Marketing Technology

| May 11, 2026 | | ------------- | | Send me an email to let me know you are joining us at: | pcalleri@thegaap\.net \| **The CPA Toronto Accounting Group Presents a Casual Get Together** for a few of us to get together, network, learn, have a few laughs, share ideas, make new friends. become more successful etc. I will put a very casual agenda together, but the goal is having a good time. I tried to find a venue that is easy to get to. It is near the 401 and DVP. We will meet at: Swiss Chalet **[Address](https://www.google.ca/search?sca_esv=197713b87bf2beb1&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIKmSo8ztb94J6BUHqec-EeQUWwHRw:1725296229930&q=the+queens+head+pub+scarborough+address&ludocid=4250126838100046784&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiS46qn3aSIAxUS5ckDHbw5GJQQ6BN6BAgrEAI):** 2555 Victoria Park Ave, Scarborough Our reservation is made under Paul. I look forward to seeing you. PS Seats are limited, let me know you are attending; quickly. Send me an email to let me know you are joining us. pcalleri@thegaap.net Sincerely yours, Paul Calleri, Founder of TheGAAP.net, TheGAAP.netCareers, and the CPA Toronto Accounting Group

Navigating work/personal life in this mega city can be challenging ! We welcome all the Toronto young professionals & startup lovers to join this community that provides you an inclusive and casual platform to share, discuss, and grow! No matter what career stage you are at, what industry you work for, or what startup idea you are brainstorming, this inclusive & vibrant community aims to help you embark on your new personal/work journey! If work sounds annoying to you or you are new to the city, you can just come have a coffee and meet new people! No WFG members, Let's exchange ideas and create new memories together! We welcome you to join us at a new location; Sweetway Cafe **THE COFFEE SHOP IS EXCLUSIVLY OPEN FOR THIS EVENT AT THAT TIME, AND MAY NOT SERVE FOOD OR DRINKS** We plan to meet weekly or biweekly at various locations in Toronto.

Is quantum computing a real threat to Bitcoin? Join us for a technical presentation that cuts through the hype. Learn the science, the timelines, and the solutions—straight from experts. Details: 🗓️ When: Monday\, May 11\, 2026 \| 6:00 PM‑8:00 PM ET 📍 Where: 600 Bay St., Toronto, Ontario (venue details sent upon RSVP) 🎟️ Cost: Free for Bitcoin Bay Community \| Guests welcome **🔍 What to Expect:** * **6:00‑6:25 PM:** Doors open + networking + light refreshments * **6:30‑7:15 PM:** Presentation with Nithin Raj: *Blockchain R&D Engineer @ SkryBit Inc.* * What is Quantum Computing? * Why Classical Encryption & Hashing Were So Secure * How Bitcoin Security Works * Bitcoin Wallet Types * The Quantum Threat to Bitcoin * Who's Most at Risk? * Quantum Computing Threats to the Real World * How Could Bitcoin & the World Respond? * Best Practices for Bitcoin Security (Today & Future‑Proofing) * Broader Implications & The Bigger Picture * **7:15‑8:00 PM:** Open Q&A + guided networking **✅ What to Bring:** * Your curiosity (and a notebook if you like) * A friend who's curious about crypto's future **🏢 Venue Notes:** * [Please RSVP so we can manage capacity](https://luma.com/g53ux3yo) * https://luma.com/g53ux3yo **About Bitcoin Bay:** Welcome to Canada's longest‑running Crypto Community. Our mission is to grow the Crypto Ecosystem globally – beginning from our home base in Canada. Bitcoin Bay is a starting point for your crypto journey. **👉 Ready to future‑proof your crypto knowledge?** **[RSVP now](https://luma.com/g53ux3yo)** to save your spot—and share this event with a dev, investor, or curious friend. See you on May 11!

**Set goals.** **Be accountable for them.** **Move your life forward with purpose.** Our goal is to cause greatness by mentoring men to live with excellence and, as mature masculine leaders, create successful families, careers and communities. If you have the desire to work on being the man that your legacy demands that you be (which means being the best you can be, we can work on what your legacy demands with you later) and the man you always wanted to be then we look forward to you attending. Our group is part of Mentor Discover Inspire (MDI). This group meets Mondays, North of Finch Avenue, usually indoors, outdoors in the summer but occasionally on Zoom. To confirm this week's location, please rsvp to Ricardo, call/text (647) 880-1488, or email ricardophilip@hotmail.com From MDI website[: https://goo.gl/3DQ6](https://goo.gl/3DQ6aY)aY From Toronto Sta[r: https://goo.gl/oDH](https://goo.gl/oDH3uX)3uX Regular attendees do not always RSVP, expect 6-8 men to be present.

**Welcome to Miss Bachata & Miss Salsa!** **Spring is in the air, and with it comes the promise of new beginnings, fresh energy, and the joy of connection!** As the season of renewal unfolds, we invite you to step into the rhythm of community, dance, and celebration at Miss Bachata & Miss Salsa. My objective has always been to create a different kind of social gathering—one that is open, non-judgmental, and safe. A place where you can meet people just like you, where socializing and dancing come together to help build community and tear down the walls that separate us. Here, we make new friends, feel a sense of belonging, and enjoy the calmness that comes from knowing we are in a safe and welcoming space. Many times, I have been asked, “Why host an event on Monday night?” Many people escape on the weekend and dread Mondays when they return to work. I believe that if you dance and socialize on a Monday, you infuse your week with joy and positive energy, giving your life balance and helping you face your challenges with enthusiasm and confidence. We’re also thrilled to announce that our trial of advanced Bachata lessons, which began last September, has been a resounding success! Building on this momentum, we’re excited to offer an enhanced schedule for 2026. Our dance evenings will now feature three hours of classes: one hour of beginner to intermediate Bachata, one hour of advanced Bachata, and one hour of beginner to intermediate Salsa. As always, the entrance fee remains $15 for a night of 2 lessons and social dancing. For those interested in the advanced Bachata lessons, there will be an additional $5 fee. Here’s our updated schedule: **Miss Bachata – Main Ballroom** 🕖 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Beginner to Intermediate Bachata Lesson (No partner required) 🕗 8:00 pm – 12:00 am: Social Dancing **Miss Salsa – Round Room** 🕖 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Advanced Bachata Lesson (+$5) **NEW** 🕗 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Beginner to Intermediate Salsa Lesson 🕘 9:00 pm – 12:00 am: Social Dancing ✨ **Additional Details:** ✔️ Free Parking ✔️ Full Bar (Free Water, Beer: $5.75) Over the past decade, organizing Latin dancing events in Mississauga has been a labor of love. Our mission has always been to foster a sense of community, proving that the connections we share are far stronger than the differences that divide us. Loneliness is a growing concern, with over half of U.S. adults and many Canadians experiencing its effects. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened this issue. Harvard University's long-term study on happiness, which began in 1938, highlights the detrimental impact of loneliness on health. People with strong social connections experience slower mental and physical decline and greater overall happiness compared to those who are isolated. Here are some key findings from the study: 🌿 Close ties help delay mental and physical decline more than money, fame, social class, IQ, or genetics. 🌿 Relationship satisfaction is a better predictor of aging well than cholesterol levels in middle age. 🌿 A strong sense of community improves memory function. 🌿 Loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking or alcoholism. And there’s hope! Strengthening our relationships and supporting community initiatives can combat loneliness and build healthier, happier lives. Miss Bachata & Miss Salsa provides a wonderful opportunity to make new friends, expand your social circle, and enjoy a safe, welcoming, authentic environment. Bring your open heart and a smile, and we’ll take care of the rest. 🌸 **Cheers to a season of renewal, joy, and community!** 🌸 **Anna G.** https://www.facebook.com/groups/1871491806494168/ https://www.facebook.com/EventsByAnnaG

We are a men's group where you can expect a frank and confidential space to speak personally, engage in interesting conversations or get support for your personal goals. This new team meets weekly on the East side of Toronto. Our group is part of Mentor Discover Inspire (MDI). This group prefers to meet outdoors but occasionally on Zoom. Guests are welcome but it's pretty casual so make sure you are expected in case we move locations. You can rsvp via meetup or call Tim @ 416-278-3058 to confirm this week’s location. The MDI Mission: To cause greatness by mentoring men to live with excellence and, as mature masculine leaders, create successful families, careers and communities. From MDI website[: https://goo.gl/3DQ6](https://goo.gl/3DQ6aY)aY From Toronto Sta[r: https://goo.gl/oDH](https://goo.gl/oDH3uX)3uX

Whether you're a seasoned tech veteran or just starting out, let's create the ideal afterwork place to meet and chill with other workers in tech - find that new job, expand your network, share ideas, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry. Let's inspire, innovate, and shape the future of technology in Toronto! Tech, AI, Data, IT, and more \~ ​ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Event Details 💰 Cost: Free 🍺🥃 Afterwork drinks and social 📍 The Goodman Pub and Kitchen (Inside, or ask for Tech Social) - 207 Queens Quay W 🕕 6:00pm onwards every Friday ​ **Or RSVP on the website for our Discord / WhatsApp communities, and to see who else is going and what their backgrounds/seniority/interests are:** 🔗 [Link to Website](https://techsocialtoronto.com/event/meetup) ​ If you cannot find us, ask staff about Tech Social, or ask in the WhatsApp community above. ​ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Who Should Attend? Perfect for **Toronto tech professionals** including: * **Software Developers & Engineers** (Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, React, Node.js) * **Data Scientists & Analysts** (Machine Learning, AI, Data Visualization, SQL) * **Cybersecurity Professionals** (InfoSec, Ethical Hacking, Cloud Security) * **Product Managers & Tech Entrepreneurs** * **Students & Tech Graduates** looking to break into tech * **Career Changers** entering tech industry * **Remote Workers & Digital Nomads** in Toronto * **Startup Employees & Entrepreneurs** * **Digital Marketing & Product Professionals** * **Senior Engineers** looking to mentor and network \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### What You'll Experience * 🤝 **Network with Toronto tech community** * 💼 **Job opportunities** and referrals from peers * 🚀 **Career acceleration** through peer networking * 🎯 **Skill sharing** and tech discussions * 🧠 **Knowledge sharing** on latest tech trends * 🎉 **Social activities** and games * 🧠 **Learn from peers** about real-world challenges * 🚀 **Collaborate** on projects and ideas * 🎯 **Mentorship connections** (both ways!) * 🍻 **Fun, casual atmosphere** \- no matter your seniority level \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Event Guidelines * Support the venue by purchasing drinks/food (no outside items allowed) * Maintain appropriate behavior and respect for all attendees * Bring physical ID if required by venue (call ahead to confirm) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ​ ​ *Toronto Canada tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup software development machine learning python javascript professional networking career development it professionals developers mentorship ai sql analytics data engineering business intelligence deep learning tensorflow pytorch data visualization data analysts ml engineers Toronto Canada tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup software development machine learning python javascript professional networking career development it professionals developers mentorship ai sql analytics data engineering business intelligence deep learning tensorflow pytorch data visualization data analysts ml engineers*

**Attention attendees!** **To register, use** [Luma](https://luma.com/u03s686c) Warning: The meetup is not a platform for RSVP registration; for this, you need to follow [thisLink ](https://luma.com/u03s686c)to purchase a registration ticket. The meetup is one of the platforms through which we offer participation in our events. **Startup Valley — Toronto** A curated pitch night for startup founders, operators, angels and VC partners. We design these sessions to help founders sharpen their thinking through direct, candid feedback — and to give strong investors access to serious teams. **What happens:** • 4-8 startups pitch live and receive feedback from angels and VC partners • Feedback focuses on real decisions and next steps — not surface-level opinions • Investors stay in the room before and after pitches • The format leaves space for real conversations, not rushed networking • Attendance is limited to keep the room focused Designed for clear thinking, not noise. **Who you’ll meet:** * Startup founders * Angel investors and VC partners * Operators in marketing, sales, and tech * AI engineers * Local and international founders * AI Experts * Founders from Europe, Asia, and the United Kingdom **Practical details** **For investors:** We invite angel investors and VC partners to participate as judges and contributors. **To become a judge,** and get early access to our startups database, please fill out th[ the form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8CVqvhQJu-AcclIF6PCuwjL4YpQt4w0FchGSoutRkt58v4g/viewform). Join the judge table, meet other investors, and see what teams are building early. Founders need your experienced view. **For pitching startups:** Startups selected to pitch will present live on stage and receive feedback from investors. **After purchasing a ticket:** Please[ submit your pitch deck](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchcZr9gCNJh0RLiKBgbdbDBKEOc-92LNySkzHf8qGPHg5Wpg/viewform) and ensure it is open for viewers. **Agenda** **19:00 – 19:30** **Registration** Guests register, receive badges, and event programs. This is an opportunity for casual networking, making first connections, and preparing for the event. **19:30 – 20:30** **Event Kickoff & Interactive Networking** Official welcome from the organizers with a brief overview of the event goals and schedule. Interactive networking helps participants set their objectives and connect with key contacts. **20:40 – 21:20** **Startup Pitch Session** Startups present their projects to investors and experts. Each team has 5 minutes to pitch, covering the project's core idea, business model, and target market. **21:20 – 22:00** **Chill & Networking** Participants enjoy casual conversations with investors, discuss collaborations, and exchange ideas over refreshments.

**Attention attendees!** **To register, use** [Luma](https://luma.com/u03s686c) Warning: The meetup is not a platform for RSVP registration; for this, you need to follow [thisLink ](https://luma.com/u03s686c)to purchase a registration ticket. The meetup is one of the platforms through which we offer participation in our events. **Startup Valley — Toronto** A curated pitch night for startup founders, operators, angels and VC partners. We design these sessions to help founders sharpen their thinking through direct, candid feedback — and to give strong investors access to serious teams. **What happens:** • 4-8 startups pitch live and receive feedback from angels and VC partners • Feedback focuses on real decisions and next steps — not surface-level opinions • Investors stay in the room before and after pitches • The format leaves space for real conversations, not rushed networking • Attendance is limited to keep the room focused Designed for clear thinking, not noise. **Who you’ll meet:** * Startup founders * Angel investors and VC partners * Operators in marketing, sales, and tech * AI engineers * Local and international founders * AI Experts * Founders from Europe, Asia, and the United Kingdom **Practical details** **For investors:** We invite angel investors and VC partners to participate as judges and contributors. **To become a judge,** and get early access to our startups database, please fill out th[ the form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8CVqvhQJu-AcclIF6PCuwjL4YpQt4w0FchGSoutRkt58v4g/viewform). Join the judge table, meet other investors, and see what teams are building early. Founders need your experienced view. **For pitching startups:** Startups selected to pitch will present live on stage and receive feedback from investors. **After purchasing a ticket:** Please[ submit your pitch deck](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchcZr9gCNJh0RLiKBgbdbDBKEOc-92LNySkzHf8qGPHg5Wpg/viewform) and ensure it is open for viewers. **Agenda** **19:00 – 19:30** **Registration** Guests register, receive badges, and event programs. This is an opportunity for casual networking, making first connections, and preparing for the event. **19:30 – 20:30** **Event Kickoff & Interactive Networking** Official welcome from the organizers with a brief overview of the event goals and schedule. Interactive networking helps participants set their objectives and connect with key contacts. **20:40 – 21:20** **Startup Pitch Session** Startups present their projects to investors and experts. Each team has 5 minutes to pitch, covering the project's core idea, business model, and target market. **21:20 – 22:00** **Chill & Networking** Participants enjoy casual conversations with investors, discuss collaborations, and exchange ideas over refreshments.

**SPDY MEETUP 005** Welcome back! Following up on last week’s announcement, we are thrilled to schedule **SPDY MEETUP 005**. As always, we’ll be joined by incredible engineers who are ready to share their latest research and insights. Here's an updated list of presenters and topics: **🔸 Annie Sullivan**, Senior Staff Software Engineer at **Google** *"The latest data on soft navigations in Core Web Vitals"* 🔸 **Michal Mocny**, Sr Software Developer, **Google Chrome**, Speed Metrics *"InteractionContentfulPaint: a new Performance API for measuring UX."* 🔸 **Bas Schouten**, Performance Tech Lead at **Mozilla** *TBA* We have an incredible evening lined up featuring expert-led sessions sharing the latest in web performance research. As always, there will be dedicated time for Q&A following the sessions. **Interested in speaking?** Slots are available for lightning talks. If you’d like to share your work, please reach out via DM or email at **henrihelvetica@gmail.com**. Beyond the presentations, come enjoy some great networking with our vibrant community. We recommend **RSVPing as soon as possible** to secure your spot, as we are expecting international teams from both Google and Mozilla to also attend. With that, we look fwd to seeing everyone May 13th. -Henri

We’re thrilled to invite you to an exciting meetup! We'll have one talk presented by an Elastic employee and one presented by a community member. Bring your questions and come support the community! **Agenda** **5:00 PM** – Doors Open Come in, say hello, grab some food, and settle in for an engaging evening. **5:45 PM** – **"Lessons from evaluating production AI Agents for over a year", presented by** Susan Chang, Principal Data Scientist at Elastic **6:15 PM** – Q&A **6:30 PM** – "**Elasticsearch Journey – Working in Different Industries", presented by** Yasir Zaid, Elastic Certified Engineer **7:00 PM** – Q&A **7:15 PM** – Networking & Event Wrap-Up Stick around to chat, connect, and share insights with fellow attendees. **When:** Thursday, May 14th 5:00 - 7:00 pm **Where:** [Centre for Social Innovation - Spadina](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=43.650017%2C%20-79.397156) 192 Spadina Ave. · Toronto, ON 3rd floor, The Viola Desmond Room **Abstracts** **"Lessons from evaluating production AI Agents for over a year"** This talk covers methods of evaluating AI Agents, with an example of how the speakers built evaluation frameworks for a user-facing AI Agent system which has been in production for over a year. We share tools and frameworks used (as well as tradeoffs and alternatives), and discuss methods such as LLM-as-Judge, rules-based evaluations, ML metrics used, as well as selection tradeoffs. **Bio:** Susan Shu Chang is a Principal Data Scientist at Elastic, where she leads work on production-grade machine learning, including generative AI and agentic workflows. She is also an internationally recognized speaker, O’Reilly author, and keynote presenter at major global technical conferences. **My Elasticsearch Journey – Working in Different Industries** This talk explores Yasir Zaidi’s hands-on experience using Elastic products to deliver strategic solutions across banking, insurance, and telecommunications. Through real-world examples, the session will cover how Elasticsearch and the broader Elastic Stack have been used for search architecture, security, SIEM, and observability, along with some of the newer and more exciting projects now being built with Elastic. The talk will also highlight recent Elasticsearch features and innovations, and how they are opening up new possibilities for modern enterprise use cases. **Bio:** Yasir Zaidi is the Owner of ZD Inc. ([https://zd-inc.net/](https://zd-inc.net/)) and Elasticsearch Experts ([https://elasticsearch.expert/](https://elasticsearch.expert/)), and Co-Founder of 360metrics ([https://www.360metrics.io/](https://www.360metrics.io/)) and Certified Elasticsearch Partner Solution Architect. He has delivered hundreds of Elasticsearch projects for organizations around the world, with experience spanning Observability, SIEM, Enterprise search, Cloud deployments, and AI-powered search solutions, Serverless and much more. His work includes engagements with Ericsson, SAP, Intact Insurance, Videotron, RONA, Geotab and Desjardins Bank, just to name a few. Backed by three master’s degrees and Elastic certifications, Yasir brings deep technical expertise and proven global delivery experience. Linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasirzaidi/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasirzaidi/) Spots are limited, so don't miss out!

Join us on Wednesday, May 13th, 2026, at 6:30 PM for a session presented by **Aidan Foster** on using Claude Design, Anthropic's new AI-assisted design tool, to vibe design web user interfaces. **Event Details:** * **Location:** CSI Spadina - 192 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2C2. Viola Desmond room on the 3rd floor * **Date and Time:** May 13, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM * **Topic:** Experimenting with Claude Design. **Location Note:** This meeting will be held in the **Viola Desmond room on the 3rd floor**. Access will be via the door to the stairs, not the usual main entrance to the basement area. We will send the building access code on the morning of the meetup, via email and chat. **Session Topic:** Claude Design starts as code and grows into design software, the opposite direction of Figma. We'll look at: * Generating a design system from a Figma file * Iterating with the tweaks panel and edit mode * Prototyping UI from existing code and screenshots * Where Claude Design fits alongside Figma and Claude Code **Your Voice Matters:** Got ideas for future presentations or want to be a speaker? Reach out to Pierre or Aidan – we're always looking for speakers and new insights! **Drinks & Discussion:** Stay after the presentation for drinks and more Drupal talk at [Hotel Ocho](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4HF9ooz2Ki9B8o577) **Special Thanks to our Sponsor:** A big shoutout to[ Kalamuna](https://www.kalamuna.com) for providing the CSI space for our meetup. Looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces alike. Let's make this a great meetup for Toronto's Drupal community, going strong since 2006!

**This is a ticketed event. Please register at [this link](https://luma.com/qzxavbjl).** ​Most AI governance proposals land in one of two failure modes: command-and-control regulation that can't keep pace with the technology, or heavy delegation to industry that leaves values-based decisions in private hands. In a 2023 paper, Gillian Hadfield and Jack Clark propose a third path: regulatory markets, where governments license private regulators and require AI companies to purchase regulatory services from them. ​Kathrin Gardhouse will walk us through the paper's core argument and what it would actually mean in practice: how regulatory markets differ from existing approaches, what problems they solve, and what they might get wrong. ​​​**Event Schedule** 6:00 to 6:30 - Food and introductions 6:30 to 7:30 - Presentation and Q&A 7:30 to 9:00 - Open Discussions

If you’re trying to grow in marketing right now, guessing isn’t a great strategy. This event gives you direct access to how marketing leaders actually think. Join DC Marketing Tech Talks on May 19th in Tysons for a live **CMO Ask Me Anything** — a candid, open conversation with experienced marketing leaders who have built teams, driven revenue, and led at the highest levels. This is your chance to ask: * What skills actually matter right now? * What gets someone promoted vs. passed over? * What does it take to become a CMO today? * How are marketing teams and roles changing? * How do you connect brand to real business growth? Just real answers from people who have done the work. Whether you’re looking to move up, switch roles, or sharpen your edge, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of what to focus on next. As always, this event is free and open to the public thanks to our sponsors, SalesIntel. Food, drinks, networking, and a room full of marketers who care about getting better at what they do. Come with questions. Leave with direction.

Our first Technoverts meetup had a great turnout, so we're doing it again, this time with an optional conversation theme: **How people are actually using AI in everyday work and life**. This is not a panel or presentation, and I do not have a fixed agenda, it's just a relaxed coffee conversation for people in tech (or tech-adjacent fields) who are curious about practical AI use cases, useful tools, workflow hacks, weird experiments, and what's generally helping people right now. *Topics might include:* * AI tools people actually use at work * Productivity and automation * Prompting successes and failures * Writing, coding, research, analytics and creative use cases * What feels overhyped vs. genuinely useful. No expertise is required. It's completely fine to come mostly curious, skeptical, or just interested in meeting thoughtful people in tech. *What to expect:* * Low pressure conversation * A mix of tech talk and normal conversation Location: (Subject to change as I do more research) High Point Pub Tyson's Whole Foods, 1635 Boro Pl. (This is the cafe space on the second floor of the Whole Foods at the Boro, Tysons. Parking is free in the garage with validation). Time: 11 am (this is when the cafe opens). Everyone covers their own coffee/snacks. I'll arrive early and grab a table and will post details about location in the event discussion. Address: 1635 Boro Pl. Whole Foods 2nd Floor Cafe

**ProductTank NoVA is back!** After a brief hiatus, we are relaunching the chapter with a format that cuts out the fluff and gets straight to the reality of building. Every product feed is flooded with AI hype right now, but what does it actually look like on the ground? Instead of a polished keynote, we are hosting **0 to 1 with AI: Real Product Talks**—a "Show & Tell" featuring 3–4 lightning talks focused on the intersection of AI and product. The framing for the talks is simple: *"Here is what I'm building, and here is what I'm stuck on."* We want to look at the messy, 0-to-1 reality of integrating AI into your workflows and products. *(Want to share what you are working on? Reach out! The bar is low-pressure, just 10–12 minutes to talk about a real AI problem you are trying to solve.)* **Agenda:** * **5:30 PM - 6:00 PM:** Doors open, networking, & name tags * **6:00 PM - 6:10 PM:** Welcome + Chapter Relaunch Intro * **6:10 PM - 7:30 PM:** Lightning Talks (Three 12-min talks + 5 mins Q&A each, with a 5-min stretch break) * **7:30 PM - 8:00 PM:** Open networking * **8:00 PM:** Soft close **Location & Logistics:** Herndon Fortnightly Library (Extended Hours Meeting Room) 768 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170 * **Parking:** We'll meet at the library, located just behind the Herndon Municipal Center. There is plenty of free public parking available around the municipal center. * **Metro & Bus:** Take the Silver Line to Herndon Metro Station, then connect via Fairfax Connector Route 921 or 950 to Historic Downtown Herndon. * **Driving (via VA-267/Dulles Toll Rd):** Take Exit 10 North (Centreville Rd, which becomes Elden St). Turn left onto Station St or Lynn St. * **Driving (via VA-286/Fairfax Co Pkwy):** Take the Elden St West exit. Turn right onto Lynn St. Looking forward to seeing everyone again and getting back to building!

We will be meeting at Starbucks to learn together. Come with an online class you're already going through or an interest and we will try to connect you with a course where you can learn it. Already have a skill you want to contribute to a Kaggle Datascience competition? We will work on these too! Laptop required :)

Midweek. Mild movement. Minimal social pressure. Take a walk while the traffic disperses. If traditional socializing feels like a bit much, try walking in the same direction as other humans instead. What to expect: • A relaxed, no-rush pace (this is not secretly a fitness event) • Occasional conversation about tech, life, or whatever comes up What to bring: Water, comfy shoes.

If **CMMC** is on your radar (or keeping you up at night), this is the conversation you don’t want to miss! Join us on **Tuesday, May 12, 2026,** at **Honor Brewing Company** at **42604 Trade West Dr, Sterling, VA 20166**! Want a custom name tag to enhance your networking opportunities? Register here and yours will be ready at the door: https://share.hsforms.com/1YxovFyF9RzKCcq9EjAN8-wdwxz1 Join us for an “**Ask the CMMC Experts**” session with **Brian Gallagher and Carter Schoenberg of Koniag Cyber.** These two seasoned leaders have been deep in the trenches of cybersecurity, compliance, and national security! **Brian** brings 20+ years of experience leading cybersecurity services across **highly regulated industries** and a unique perspective as a former **U.S. Secret Service Technical Security Division** professional who has helped secure some of the nation’s most sensitive environments. **Carter** pairs 30+ years spanning cyber investigations, threat intelligence, and cyber law with hands-on CMMC leadership as a **Lead Certified Asessor**. He’s conducted 35+ independent CMMC assessments, supported 30+ Authorizations to Operate for **DHS and DoD**, and helped shape national conversations through work with **NIST, MITRE, and federal agencies.** Bring your questions, your challenges, and your curiosity on **May 12**, for this candid, practical conversation with **Brian Gallagher and Carter Schoenberg**, designed to help you move forward with confidence! **Agenda** 5:30 Social hour and networking begins 6:10 Welcome 6:15 Ask the CMMC Expert - **Brian Gallagher & Carter Schoenberg** 6:50 Q&A 7:00 Open Mic & Networking Continues 7:30 Adjourn

**Agenda :** * 4.45 to 5.00 PM ET: Food and Networking * 5.00 to 5.50 PM ET: "Build Intelligent Agents with Work IQ, Foundry IQ, Fabric IQ, and Copilot Studio" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our May 12th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided. You will need a government-issued ID to enter the facility.** **Title:** Build Intelligent Agents with Work IQ, Foundry IQ, Fabric IQ, and Copilot Studio **Description:** What if your AI agents truly understood how your business works, had instant access to trusted enterprise data, and could take meaningful action from end to end? In this session, we’ll cover how to build enterprise-ready AI agents that understand business context, use trusted data, and take real action. In this fast-paced session, we’ll bring Work IQ, Foundry IQ, and Fabric IQ together with Copilot Studio through best practices and live demos. Key Takeaways: \*Work IQ: Ground agents in real work, roles, and business processes \*Foundry IQ: Design and orchestrate intelligent agent behavior \*Fabric IQ: Power agents with secure, enterprise-grade data \*Copilot Studio: Bring it all together into an end-to-end intelligent agent **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!