation. Embrace relaxation, meditation, and emotional detoxification practices to unlock your best self. Join our free sessions every Sunday at 8 AM at VA. Experience the profound benefits of these simple yet powerful practices. Commit to a few months of meditation and witness the transformative impact firsthand. We eagerly await your presence at these enlightening sessions.

## 1 Million Cups Loudoun – January 14 ### Business Presentation Featuring Yomna Sarhan of L-Lab **Wednesday\, January 14 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun – Ashburn** Join us for our January 14th **1 Million Cups Loudoun** meeting as we welcome **Yomna Sarhan**, founder of **L-Lab**, an innovative after-school enrichment program designed to transform how children learn and grow beyond the classroom. ### About the Presenter Yomna Sarhan brings a diverse and impressive background to her entrepreneurial journey. She is a former **project manager overseeing $8M+ in government contracts**, has led **multidisciplinary teams of more than 20 employees**, and is a **multilingual consultant** who has worked in over **10 countries**. Yomna also founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the **Society of Egyptian American Professionals**, reflecting her long-standing commitment to education and community development. ### About the Business L-Lab was born out of a personal experience. When Yomna’s daughter was entering kindergarten, she discovered a lack of high-quality, enriching after-school programs in Loudoun County. Many existing programs focused solely on supervision rather than meaningful learning—despite children spending 10–15 hours per week and families investing significant resources in aftercare. L-Lab is changing that narrative. L-Lab is an **after-school language immersion enrichment program** for elementary-aged children, blending: * STEAM-based learning * Social-emotional development * Montessori-inspired approaches In addition to after-school programming, L-Lab offers **full-day camps** during school breaks, including winter, spring, and teacher workdays. ### Where Yomna Is Now L-Lab is currently in the **launch/startup phase**, with the full after-school program beginning in early January and a winter break program running at the end of December. Yomna is focused on enrollment, program validation, and building a strong foundation for growth. ### Feedback Yomna Is Seeking from the Community Yomna is coming to the 1 Million Cups stage looking for thoughtful feedback and insight on key challenges, including: * How to **shift the mindset around after-school programs** from “time-filling childcare” to meaningful enrichment * The most strategic way to **scale after a successful pilot** (January–June): * Expanding curriculum into schools * Focusing on one location first * How to **find and retain high-quality part-time staff** aligned with L-Lab’s mission and values ### Who Should Attend Yomna would especially love to have: * Entrepreneurs with experience **scaling service-based businesses** * Founders who have **modified or diversified offerings as they grew** * Parents and guardians interested in education, enrichment, and after-school programming ### What Is 1 Million Cups? 1 Million Cups is a national program powered by the Kauffman Foundation that brings together entrepreneurs and community members for weekly conversations that educate, support, and inspire. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Join us on **January 14 at 9:00 AM** for coffee, connection, and a meaningful conversation about reimagining after-school education in Loudoun County. **We look forward to seeing you there.**

Discover the path to stress management, life's tranquility, and self-improvement through Heartfulness Meditation. Embrace relaxation, meditation, and emotional detoxification practices to unlock your best self. Join our free sessions every Wednesday at 730 PM at MD. Experience the profound benefits of these simple yet powerful practices. Commit to a few months of meditation and witness the transformative impact firsthand. We eagerly await your presence at these enlightening sessions.

## 💻 Reimagine Your Second Half of Life – AI Vision Board Workshop (Ashburn) **Saturday\, January 17\, 2026 \| 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM \| $35** *** ### 🔔 **Important Event Format Notice** To keep this workshop intentional and high-quality: • **5+ participants** → Hosted at a rented facility • **Under 5 participants** → **Private small-group workshop** ✨ *Workshop content, duration, and outcomes remain the same.* *** ## ☀️ **Design What Comes Next** ✨ **A Different Kind of Experience** 👉 **Most people don’t expect this to feel so personal.** The AI doesn’t just generate ideas — it reflects your own thinking back to you in a way that creates real clarity. 👉 **Even people who already use ChatGPT are often pleasantly caught off guard.** When paired with the right prompts and guided reflection, the insights go much deeper than typical goal-setting or vision work. 👉 **There’s often a quiet “oh wow” moment.** Not because it’s flashy — but because something finally clicks into place. You’ve lived enough life to know that success isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters. ### 3-Part Session **1️⃣ Discover & Design** Learn simple AI tools and a practical framework to clarify your 2026 vision and priorities. **2️⃣ Create & Collaborate** Design your personalized AI-powered vision board with guided prompts and small-group reflection. **☕ Short Refreshment Break** Coffee and curated snacks to reset and recharge. **3️⃣ Align & Act** Map your next 3, 6, and 12 months with realistic action steps — individually or with group support. You’ll also learn how to: * Use ChatGPT to clarify goals and affirmations * Turn ideas into effective AI prompts * Create a digital or printable vision board that inspires action * Stay intentional and motivated throughout the year 👉 No AI experience necessary — just bring curiosity, a laptop, and an open mind. *** ## 💻 What to Bring * **Laptop required** (AI tools don’t work well on tablets) * ChatGPT account (free version is fine) 👉 Please set this up before the event. Message me after you RSVP if you need help. *** ## ☕ What’s Included * Guided AI Vision Board workshop (full experience) * Coffee and curated snacks * Small-group collaboration and discussion * All digital tools, prompts, and resources *** ## 💬 Who This Is For * Professionals planning a strong 2026 * Entrepreneurs mapping their next chapter * Anyone navigating life transitions — career, relationships, reinvention * People curious about AI but unsure where to start * Anyone who enjoys learning, connecting, and gaining clarity This community is about learning while having fun — no jargon, no pressure, just real conversation and clarity that lasts. *** ## 📍 Final Details 📍 **Location:** Ashburn area (final location shared after RSVP) 💵 **Fee:** $35 per person 🕐 **Time:** 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 👩‍💻 **Bring:** Laptop + ChatGPT account ready *** 🔗 **RSVP early — space is intentionally limited.** Come reimagine your second half of life — with a little help from AI and a lot of inspiration 🌟 🌐 Explore more at: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co)