Organization Development

**Um was geht es dieses mal?** Dieses Mal haben wir zwei Talks für euch! **Agentenentwicklung ist wie Kindererziehung, nur mit mehr Logs - Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen bei vaylens - Dennis Lüger (vaylens)** "Was hat die Entwicklung eines KI-Agents mit Kindererziehung zu tun? Mehr als du denkst. In diesem Vortrag zeigt vaylens, wie wir den Service in der eMobility-Branche mit einem intelligenten Agenten neu denken – und warum der klassische Design → Develop-Prozess hier völlig an seine Grenzen stößt. Wir sprechen über die echten Herausforderungen: den Aufbau einer funktionierenden Wissensbasis, die Tücken von RAG, das Testen eines Systems, das sich ständig weiterentwickelt, und den Alltag mit einem Produkt, das selbst noch „in den Kinderschuhen“ steckt. Natürlich teilen wir auch unsere Erfolge, die wachsenden Fähigkeiten unseres Agents und geben einen Ausblick darauf, welche nächsten Schritte anstehen, um den Service der Zukunft zu gestalten." **Give Your AI Superpowers: Warum alles mit dem Model Context Protocol beginnt. - Benjamin Font Pera (codecentric)** "Moderne Sprachmodelle erreichen heute eine beeindruckende Leistungsfähigkeit, bleiben jedoch häufig in isolierten Umgebungen gefangen: Ohne eine einheitliche Schnittstelle können sie nur schwer auf externe Systeme, Datenquellen oder Werkzeuge zugreifen. Genau hier setzt das Model Context Protocol (MCP) an. MCP schafft eine standardisierte Integrationsschicht, über die LLMs transparent, strukturiert und kontrollierbar mit ihrer Umgebung interagieren können. In diesem Talk zeige ich, wie MCP die Grundlage für praktische, handlungsfähige KI-Agenten schafft Im Coding-Bereich demonstriere ich, wie ein Coding-Agent über MCP nicht nur mit Ticketsystemen arbeiten kann, sondern durch den Figma-MCP-Server sogar „sehen” lernt. Im n8n-Ökosystem wird sichtbar, wie MCP echte Agenten-Workflows ermöglicht. Am Beispiel des „Kai Vertriebsassistenten” zeige ich, wie ein LLM über MCP mit n8n Agenten kommuniziert, fehlende Informationen aktiv abfragt, Daten aus HubSpot oder Jira abrufen kann und komplexe Aufgaben wie das Erstellen von Versicherungsangeboten vollständig automatisiert. Der Vortrag verbindet konzeptionelle Grundlagen mit praktischen Demonstrationen und zeigt, wie MCP KI-Modelle aus ihrer Isolation löst und in vollständig integrierte, handlungsfähige Agenten verwandelt." **Hybrides Setup!** Wir freuen uns, euch bei uns in den Räumen der codecentric AG in Dortmund willkommen zu heißen. Vor Ort versorgen wir euch mit Snacks und Getränken und freuen uns gleichzeitig über interessante Diskussionen und einen guten Austausch. Für alle, die es nicht zu uns ins Office schaffen, werden wir das Meetup Hybrid durchführen. Der Stream beginnt ca. 10 Minuten später, damit wir vor Ort ausreichend Möglichkeit für persönliches Kennenlernen haben. Den Live-Stream findet ihr auf dem [YouTube-Channel der codecentric AG](youtube.com/@codecentricag). **Anreise:** Per Zug: Vom Dortmunder HBF sind es ca. 10 Minuten zu Fuß. Mit dem Auto: Rund um das Office gibt es einige Parkflächen, dazu befinden sich in dem Parkhaus der Thier-Galerie weitere Parkplätze.

Die **Green Software**-Community **wächst** und so auch das **Tool-Ökosystem**. Um den Überblick über das stetig wachsende Green Software-Ökosystem zu behalten, hat der Bundesverband Green Software eine **Tool-Landkarte** veröffentlicht: [https://landscape.bundesverband-green-software.de](https://landscape.bundesverband-green-software.de/) Wir wollen in diesem Meetup die Tool-Landkarte nutzen, um uns mal wieder eingehend mit dem Thema Messen zu beschäftigen. Für jede Kategorie wird ein Tool exemplarisch vorgestellt, um so auch die verschiedenen Kategorien und Methodiken kennenlernen zu können. Es wird auch viel darum gehen, wann sich der Einsatz gewisser Tools überhaupt lohnt. Welche Metriken möchten wir überhaupt erfassen? In welcher Phase und Umgebung macht es Sinn, zu messen und spezialisierte Green Software-Tools zum Einsatz zu bringen? Wie gut und akkurat muss die Methodik sein? Wir werden die Fragen im Rahmen dieses Meetups nicht abschließend beantworten können. Aber sie werden sicherlich dazu beitragen können, spannende Diskussionen anzuregen! **Agenda** 18:00 Einlass & Networking 18:30 Vortrag mit einer kleinen Pause zwischendurch 21:00 Ende & Networking \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Die Veranstaltung wird von karlsruhe.digital im Rahmen des “[supported by karlsruhe.digital](https://karlsruhe.digital/supportedby/)” Programms unterstützt. Green Software Development Karlsruhe ist ein unabhängiger Teil der globalen [Green Software Foundation](https://greensoftware.foundation/) Community. Das [CyberForum](https://www.cyberforum.de/), die Wirtschaftsförderung, die [Fairantwortung](https://fairantwortung.org/) und der [ImpactHub Karlsruhe](https://karlsruhe.impacthub.net/) sorgen für eine Verbreitung des Events im Netzwerk. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-

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

Is public speaking something you’ve always wanted to learn? Then you’ve come to the right place! Experience a safe and playful environment at U-Speak! Toastmasters where you can develop your public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. \#\# 🌟 Special Event: Club Contest Evening Members will compete with their speeches. The winners will represent U-Speak! at the next contest level. Guests are warmly welcome to attend, cheer, and enjoy! * 🗓️ When: 20th of January 2026 * ⏰ Time: 19:15 - 21:30 (7.15pm to 9.30pm) Walkin at 19:15; Start of the meeting at 19:30 * 🌐 Venue: Pub Florin, Utrecht * 🙋🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️Attendance: Typically, 15-20 people attend each meeting Many of our club members are not on Meetup, so the number of people attending as indicated here is not reflective of the actual number of people attending on a night. * 🙋🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ Guests are welcome; rsvp is encouraged

Boardgame night #165 The idea is: play a game, have a drink and chat with friendly people. We start around 20.00 with playing board games so that's the perfect time to jump in and play with us. We will bring a couple board games, but you're also welcome to bring your own games. Feel free to join, bring friends or family. We hope to play with you then! You can also signup on facebook. Visit us at: https://m.facebook.com/groups/463859440486833

Hi all, We are excited to bring the Kafka community together once again for a new Kafka meetup. On January 20th, 2026, we will host an in - person evening featuring three strong perspectives on Kafka: MCP in practice - from intent to streaming; Kafka-native Kroxylicious proxies; and the organizational realities of Event-Driven Architecture. **The Speakers:** We are very excited to welcome **Anatoly Zelenin** (Founder @ DataFlow Academy, Kafka book author) introducing Kroxylicious, an emerging open-source early stage Kafka proxy. We are also proud to feature our own **Abhinav Sonkar** (Software Engineer @Axual.com), who will present a hands-on talk on MCP and Kafka in practice. Finally, **Eti (Dahan) Noked** (Head of Engineering @ PX.com) will close the evening with an honest look at Event-Driven Architecture: the dream, the reality, and the organizational cost. **Agenda:** **Doors open: 17:30** **17:30 - 18:30: Networking, food & drinks** **18:30 – 19:00: “From Intent to Streaming Apps: MCP in Practice with Kafka”** by Abhinav Sonkar (Software Engineer @ Axual) **19:05 – 19:50:** **“Kroxylicious, the snappy open-source proxy for Apache Kafka”** by Anatoly Zelenin (Founder @ DataFlow Academy, Kafka book author) **20:00 – 20:30:** **“Kafka & Event-Driven Architecture: The Dream, the Reality, and the Organizational Cost”** by Eti (Dahan) Noked (Head of Engineering @ PX.com) **20:30 - 21:15**: **Drinks & Kafka chit-chat** **Abstracts:** **From Intent to Streaming Apps: MCP in Practice with Kafka** As AI assistants begin interacting with real infrastructure, a key challenge is ensuring those interactions are safe, reliable, and constrained by clear rules. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) addresses this by defining a structured way for AI systems to discover capabilities, understand context, and invoke external tools through explicit contracts. This talk presents MCP through a practical Kafka-focused case study. Using the Axual MCP server, Abhinav will demonstrate how high-level intent expressed in natural language can be translated into governed Kafka operations such as topic management, access control, and application deployment. The session will also show how MCP can be combined with declarative technologies like KSML, a YAML-based DSL for Kafka Streams, to generate and deploy streaming applications without writing Java code. **Kroxylicious, the snappy open-source proxy for Apache Kafka** Proxies are a powerful architectural pattern commonly used in other application-layer protocols like HTTP, but they remain underutilized in the Kafka ecosystem. Kroxylicious is a groundbreaking, early-stage project that aims to change this by making it easier to develop Kafka proxies with minimal effort. While some organizations have built their own Kafka-aware proxies to address specific challenges, these solutions often remain closed-source and highly specialized. Kroxylicious tackles this problem by offering a set of pre-built capabilities and common features out-of-the-box, enabling developers to concentrate on the custom logic their applications need. In this session, Anatoly will introduce Kroxylicious, highlight its potential use cases, and demonstrate how it can simplify Kafka proxy development, reduce complexity, and unlock new possibilities for real-time data processing. **Kafka & Event-Driven Architecture: The Dream, the Reality, and the Organizational Cost** The goal of this talk is to show how to use Kafka effectively to achieve Event-Driven Architecture, and what this means for an organization. Eti will cover when an organization is ready for EDA, when Kafka is the right choice, and when it might not be. The talk completes the picture by exploring what can go wrong, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how architectural decisions around Kafka and EDA affect organizational structure, team ownership, and long-term sustainability. **Location:** Axual HQ Jaarbeursplein 22, Utrecht Please RSVP so we can arrange enough food & drinks. We are looking forward to welcoming you again on **January 20th, 2026**. **Team Kafka Meetup Utrecht**

Are you ready to step fully into the spotlight and deepen your presence on stage? The Intermediate Plus course On Stage! is designed for improvisers who already feel at home performing and want to sharpen their theatrical instincts, storytelling skills, and connection with an audience. In this course, you will move beyond simply playing games and focus on how scenes really work. You will explore how to build stronger characters, clearer relationships, and emotionally grounded moments that feel believable and engaging. Short form games are treated with more intention and depth, allowing you to discover how structure, commitment, and acting choices elevate even the simplest scenes. Over the weeks, you will work with a wide range of formats, including open scenes with no fixed structure. You will learn how to trust yourself and your fellow players when there is no clear roadmap, and how to let stories emerge naturally. There is also strong attention on audience interaction, from confidently asking for suggestions to clearly presenting games and formats so the audience feels included and invested. This course places extra emphasis on stage presence and performance readiness. You will receive more detailed feedback from the trainer, helping you fine-tune your choices and grow as a performer. Together as a group, you will prepare for a public show, with additional performance opportunities where possible. This course is ideal if you want to go beyond quick laughs and create scenes that feel rich, human, and memorable. #### Who should sign up for this? This course is for intermediate and advanced players. Ideally, you have completed two beginner courses and at least one intermediate course, including performing in shows. You feel comfortable on stage and are motivated to challenge yourself further. #### Course details Course start: Tuesday 20 January to Tuesday 14 April 2026 No lesson on 17 February Time: 19:30 to 21:30 Location: [Buurtcentrum De Leeuw](https://maps.app.goo.gl/FYjqR6xQQtdeqJbH6) After class drinks at Hygge or O’Leary’s Thirteen lessons, including one show. Show date to be confirmed. We aim to organise additional performance opportunities where possible. Price €325 including VAT #### About the teacher Rutger Pull specialises in short-form improv and Dutch Theatresports. He has a sharp eye for what a scene needs in order to work and excels at teaching players how to recognise and support that. His feedback style is positive, clear, and precise, helping players grow while staying playful and confident. Rutger began improvising during his university years in Enschede and has been performing for many years with Iets Anders in Utrecht. His classes combine structure, insight, and enjoyment, creating a focused yet relaxed learning environment.

## Brick the shapes of the New Year! As we step into a new year, we’re welcomed by a fresh landscape of opportunities, ambitions, and challenges waiting to be shaped. It’s the perfect moment to refocus, redefine our goals and re-energize the way we work together. Starting 2026, we’re using **LEGO® SERIOUS GOALS®** @ the **Scrum Facilitators** to help us transform ideas into tangible results. LEGO enables us to visualize our thoughts, explore possibilities with our hands and build shared understanding within yourself. By turning abstract goals into something physical, we create clarity, alignment, and space for creativity. **What can you expect from the event?** * Craft your concrete goal for 2026 * Powerful coaching of yourself done by you and by others * Help keeping yourself accountable of your goals * Metaphors & visualizations * Curiosity & reflection * Lots of fun :-) **Evening Plan:** 17:30 - 17:45 Walk In, Network 17:30 - 18:30 Intro and getting into it 18:30 - 19:00 FOOD 19:00 - 19:50 Goal Building 19:50 - 20:40 Note to Yourself, Make goals concrete 20:40 - 21:00 Walk Out, Network 21:00 Please go home you lovely people :)

We are excited to announce our first Utrecht JUG meetup in 2026, featuring talks from **Soroosh Khodami** and **Alexander Chatzizacharias**. First we will explore whether we’re prepared for the next Log4Shell-scale cyber security crisis, learning practical strategies to defend against supply chain attacks, modern AI-era threats, and CI/CD vulnerabilities through DevSecOps and SBOM-driven security practices. After the break you’ll learn how to build a playful, sarcastic, and deliberately absurd AI pair programmer while gaining practical insights into agentic LLM workflows, RAG, vector search, and deep integrations that let your assistant mischievously meddle with your code and environment. Join us for an evening of practical insights, real-world lessons, and community connection! The meetup will be hosted by **adesso**, Jaarbeursboulevard 294, Utrecht. Please join us and RSVP! Because of the limited number of seats, please keep your RSVP up-to-date, so we can welcome someone else of you can't make it. Timeschedule: 17:30 Doors open 18:00 Food & Drinks 19:00 Are We Ready For The Next Cyber Security Crisis Like Log4Shell? by Soroosh Khodami 20:00 Break 20:15 How to build your own fun and absurd pair programmer by Alexander Chatzizacharias 21:15 Drinks **Giveaway** 1 JetBrains licence **Talks** **Are We Ready For The Next Cyber Security Crisis Like Log4Shell?** "AI era is bright, but full of terrors!" In a world where vulnerabilities like Log4Shell, Spring4Shell, and the XZ Backdoor make headlines, securing our software ecosystem has never been more critical. In this session, Soroosh, a hands-on architect with experience working on security platform services for large enterprises like Rabobank, will share practical strategies and best practices for securing the software development process, applicable to both small startups and large organizations. Key takeaways and questions that will be answered in this session: * [Live Demo] What is a "Supply Chain Attack," and how dangerous can it be? * An example of lateral movement that begins with a basic SQL injection attack and escalates to gaining root access to a Kubernetes cluster * Exploring new attack vectors in the AI era and the defense strategies to detect, prevent and mitigate them * Most effective practices to secure your CI/CD process * Practical strategies on how Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) help us prepare for the next Log4Shell crisis? * What does DevSecOps mean, and what is its main objective? **How to build your own fun and absurd pair programmer** Tired of AI assistants that are always so boring and soulless? Alexander was. So, he decided to build his own. An AI assistant with personality, flair, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. Imagine a pair programmer that offers sarcastic feedback, makes absurd suggestions, and threatens to blow up your code when it disagrees with your changes. And when things get too quiet, it might even challenge you to a game of tic-tac-toe. This session is for anyone who believes the best way to learn new technologies is by playfully breaking them. If you’re curious about LLMs and agents beyond the typical use cases, this talk is for you. You’ll leave with practical insights into building your own agentic LLM workflows using Spring Boot, vector databases, and locally running models. Alexander will talk about Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) flows that feed LLMs the right context, multi-vector search for fast context retrieval, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations that let the assistant directly meddle with your file system. Come to learn, chuckle, and get inspired to create your own dysfunctional digital sidekick. **Speakers** **Soroosh Khodami** Soroosh is a software engineer and software architecture enthusiast, passionate about building simple but impactful solutions. With over 10 years of experience in diverse domains, including Telecom, Media & Entertainment, and E-Commerce. He has worked with small startups and large enterprises serving 80 million active subscribers. Currently working as a Solution Architect at Rabobank via Code Nomads. Soroosh strongly believes in the power of collaborative learning and enjoys sharing his experiences and insights with other developers. **Alexander Chatzizacharias** Alexander, a 35-year-old Software Engineer at JDriven, holds dual Dutch and Greek nationality. He earned his master’s degree in Game Studies from the University of Amsterdam, where he discovered his passion for gamification and software engineering. Alexander aims to bridge the gap between game development and software engineering, believing that both industries have much to learn from each other. He is dedicated to integrating technologies and methodologies from both fields. Additionally, he enjoys experimenting with new technologies and cutting-edge sdk's.

⚠️🦖 **IMPORTANT**: You need to be a registered attendee to get access to Bitbash. **Get your free ticket at**: https://www.bitbash.nl/tickets Dutch Azure Meetup is partnering with Info Support to bring you **Bitbash**; an exciting FREE conference that will cover the latest Microsoft technologies and innovations. Whether you're interested in .NET, Azure, Data platforms or AI, Bitbash will let you take your skills to the next level! Inspiring community speakers will present you with insightful sessions, real-world experience, and compelling demonstrations. Check the full agenda at https://www.bitbash.nl/agenda! Bitbash is an in-person event that's held on Saturday January 24 at Info Support in Veenendaal. Additional pre-conference workshops are organized on Friday January 23. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn and network with like-minded professionals. See you at the event!

Let us meet, have a coffee and code together, or just discuss :)! This Meetup is everyone that considers himself "Techie", in the broad sense and wants to socialize :). Join us and chat, ask your questions, or work on your own projects. The choice is yours! There is no agenda, this is simply a gathering of interested folks :). We're meeting at Lebkov right inside the Utrecht Centraal station. We're typically sitting at the large table. Search for the folks with the laptops in the back! You are very welcome to join whether you are an experienced developer, or simply interested and want to chat!

## 🎨**Activity for EXPATS & English Speakers** ☕ Are you an art enthusiast living in or around **Amersfoort, Hilversum, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, IJsseltein, De Bilt and the rest of cities of the Utrecht's province** who love painting or drawing? Maybe you've felt the joy of creating but struggled to find others who share your passion and speak **ENGLISH**? **You're not alone! 😉** ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## 🖌️**About this event** You will meet other Art Lovers like you to Draw, Paint and have some drinks Together ! Our events are not just about sketching or creating art—they’re about building connections. Every two weeks, we meet at a café to have a relaxing time drawing a painting. Please keep on mind that **ENGLISH i**s the official language we will use to integrate everyone in our conversations. ⭕⭕⭕➡️ **IMPORTANT ⬅️** ⭕⭕⭕⭕ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**Book formally your Seat 🪑via [WHATSAPP](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** **If you want to confirm officially your attendance and separate your seat🪑. Book your seat in meet-up, and contact us via [WHATSAPP HERE](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f) to receive more information on the address of our activities.** **Thanks a lot for your understanding!** 💐🥰 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**How Does It Work?** This event is simple, this initiative takes 2 Hours. Most of the participants use pencils, water pencils or watercolours. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. Also it is very important that you **[JOIN US AT OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f),** to stay up to date on our upcoming events and participate in our Drawing and Painting Contests! **👉: [https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** 🍀 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### ☕**Where?** We will meet in different cafes mainly in the *center of Amersfoort ( and some occasions in other cities around)*. I will inform you of the exact place some days in advance this event. The place will depend on the number of attendees. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### **🎟️ What is included?** 🟢 **2 HOURS TO HAVE FUN!** 🟢 **15 mins warming-up creative activity and paper material**🖌️🎨 🟢 New friendships and **conversations in ENGLISH** in a relaxed atmosphere 🟢 **Souvenir picture** with you and the rest of Art Lovers 📷 🟢 Exclusive **access to our Art Lovers Community** on which you will receive: ***\~\~\~ Drawing challenges,*** ***\~\~\~ Training content,*** ***\~\~\~ FREE Entries only to members*** ***\~\~\~ Drawing Competitions*** 🟢 Time to **create alongside fellow artists and amateurs** 🟢 The freedom to **work at your own pace** 💃🕺🎈 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 🖼️**Art Materials?** Bring your own practical art materials to be adaptable to sketch on a coffee table. Like your sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, markets, pencils, your Tablet..etc ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## **See you to Paint, Draw, and drink together!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

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

Offroading ride in Diermen, Meerveld, Lunteren. Our usual easy "get back into riding" route. Meeting at 10am, will ride +-120km of a mixed road and offroad. Should be a 40/60 mix, the route (as usual...) may be a bit outdated and sections may need to be circumvented. The route is relatively easy and flat with moderate hardpacked sand stretches (unless rainy, then expect mud ;) ). Will ride unless there are thunderstorms, so if it's just rain, bring your rain gear... Also bring snacks. We will stop for food if there's a nice place to do so. All skill level riders welcome to join. Our experienced riders have patience to teach and help you get accustomed to adventure riding if you are new to it. ADV tires are required (knobbies, preferably at least 40/60). See you then! 0623215213 PM me for the route gpx.

## **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.**

Join local video game developers, artists, musicians and writers to talk about the art and science of game development. Bring a device and demo your game, talk shop, find like minded folks to join forces with, have a snack or a beverage among new friends. We are an informal meetup where we share what we've been working on and socialize. Come for all or just a bit of the time!

**⚡ Laugh a little. Meet new people. Leave feeling lighter.** Join us for a relaxed, small-group afternoon designed to break the winter slump and help you meet a great crowd — without awkwardness, heaviness, and something that just feels fun! 🔁 You’ll move through short, easy rounds of fun conversation games that make it simple to talk, connect, and find people you naturally click with. \*\*\* 📍 **Location:** Rented facility in Ashburn (zip 20147). Exact address shared after RSVP. 💵 **Fee:** $12 per person 🕒 **Time:** 2:00–4:00 PM ☕ **Coffee + light snacks on me.** \*\*\* **🔍 What You’ll Experience** • Quick, low-pressure rounds • Light games that get people talking (and **laughing**) • A mix of new faces in every rotation • A warm, friendly space — not surface-level, not heavy \*\*\* **💼 Who It’s For** • Divorced/Separated or midlife professionals starting fresh • Entrepreneurs, builders, and people who value meaningful conversation • Men + women who want a fun, relaxed way to meet others in the same chapter of life \*\*\* 📊 Most attendees are in their 30s–40s–50s — grounded, growth-minded, and ready for something different. 🌐 Explore more: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co/)

**Location**: Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (Virginia) Conference Room A game development **Working Session** involves 3 key parts: 1. Tell people what you're going to do 2. Actually do stuff 3. Show people what you did That's what we'll be doing for this meeting. We'll briefly tell each other what we're going to do, then work on our projects, then at around 5:30 wrap up to show each other what we did and chat for a bit. You don't have to stay the whole time, so feel free to drop in and out as you have time. All game development skill levels welcome. Whether you're bringing a game you're trying to ship in a month, or you're just planning on following some tutorials or trying out a new tool to improve your skills, use this time to make progress. Working sessions also train you to think about the scope of your work: pick a chunk of work that you can complete in the time that we have. That way you can end the working session with a feeling of accomplishment! **What to bring**: Laptop, Charger, maybe a power strip if you have one handy, any other game development tools you need. Try to download any software you need before the working session. There is Wifi at this location, but it may be slow if you have to download any large files.

Federal Executive GovCon - "Supporting Government Efficiency with Thought Leadership" When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 5:30 – 8:00 Location: Lost Rhino, 21730 Red Rum Dr, Ste 142, Ashburn, VA 20147 (\*\* NEW LOCATION \*\*) Come network with other local GovCon Executives and enjoy a few free beers on us and engage with our sponsors and Industry speakers. Please register here for your spot and please enter full name and company so a badge will be waiting for you. Sponsorships: 1 of 2 spots are available. DM me to claim the 2nd sponsorship to highlight your company to an invitation-only executive audience.

HYBRID EVENT, VIRTUAL SPEAKER In this talk, Sean Hoar will explore the transformative journey of AI’s role in modern software engineering, from rapid prototyping (“Vibe Coding”) to strategic AI integration by skilled practitioners. It clarifies the distinctions between AI-assisted, AI-enabled, and practitioner-led approaches, offering insights into how developers can effectively adapt to and harness AI tools. The presentation also highlights recent advancements and practical strategies for leveraging AI in daily workflows and long-term development.

**🪷 Cost:** There is no fee for this event. Donations of skin, hair, and dental care products are encouraged. RSVP to [LaurenL@imaginebeingwell.org](mailto:LaurenL@imaginebeingwell.org) ❄️**Description:** As winter settles in, the quiet of the natural world reminds us to pause, restore, and reconnect. We invite you to join Imagine Well Being at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in this spirit of reflection and care. We’ll begin indoors by assembling care kits for women in crisis, adding ribbon and a nature-inspired note of encouragement. Then we’ll gather around the fire to slow down and reconnect- sharing time in nature, listening inward, and building community. **👋🏼 Meeting Point:** Meet at the education building at 11:30. **🚙 Parking:** Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. 21085 The Woods Rd, Leesburg, VA 20175 Google Map link: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/rrSuedfGCxco6zz67](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rrSuedfGCxco6zz67) **🪷 Cost:** There is no fee for this event. Donations of skin, hair, and dental care products are encouraged. RSVP to [LaurenL@imaginebeingwell.org](mailto:LaurenL@imaginebeingwell.org) **🎒Preparation:** Bring a favorite skin care, hair care, or dental care item-something meaningful to you, chosen for a woman in crisis. Items should be new and unopened, and will be distributed through the local nonprofit Women Giving Back. If you cannot attend, but would like to donate, email Lauren at LaurenL@imaginebeingwell.org. **🌐 Newsletter:** [Sign up Today for Imagine Well Being's latest news, upcoming events, and retreats!](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/newsletter-form/sign-up-for-the-imagine-well-being-newsletter) **⭐️ Liability Release:** With my RSVP, I hereby confirm that I am physically able to participate in this event. I understand and agree that all classes, gatherings, and workshops are undertaken at my sole risk and that Imagine Well Being guides and instructors shall not be liable for injuries or damages to my person or property arising out of or connected to any of these activities. I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and instructors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care, and I assume responsibility for all associated costs. I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine classes, gatherings, and workshops. I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and instructors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care, and I assume responsibility for all associated costs. **I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine classes, gatherings, and workshops.**