Product Launch

Come join us at The Playground with our weekly drop-in improv workshop! Running on Monday evenings, this is a chance to experience improv among like minded people. No experience necessary and all levels are welcome! Each week we will have a different theme with exercises and activities to allow us improve our improv skills. Whether you are interested in developing the skills for your professional or personal life, or you are someone who currently performs or would like to perform on stage, then there is something for everyone. The long-term objective of The Playground is to create a place for people to develop and create projects and shows, providing regular opportunities for those who wish to perform in shows. Facilitated by two very experienced improvisers, Neil Curran and Quinton O'Reilly, join us for some play! We also have guest teachers join us too. **Important Info** \* Each drop-in session lasts 2 hours and starts at 7pm in the Teachers' Club. \* Each drop-in costs just €12. \* You can also sign up for membership which costs just €30 per calendar month and gets you access to all workshops. \* No experience necessary and all levels welcome. \* Events run on a drop-in basis offering flexibility for those who can't commit to doing a course. \* Payment can be made on arrival. \* After the workshop, many of us stick around for chats in the bar upstairs so do stick around for it. For more about Neil Curran please visit www.lowerthetone.com Check us out on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/improv_playground/

TOG Watch Night: The Secret Life of Components (Tim Hunkin) We’re kicking off a new bi-weekly Monday Watch Night at TOG. We’ll watch an episode of Tim Hunkin’s “The Secret Life of Components” together, then have a relaxed Q&A and discussion afterwards. This is a friendly, low-pressure way to learn the kind of practical tips you normally only pick up through years of making, fixing, and building. Perfect for beginners, makers, repair folks, and engineers who enjoy the practical side of components and mechanisms. How it works \- Watch together \(one episode per night\) \- Q&A and chat after: questions\, examples\, tangents\, and “how would we do this at TOG?” \- If you miss a week\, no stress\. Watch it at home and come along to the next one First session \- Monday 26 January \- Episode 1: Chain \- Free and open to all \- TOG Hackerspace \(Dublin 12\, D12 CF6V\) Full details: https://www.tog.ie/2026/01/tog-watch-night-the-secret-life-of-components-tim-hunkin/

Come along to get rid of the number one fear people have. Every week we have new members and people starting from scratch so you will not be alone. Everything is based around what you're comfortable with and you don't have to stand up, talk or do anything if you don't feel like it. But you will have the opportunity to speak at least 4/5 times a night. You can come along to see what we're doing and take part if you like. We will be running this for beginners every week and anyone is welcome to join us to learn and get better together. Hope to see you there :D We charge €5 to help towards the room rental.

Join us to **practise and improve your target language with native speakers on Monday in River Bar**(1 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2) from **6.30pm to 8.30pm**. **Our system:** **• You sit opposite a native speaker of the language you're learning** **• You speak 5mins English, 5mins other language, then change table** This ensures everyone gets an equal opportunity to practise the language they're learning. Our team seats people, controls the time, organises the table changes etc. What to expect: • Relaxed easy going atmosphere • Professional and quality service • Great networking opportunities • All levels welcome from absolute beginner to fully fluent • A big mix of ages with attendees at each event from 18 to 70+ years old • Topic cards on the tables to help start conversations Languages: We usually have **native speakers of English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese** and more depending on who shows up. **Admission fee €7** (€6 for student card holders). **No pre-registration required, just show up**. Loyalty card system: Come to 5 events and the 6th is free. Over 150,000 people since 2012 have attended our language exchanges to practise and improve their target language - you can too! Everyone is welcome! For more news and info check: Website: [www.languageexchangeireland.com](http://www.languageexchangeireland.com/) FB: [www.facebook.com/languageexchangeireland](http://www.facebook.com/languageexchangeireland) Instagram: [www.instagram.com/languageexchangeireland](http://www.instagram.com/languageexchangeireland) NOTE: The MeetUp attendance does not reflect actual attendance. There are usually around 100 people at each event. We are also in the River Bar every Thursday at 6.30pm

Help & Healing on the Spiritual Path through the Teaching of Bruno Groening This meeting is for people who are interested in finding out more about spiritual Healing. The meeting will take place on **Monday 9th March 2026 at 5.45pm in the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, 28/32 Upper O’Connell St., D01 T2X2** and it is open to all adults and is free of charge to the public. Further information visit: www.bruno-groening.org/english/ Check out our Youtuube Page https://www.youtube.com/@BrunoGroeningOrgEN

Join us to **practise and improve your Spanish/English with native speakers every Monday at River Bar** at 1 Burgh Quay (Dublin 2) from **6.30pm to 8.30pm**. **Our system:** **• You sit opposite a native speaker of the language you're learning** **• You speak 5mins English, 5mins Spanish, then change table** This ensures everyone gets an equal chance to practise the language they're learning. Our team seats people, controls the time, organises the seat changes etc. What to expect: • Relaxed easy going atmosphere • Professional and quality service • Great networking opportunities • All levels welcome from absolute beginner to fully fluent • A big mix of ages with attendees at each event from 18 to 70+years old • Topic cards on the tables to help start conversations **Admission fee €7** (€1 off for student card holders). **No pre-registration required, just show up**. Loyalty card system: Come to 5 events and the 6th is free. Over 150,000 people have attended our language exchanges to practise and improve their target language - you can too! Everyone is welcome! For more news and info check: Website: [www.languageexchangeireland.com](http://www.languageexchangeireland.com/) FB: [www.facebook.com/languageexchangeireland](http://www.facebook.com/languageexchangeireland) Instagram: [www.instagram.com/languageexchangeireland](http://www.instagram.com/languageexchangeireland) We also have the events every Thursday at River Bar on Burgh Quay at 6.30pm.

On **14th March**, we’re spending the day building. Portfolios. Personal sites. Tools. Side projects. Anything you’ve been meaning to make but kept putting off because it felt too technical. The tool is **[Lovable](https://lovable.dev/)**: describe what you want, and watch it appear. No syntax. No Stack Overflow. No, asking a developer friend for a favour. Bring a laptop. Bring an idea. Better yet, bring a friend. **This is a beginner-friendly event, no prior experience needed - All Skill levels welcome** **PLEASE REGISTER ON this link to get entry: [https://giveago.co/register/women-builders](https://giveago.co/register/women-builders)** ## What you could build A portfolio that actually shows who you are and what you do. A landing page for a project or business you’ve been sitting on. A tool that solves something annoying in your life. A website for a community, a cause, or something completely personal. Whatever you’ve been thinking about building, this is the day. **This event is celebrating Women in tech, however everyone is welcome!** **PLEASE REGISTER ON this link to get entry: [https://giveago.co/register/women-builders](https://giveago.co/register/women-builders)** ## What the day looks like 🕙 **11:00 AM** Doors open at Baseline, coffee and settling in ⚙️ **11:30 AM** Intro to Lovable and what’s possible 🚀 **12:00 PM** Build time 🍕 **1:00 PM** Lunch and conversation 🛠️ **1:30 PM** Back to building 🖥️ **3:00 PM** Show and tell: share what you made 🔚 **3:30 PM** Close No experience needed. No pressure to have a polished idea before you arrive. The only requirement is showing up. ## Our Supporter **[Lovable](https://lovable.dev)**: Lovable is the AI-powered app builder that lets you create fully functional websites and apps just by describing what you want. You will get a free month of Lovable Pro to every attendee on the day. ## **PLEASE REGISTER ON this link to get entry: [https://giveago.co/register/women-builders](https://giveago.co/register/women-builders)** ## **​Community** **​[Give(a)Go](https://giveago.co/)** is a Dublin-based builder community running hands-on technical events for ambitious people who make things. 30+ events. 1,000+ attendees. Partners include PostHog, Langchain, ElevenLabs, HubSpot and Windsurf. One rule: learning by building. **Follow us on: [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/company/giveago) \| [Instagram](https://instagram.com/giveago) \| [Website](https://giveago.co) \| [GitHub](https://github.com/giveago)** ​ *We’ll be taking photos and short video clips throughout the day for recap posts and marketing. By registering, you consent to being included. If you prefer not to appear in any photos or videos, just let one of the hosts know when you arriv*

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Dublin** **Brunch Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new restaurants in your city, together. \* Curated brunch venues with good food and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

Join us at Mastercard’s Dublin Tech Hub for Discovering Post-Quantum Cryptography, an evening dedicated to exploring how quantum technologies are reshaping the foundations of trust, privacy, and secure communications. As quantum computing advances, today’s cryptographic standards face unprecedented challenges. This event, **brought to you by Mastercard in partnership with IBM**, will bring together experts working at the forefront of quantum‑safe security, post‑quantum cryptography, and quantum key distribution to unpack what’s coming and what organizations should do now. From understanding the real‑world impact of the quantum threat to learning how industry is preparing for a post‑quantum future, this session combines strategic insight with practical perspective. Whether you work in cybersecurity, payments, data science, engineering or are simply curious about how quantum will redefine digital trust, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with the future of cryptography. **Why attend?** * **Hear from quantum and cryptography experts**: Gain insight from specialists shaping post‑quantum standards, quantum‑safe systems, and real‑world security applications. * **Understand the quantum security challenge**: Explore how quantum computing threatens existing cryptographic models - and what “harvest now, decrypt later” means in practice. * **Discover Mastercard’s approach**: Learn how Mastercard is actively preparing for the quantum era through research, standards leadership, and industry collaboration. * **Connect with the quantum ecosystem**: Network with innovators, researchers, technologists, and security leaders working to make our digital economy quantum‑safe in Ireland and beyond. **Speakers:** **[Kerem Varici](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerem-var%C4%B1c%C4%B1-93700379/) & [John Beric](https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-beric-54657092/) (Mastercard) – Preparing payments for a post-quantum world** Kerem and John bring together the foundations of post-quantum cryptography with the practical realities of EMV and payment card technology. This session bridges emerging PQC algorithms with what they could mean for chip-based payments, highlighting why the industry should be thinking about quantum readiness now. **[Jason Flood](https://www.linkedin.com/in/securityatibm/)** & **[Liher Elgezabal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/liherelgezabal/) (IBM) with Mastercard – IBM Quantum Safe proof of concept** Jason and Lihir will join Mastercard to present a live proof of concept using IBM Quantum Safe Explorer. This session demonstrates how organisations can begin assessing their quantum readiness today through code analysis that identifies cryptographic hygiene issues and highlights potential vulnerabilities as we move toward quantum-safe environments. **[Dr Hazel Murray](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazel-ms-murray/) (Munster Technological University - Quantum Physics: Unlocking the next generation of security** Dr Hazel Murray will explore how quantum physics is transforming cybersecurity - from the potential to break today's encryption standards to enabling the next generation of quantum-safe security. Her session frames the scientific foundations behind the shift and why organisations must prepare now.

**Join us on March 12 for the next Stripe Dublin meetup. This is an in-person event for anyone building with Stripe. An evening focused on Stripe user experiences, product insights, best practices, and community.** 🍕🍺 **Perks** Food, drink provided! **🎫 Tickets** There is a hard limit for RSVP :) Wait list will be operating on Meetup. **📍Location** The event is hosted at Stripe's Dublin offices, Fitzwilton House, Wilton Pl, Dublin, 2 · Dublin, ie **🕚 Rough timings** * 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Doors open with refreshments * 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Talks and Q&A * 8:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Drinks, food, and networking **📣 Talks** 1\. Code for success with Stripe and Temporal \- **Simon Emms, Temporal** 2. **Anna Spysz Developer Advocate, Stripe** Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the Stripe community. [Stripe developer code of conduct.](https://stripe.com/legal/developer-code-of-conduct)

**Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll build an agentic commerce solution and explore how AI agents can discover products and complete payments using Stripe.** **About** Experience a hands-on workshop designed for developers interested in the future of AI-driven commerce and agentic payments. This workshop is the very first time this content has ever been delivered. It is a pilot workshop for Stripe Sessions, and attendees will get early access to technology and workflows that are still very new inside Stripe. The way customers discover and purchase products is shifting from traditional search to LLM-powered agents. In this workshop, you’ll customize an AI agent to become an intelligent shopping assistant capable of discovering products and completing transactions. **Through practical exercises, you will:** * Customize an AI agent for commerce workflows * Implement Shared Payment Tokens (SPT) using the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) * Enable secure payment credential handoff from an AI agent to Stripe * Process payments and perform risk evaluation through Stripe * Build a complete end-to-end agentic commerce experience Because this is a pilot workshop, the content is evolving and highly experimental. Participants will be among the first developers anywhere to build an agentic commerce integration with Stripe. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a fully functioning agentic commerce solution complete with code, equipping you with the skills to build next-generation AI-powered buying experiences. **Attendance & Invitations** ⚡ This is a small, invite-only workshop designed for a very limited group of developers. To keep the session highly interactive, attendance is restricted to a small number of participants, and admission is **by invitation only**. To request an invitation: 1. Join the waitlist to express your interest 2. We will review all waitlist requests 3. Selected participants will be moved to the confirmed list 4. You will receive confirmation once your spot is approved. **Please wait for confirmation before making plans — only confirmed attendees will be admitted.** This approach allows us to create a focused, collaborative workshop environment and ensure the best possible experience for participants. **Schedule** **1:00PM – 1:15PM — Arrival & Welcome** Arrive, grab coffee and refreshments, and make sure you're set up and ready to go. **1:15PM – 4:00PM — Hands-on Workshop** Introduction to agentic commerce and AI-driven purchasing. You'll build a working agentic commerce solution including: * AI agent customization * Agentic Commerce Protocol setup * Shared Payment Token creation * Payment flows through Stripe * End-to-end testing **4:00PM – 4:30PM — Wrap-up & Networking** Wrap up the workshop and connect with Stripe Solution Architects and Developer Advocates. **Requirements** This workshop is designed for developers interested in building AI-powered commerce experiences and agentic payment workflows. Developers should be comfortable with: * Basic JavaScript fundamentals * Using a terminal or command line * Working with APIs * Basic web development concepts No prior AI or Stripe experience is required. **What You'll Need** Laptop and charging cables — no Chromebooks or tablets Code editor and ability to download and install necessary tools Required software: * IDE such as VS Code * Node.js * curl

One night. Real People. Zero Swiping. Being single has never looked so good! Whether you're newly single, happily single or simply open to seeing what's out there - Our events are the perfect place to meet new people in a fun, relaxed and pressure free environment. No swiping, no awkward musical chairs. Just a bar with plenty of single people and possibilities. You can, of course, come just to socialise, have fun and make new friends. As there will be wristbands indicating who’s single and who’s not. After all, single people need wingmen and wingwomen. Am I right? Have a great night socialising while supporting a great cause. Charity is Dogs Angels Ireland. **For details on this event and to get your ticket, click on Eventbrite link:** https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/singles-social-mixer-prosecco-on-arrival-nyx-hotel-portobello-tickets-1984229723517?aff=oddtdtcreator **Important information:** Strict ticket event. This is a private event and proceeds go to charity. Tickets will be scanned at check in. **Do not show up without an Eventbrite ticket.** Get your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/singles-social-mixer-prosecco-on-arrival-nyx-hotel-portobello-tickets-1984229723517?aff=oddtdtcreator RSVPs are not a true representation of the people attending. By joining this event, you accept our T&Cs, check them out on our website: Yinyangevents.ie **[Follow us on Insta: Yinyangeventsireland](https://www.instagram.com/yinyangeventsireland/)**

**🌍 Friends Quiz – Two Rounds, 100 Questions** Could we *BE* any more ready for this? 😎 Enjoy a full night dedicated to one of the most iconic sitcoms ever. We’ll run **two independent quizzes of 50 questions each**: Round 1: 19:30–20:15 Round 2: 20:30–21:15 Join one or both. No repeated questions between rounds. ### ✨ Quiz Structure (Each Round) • 30 General episode questions (across all seasons) • 10 Character questions *(Double Points)* • 10 Quotes questions *(Double Points)* 🏆 **Sitcoms League 2026** Each time your team attends a sitcom quiz, your score is saved. Scores accumulate throughout the year, and the winning team receives: Custom jerseys for all members, featuring: • Team name • Team photo • Title: **“Sitcom Champions 2026”** **🤝 Teams & Format** • Groups of **4–6** form their own team • Groups of **1–3** are matched with others • Arrive by **19:00** for smooth team formation • Latecomers join the team with the lowest score • **Fries for every table** • **Top 3 teams** win prizes • The winning team gets **free entry to any upcoming quiz** **💸 Pricing** **Per Round:** €7 individual • €5 groups of 2–3 • €4 groups of 4–6 **Both rounds:** +€2 extra **💳 [Membership Options (Save € & unlock perks)](https://buymeacoffee.com/newindublin)** **🟡 Regular Membership (€12/mo)** ✔ Free: Singles, Language Exchange, International Meetup ✔ –50%: Quizzes, Big Singles, Theme Party, Cultural Mix, Social Games, Music Challenge ✔ Extra perks **🔵 Theme Membership (€15/mo)** ✔ Free: Quizzes, Big Singles, Theme Party, Cultural Mix, Social Games, Music Challenge ✔ –50%: Singles, Language Exchange, International Meetup ✔ Extra Perks **🟣 Complete Membership (€20/mo)** ✔ Free access to ALL events ✔ Extra Perks **📱 Stay Connected** 🔗 **[Linktree](https://linktr.ee/newindublin)**[ ](https://linktr.ee/newindublin)– full weekly calendar 💬 **[WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/L8IcUuQzHVVLGaoUZ8ONRt)**[ ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/L8IcUuQzHVVLGaoUZ8ONRt)– reminders & updates 📘 **[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/newindublinmeetup)**[ ](https://www.facebook.com/newindublinmeetup)– photos & highlights 📸 **[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/newindublinmeetups/)**[ ](https://www.instagram.com/newindublinmeetups/)– stories & behind-the-scenes 🌐 **[Website](https://newindublin.net/)**[ ](https://newindublin.net/)– all information about our events

**NEW DETAILS! SEE BELOW FOR LUNCH PLANS AND MOVIE TIME!** **Monday, March 24** Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – One Loudoun 20575 East Hampton Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147 Can’t make the **March 16 early screening**? No worries — the universe has provided a **second launch window**. Join Liane and your DTs friends for another opportunity to see *Project Hail Mary*, this time at **Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in One Loudoun** — with lunch beforehand! ### Lunch **Matchbox – One Loudoun** 44720 Thorndike Street, Ashburn **12:30 PM** [https://www.matchboxrestaurants.com/one-loudoun](https://www.matchboxrestaurants.com/one-loudoun) We’ll gather for lunch before heading over to the theater. Matchbox offers wood-fired pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and more — a perfect place to fuel up before our mission. ### Movie **Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – One Loudoun** 20575 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn **2:10 PM showing** [https://drafthouse.com/theater/one-loudoun](https://drafthouse.com/theater/one-loudoun) Tickets are **discounted on Tuesdays — just $7**. You may purchase tickets in advance or buy them at the theater to avoid the online convenience fee. Participants are welcome to join us for **lunch, the movie, or both**. Whether you missed the first launch or just want another trip into deep space, here’s your chance to gather with your tribe and help save the universe.

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

**DC Service Jam is back.** This March, SD:DC is hosting the DC edition of Global Service Jam 2026 week. We are part of a worldwide movement of designers, strategists, and curious minds who come together to build real service concepts from scratch. From **Saturday March 14 to Sunday March 15**, you'll work in a small team around a secret theme revealed at kick-off. No briefs, no client. Just hands-on design, rapid prototyping, and plenty of Post-its. This year we're bringing AI into the mix. Throughout the weekend we'll look at how AI tools can support service design work, as a sensemaking tool, to build artifacts faster, and to push prototypes further. **WHAT TO EXPECT** **Saturday March 14th** * **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast (theme reveal + team formation) * **10am - 6pm:** full day of research, ideation, and prototyping (meals provided) * **6:30pm (optional):** social / happy hour (nearby bar) **Sunday March 15th** * **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast * **10am - 12pm:** finalize prototyping & storytelling * **12pm - 2pm:** present your work and share what DC made with the world **WHO SHOULD COME** You don't need to be a service designer. If you're a UX or product designer, strategist, public servant, researcher, or just someone curious about how services actually work, you're welcome here. **LOGISTICS** * **Dates:** Saturday March 14th & Sunday 15th (ending at 2pm) * **Venue:** SteamPunk, McLean, VA * **Capacity:** 50 spots only (first come, first served) * **Attendee fee:** $60\* (covers meals, materials, and space) *\* If the fee is a barrier for you, we have a limited number of discounted tickets available, just reach out to Sergio Venegas directly for a code.* **WHAT TO BRING** ✔️ An open mind and a willingness to make things ✔️ Laptop and charger ✔️ Curiosity about Service Design (no experience needed) **Follow SD:DC on LinkedIn and @DCServiceJam on Instagram for updates!** \*\*\* Many thanks to our host and sponsor, **SteamPunk** *Design. Disrupt, Repeat. Steampunk is anchored by a startup culture with a customer-centered delivery approach. We put our Federal government clients in the center of everything we design, develop, and deliver to drive high quality mission impacts and user experiences at speed.*

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

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Hidden Cleopatra,”** an excavation through myth and slander to uncover the real Egyptian queen, with Jacquelyn Williamson, an Egyptologist and associate professor of archaeology and ancient art at George Mason University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-hidden-cleopatra2](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-hidden-cleopatra2) .] Depictions of Cleopatra are abundant in popular culture. A long list of painters have depicted her, Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian have posed as her, and Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor famously portrayed her in Hollywood films. At the end of the day, however, what most of us think we know about Cleopatra is wrong, the product of the ancient Rome’s “fake news” and anti-Egypt propaganda. Learn about the real Cleopatra—and how our understanding of her came to be so distorted—with Professor Jacquelyn Williamson, scholar of women and power in ancient Egypt, teacher of courses on ancient Egyptian art and archaeology, and author of *Nefertiti’s Sun Temple: A New Cult Complex at Tell el-Amarna.* Dr. Williamson will walk us through how the first Roman emperor, Octavian, created the distorted image of Cleopatra as seductress that we know today as part of his political scheming to defeat his rival Antony and end the Roman Republic once and for all. Cleopatra has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since. William Shakespeare later relied on ancient Roman sources such as Horace and Plutarch in writing *Antony and Cleopatra*, and his play helped give rise to countless other works offering a distorted picture of her. Professor Williamson argues that “Cleopatra was a human being, like you and I,” and “deserves the dignity of being represented as accurately as possible.” Her efforts to set the record straight have met frustration, however—after being extensively interviewed for the recent Netflix historical docuseries Queen Cleopatra, she concluded that it, too, had missed the mark. You’ll gain a much deeper appreciation of the challenges of researching and accurately depicting the ancient past from Dr. Williamson, who also has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley and is involved with an ongoing archaeological investigation of Queen Nefertiti’s sun temple. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Layla Taj portrays Cleopatra VII as part of an Egyptian Cultural Performing Arts Society production. (Photo by Amos Gvili / Wikimedia Commons.)

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – March 11th Business Presentation** **Featuring CPR Lifeline** **Wednesday \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for another impactful morning at 1 Million Cups Loudoun as we welcome **CPR Lifeline** to the stage. ## **About the Business** CPR Lifeline is dedicated to providing **Adult and Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and AED training** to individuals and organizations throughout the community. Their mission is simple yet powerful: equip people with the life-saving skills and confidence needed to respond in emergencies. They offer training for schools, workplaces, community organizations, and individuals — helping ensure more people are prepared when it matters most. ## **Who CPR Lifeline Is Looking to Hear From** They are especially eager to receive feedback from: * Schools (teachers, staff, administrators) * Parents, caregivers, and childcare professionals * Local businesses and community organizations * Workplaces requiring OSHA-compliant training * Public safety professionals * Members of the American Red Cross training network If you are connected to any of these groups, your insight could be incredibly valuable. ## **Current Business Focus & Barrier** CPR Lifeline’s biggest challenge right now is balancing **growth and marketing efforts** with day-to-day operations. As a small business, managing teaching, scheduling, administrative responsibilities, and outreach simultaneously makes scaling difficult. They are seeking feedback and ideas around: * Increasing visibility within the community * Building strategic partnerships * Streamlining operations * Expanding outreach to schools and organizations Additional support and collaboration could help them reach more individuals and organizations with life-saving training. ## **Why Attend?** * Learn about a business that directly impacts community safety * Provide meaningful feedback to help scale a mission-driven company * Connect with local educators, business leaders, and community partners * Be part of a solutions-focused entrepreneurial conversation **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for a morning that could help strengthen both a local business and our community’s preparedness. We look forward to seeing you there.