Technology

🍺 Come join us for our exciting New Year networking event at **The Refinery Regent's Place**! Let's talk about what's coming in tech in 2026 between founders and investors. **The City Network** event is the ultimate networking opportunity for professionals in the city. Connect with like-minded founders, meet potential investors, learn from industry experts, and expand your network. Don't miss out on this chance to grow your career and make valuable connections. See you there! We will be sharing ideas and insights about our key vision and values of the community: **Impact**, **Innovation**, and **Sustainability**. As part of the global **The 90 Members' Club** community, we will be working closely with young entrepreneurs and investors, bringing you the best content and events making London the hub for growth. 🙌🏻 The City Network event series is Free to attend!

PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at https://www.ecommercenetworking.com/ The London Ecommerce & A.I. Network committee would like to extend you an invitation to our January 2026 Mayfair Networking Reception to be held in the private lounge of the the famous Brook Mews Wine House - and hope you can join us for after-work drinks, canapés and productive networking to make new contacts and ideas for 2026. We now have over 8000 diverse and relevant London members so it’s the perfect opportunity for making new third sector connections. See photos from our latest events at https://www.instagram.com/ecommercenetworking/ PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at https://www.ecommercenetworking.com/ ALSO PLEASE NOTE we take most of our event bookings through our website and EventBrite so the numbers booked is much larger than displayed on this Meetup page (normally about 40-60 guests).

Come and join us on day to hear about and try this new stem cell activation patch X39. Fututre technology now !! Be younger. Feel younger.

PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at https://www.londonfintechs.com/ The London Fintechs Committee would like to extend you an invitation to our January 2026 Networking Reception to be held in the private lounge of the famous Brooks Mews Wine House and hope you can join us for after-work drinks, their canapés and productive business networking to make new contacts and deals for 2026. We now have over 4000 diverse and relevant London members so it’s the perfect opportunity for making new business connections. See photos from our latest events at https://www.londonfintechs.com/ PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at https://www.londonfintechs.com/ ALSO PLEASE NOTE we take most of our event bookings through our website and EventBrite so the numbers booked is much larger than displayed on this Meetup page (normally about 50-80 guests).

**RSVP TO ATTEND THIS EVENT. ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND THIS EVENT..** **Welcome to Socialite Connections – Speed Networking for Film, TV, Music, and Media** Join us for an exclusive **Speed Networking for Film, TV, Music and Media**. Connect with creative professionals looking to accelerate their connections and grow their businesses. Imagine meeting and connecting with a room full of like-minded creative professionals in a fun and time efficient manner. You must book a ticket via the link: https://fatso.ma/2ZhN Book here via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/speed-networking-for-film-tv-music-and-media-at-the-coach-house-tickets-1976448565865?aff=ebdsoporgprofile **We start the event at 6.00pm with a warm welcome.** Speed Networking is a dynamic and efficient way to connect with professionals across various creative industries. Break out of your networking comfort zone and say goodbye to missed opportunities with this structured format. We have hired the private room downstairs. **The Coach House, Piccadilly -** Ideally located sandwiched between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, The Comedy Piccadilly is split over four floors. Head on over ever Friday and Saturday, as they host the Piccadilly Comedy Club, a brilliant evening full of laughs. **Event Schedule** **18:00 – 18:30 \| Welcome to the event** where your name will be checked off the guest list, you will be given a name badge and you will be introduced to each other. **18:30 – 19:30 \| Speed Networking Event Starts:** Take part in an exciting speed networking event focused on the film, TV, music, and media industries. This fast-paced environment is designed to help you make valuable connections, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities in a relaxed environment. **19:30 \- 21:00 \| Network & chill:** It will be a free form event where guests can mingle amongst each other in a relaxed environment, when the speed networking are finished. **Why Attend?** Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to expand your network and forge valuable connections on a 1-2-1 basis. With just 3 minutes per attendee, you'll get the opportunity to speak to everyone attending in a timed and structured format. Are you a filmmaker, musician, media professional, or creative entrepreneur looking to expand your network and accelerate your career? This is your ultimate chance to connect, collaborate, and create magic in just one extraordinary night! **Who Should Attend?** Connect with Film, TV, Music and Media Professionals in a relaxed setting. **Producers, Directors, Artists & Actors, Musicians & Screenwriters, Media Lawyers, Photographers & Videographers, Investors, Anyone interested in Film, Media, TV, and Music Industry.** **Tickets are limited to just 40 attendees.** We like to make sure everyone gets the opportunity to talk to each other. You must book a ticket via the link: https://fatso.ma/2ZhN Book here via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/speed-networking-for-film-tv-music-and-media-at-the-coach-house-tickets-1976448565865?aff=ebdsoporgprofile You are invited to join the dedicated Whatsapp group for the event and start networking before the actual event. Register now to secure your spot and be part of this transformative networking experience! **Tickets need to be bought online in advance to attend this event. Tickets are not available at the door.** **Refund policy: There is no refund at this event. Your ticket can be reassigned to another person of your choice.**

**Welcome to Networx London!** Are you a tech professional, digital innovator, or IT leader looking to connect with others driving the future of technology and business? Join us for a relaxed and engaging evening designed for innovators, leaders, and changemakers in digital and IT sectors. Whether you're a product lead, developer, IT manager, investor, marketer, or aspiring founder—this is your space to meet like-minded people, exchange ideas, and spark new opportunities. We start at **6:30 PM** with a warm welcome and light icebreakers to get conversations flowing, followed by **open networking all evening**. No formal pitches—just real connections, fresh ideas, and meaningful relationships in a friendly, laid-back setting. 📍 **Venue: The Refinery Regent Place, Warren St** Located in the vibrant Regent Place area, The Refinery offers a stylish yet welcoming atmosphere perfect for networking and socializing. With its modern interiors, spacious layout, and relaxed vibe, it’s an ideal spot for after-work drinks and professional gatherings. Just a short walk from Warren Street station, it provides the perfect setting for meaningful conversations and new connections in a chic but unpretentious environment. Come join us, grab a drink, and grow your network—one great conversation at a time. 📅 **Event Schedule** **18:30 – 19:00 \| Welcome** Kick off with a warm intro and fun icebreakers to set the tone. **19:00 – 19:30 \| Meet & Greet** Mingle and network in an open, friendly setting. **19:30 – 21:30 \| Informal Networking** Free-flowing, informal networking all evening—no sales, no pressure. Just authentic connections with amazing people. 💡 **Why Attend?** **🤝 Build Valuable Connections** – Network with business leaders, investors, and professionals across London. **🚀 Unlock New Opportunities** – Discover potential partners, collaborators, or clients. **📈 Stay Informed** – Gain insights into the latest trends in tech, finance, startups, and entrepreneurship. This event is perfect for anyone seeking to expand their professional circle, grow their business, or gain fresh perspectives from a dynamic mix of professionals. 👥 **Who’s coming?** This event is ideal for digital entrepreneurs, IT professionals, tech innovators, marketers, investors, product managers, creatives, and anyone curious about the future of digital transformation and technology. **🎟 Tickets & Entry:** o avoid the venue getting overcrowded and ensure everyone enjoys an amazing night, we've introduced a small ticket price to keep things running smoothly. 📸 **Event Photography:** Please note that photos and videos may be taken for promotional purposes. **Note**: Proof of ID required for alcoholic beverages. 18+ only. 🔗 \*\*Join our WhatsApp group to connect before and after the event:\*\*👉 [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg "https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg")

We're starting the year with a few off the cuff talks improving Azure before we get into our regular cadence. We have a 15 minutes confirmed talk on the Azure Foundry Agent Service and a new open source project you can get involved in called the Corporate Uselessness Index. We're looking for an additional 2 further talks on any topic to do with Azure, very lightweight and funny, something you can improv. Beer and pizza as always!

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **If you are already registered in Luma: [https://luma.com/u2x2ysie](https://luma.com/u2x2ysie) please do not register again.** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **This event runs in a hybrid format: face to face and online.** **​**\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Who is this for?** ​Relational databases and SQL remain the foundation of nearly all modern software systems, from web apps and SaaS platforms to analytics pipelines. *​Students, developers, and anyone interested in getting started with the theory and practice of relational databases, SQL, Supabase, and Python.* **​Who is leading the session?** ​The session is led by **Dr. Stelios Sotiriadis**, CEO of Warestack, Associate Professor and MSc Programme Director at Birkbeck, University of London. His expertise includes cloud computing, distributed systems, data engineering, and AI engineering. ​*Stelios holds a PhD from the University of Derby, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto, and has worked with Huawei, IBM, Autodesk, and several startups. Since 2018 he has taught at Birkbeck and, in 2021, founded Warestack, building software for startups globally.* **​What we’ll cover** ​A practical introduction to the core concepts of relational databases, including how to build and manage databases using SQL and modern tools like Supabase and Python. ​**You will learn:** * ​What relational databases are and why they matter * ​SQL fundamentals * ​Joins, constraints, keys, indexing, and schemas * ​Hands-on database design and normalisation * ​Using Supabase as a modern PostgreSQL backend * ​Querying databases with Python * ​Building a simple CRUD application ​**Requirements** * ​A laptop with Python (Windows, macOS, or Linux) * ​Visual Studio Code installed * ​Python pip installed * ​A free Supabase account * ​Basic internet access ​If you don’t have a suitable laptop, you may use the lab computers. ​ **Why Supabase and Python?** ​Supabase has become one of the most popular modern PostgreSQL platforms, widely adopted by startups and developers for its speed and simplicity. Python is one of the most used programming languages in the world, especially for data and backend development. Together, they form a highly popular and practical stack for building real applications. **Format** ​A 2-hour live session including: * ​Interactive theory * ​Hands-on SQL practice * ​Step-by-step coding exercises **Prerequisites** ​You should be comfortable writing simple Python scripts (basic to intermediate level). No prior SQL experience is required.

🎟️ **Get tickets: [https://lu.ma/ai-builders](https://lu.ma/ai-builders)** 🎟️ ☝️This is a free meetup however a Luma ticket is required! **Join our meetup for AI engineers & founders!** We share the latest insights about: *AI dev tools, Agent frameworks, RAG pipelines, automation hacks, Cursor/Claude code hacks, and new gen-AI models.* ​\*\*:: FOR WHO ::\*\* ✅ Anyone actively building with Generative AI ✅ Devs, Product peeps, Data lovers, ML engineers, Founders ⚠️Technical LLM knowledge required!\* ​ :: **FORMAT** :: * ​💻⚡️ **Speed Demos** (10 min) Builders share real-world AI solutions and how it's built. Including code, prompts & architecture examples! * ​**🎤 🦄 Pioneer Talks** (20 min) Inspiring talk/demo from emerging Gen-AI leaders from Europe or Silicon Valley * ​**🤝🍕🍻 Informal Vibes** Lots of time to network with other builders over some yummy pizza & drinks. ​\*\*:: AGENDA ::\*\* 17:30 **🤝** Walk-in 18:00 **🍕** Pizza (be early!) 18:30 **🎤** Pioneer Speaker 19:00 ---- 💬 BREAK TIME ----- 19:30 💻 Demo (TBA) ​19.45 💻 Demo (TBA) 20.00 🍻 Drinks 21.00 End ​ **:: FAQ ::** • What is **AI Builders?** A self-organizing nonprofit community of 3000+ AI nerds🤓. and yes.. we're building a democratic AI CEO and run on [opencollective.com](http://opencollective.com/aibuilders) donations. • **Can I demo, give a talk, or just help out?** Message Arthur [(+31636570260)](https://aib.club/whatsapp-arthurp) in case you want to shine✨ on stage and grow your network! • \***I'm not technical. Can I come?** Yes! To fully enjoy the meetup, we recommend chatting with AI to understand these basic LLM concepts: *Multimodal, Vector Embeddings, RAG, Chaining, Structured JSON Output, Function Calling, API calls, Knowledge Graphs, Reinforcement Learning, Fine-tuning, AI Agents.* • **Why hangout at AI Builders?** * NETWORKING: Connect with 80+ technical attendees and a larger community of 3000+ across Europe * ​LATEST KNOW-HOW: We focus on innovative AI demos + slides with diagrams, code/prompt examples. * ​FUN: a lot of time to chill, 10min demos, informal good vibes! **​Location** We look forward to hang out with you: 207 Old St, London EC1V 9NR, United Kingdom It's close to the Old Street Tube Station **Thanks to our friends at [Beyond](https://www.wearebeyond.work/beyond-the-bower)** ![]()🎟️ **Get tickets: [https://lu.ma/ai-builders](https://lu.ma/ai-builders)** 🎟️ ☝️This is a free meetup however a Luma ticket is required!

Join us on Wednesday, 14th January 2026 for our first meetup of the year: an AWS re:Invent 2025 Recap & Discussion. NOTE: REGISTRATION ENDS ON THE MONDAY 12th OF JAN. We need to provide numbers to the venue 48 hrs in advance. re:Invent is always packed with announcements, deep dives, and more sessions than any one person can keep up with. This event is your chance to cut through the noise and get a recap from our very own community organiser - [Jon Topper](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtopper). **What to expect** * The announcements and topics he found most interesting * The things that didn’t live up to the hype * Real-world thoughts on what’s useful now vs. “maybe later” * How some of the new services/features might affect the way we build on AWS Rather than a one-way “lecture,” we want this to be interactive and conversational, so after Jon’s recap, we’ll open things up with: * Share your own highlights (whether you attended in person, watched online, or just followed the news) * A chance to discuss what your teams might actually adopt in 2026 – and what you’ll probably ignore If you’ve ever finished re:Invent week thinking, “OK… but what really matters for us?” this is the session for you. Whether you’re brand new to AWS or very experienced, you’re welcome – just bring your curiosity and your questions. RSVP to secure your spot, and feel free to share this event with colleagues. As always, there will be networking with drinks and food after the main sessions. A big thank you to our sponsors [The Scale Factory](https://www.scalefactory.com/) and [Cloudscaler](www.cloudscaler.com). And thank you to [Vorboss](https://vorboss.com) for hosting us! **Programme:** **18:00:** Arrival, registration **18:15:** Talks start **20:00:** Networking with food and a drink provided by the generosity of our sponsors. If you are interested in speaking at one of our events please check out our [call for papers here](https://awsuguk.org/call-for-papers/). We are advocates for greater inclusion & diversity in UK Tech and are especially keen to receive talk submissions from people in underrepresented groups. If you are interested in speaking at a future meetup but would like to discuss what to expect or need assistance please contact our Inclusion & Diversity Lead Natalie Gray - graynataliej@gmail.com or DM her [@natjgray](https://twitter.com/natjgray) Check out our [website](https://awsuguk.org) for more information about our community. Remember to follow us [@AWSUserGroupUK](https://twitter.com/AWSUserGroupUK) and on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/aws-ug-uk) for the latest updates and you can find videos of our past meetups on [YouTube](http://bit.ly/2dZnvEE). If you want to chat with other members, join our [Community Discord Server](https://discord.gg/yMa8Rvtsmy).

In this session, we’ll explore how **AI** can enhance your **React app development** workflow. Whether you're a **junior developer** or just starting out, this workshop will introduce you to **best practices** for building **React applications**, including how to integrate **REST APIs**, manage app **state**, and structure your components for long-term success. You’ll also learn how to use **AI tools** to generate code snippets, troubleshoot issues, and automate repetitive tasks, making the development process faster and more efficient. 🧪 **What You’ll Learn:** * **React Development Best Practices**: Core principles for structuring components, managing state, and optimizing performance. * **REST API Integration**: How to efficiently connect React apps with REST APIs for dynamic data and functionality. * **State Management**: Best practices for managing app state and syncing data from APIs. * **AI Assistance**: Use AI tools like ChatGPT to speed up development, generate code, and improve overall code quality. * **Error Handling & Debugging**: Leverage AI to identify and fix common issues in your React apps. 💡 **Why It Matters:** * **Efficient Development**: Building React apps with AI assistance allows you to write cleaner, faster code while reducing errors. * **API Integration**: Mastering API integration is essential for creating dynamic and data-driven applications. * **AI-Powered Tools**: AI tools like ChatGPT enhance your productivity by automating repetitive tasks, debugging code, and improving your development process. 👨‍💻 **Who Should Attend:** * **Juniors** and **new graduates** eager to learn **React app development** and how AI tools can help. * **Non-tech people** curious about the development process and how AI tools are shaping modern web development. * **Developers** looking to streamline their **React development workflow** with AI-powered assistance. 🕓 **Schedule:** * 18:15 - Networking * 18:20 - Program starts * 19:05 - Q&A - networking * 19:15 - End

For our January meetup, we're back at the fabulous Accurx offices. We are finalising our full speaker lineup and the agenda will be: * 6:30pm - arrive, drinks, networking * 7:00pm - Welcome & Housekeeping * 7:15pm - **Talk 1: Measuring your Platform Engineering impact** Platform Engineering is gaining traction, but its value is often lost in translation. To engineering teams, it means golden paths and reusable pipelines. But how do you make its impact resonate with a CEO, a Head of Product, or even Security and Change Management? In this talk, Christopher will explore how the same platform capabilities, such as environments as a service and Continuous Delivery pipelines, can move the needle for different types of stakeholders. The key is choosing the right metric and telling the right story. He will share real examples from working with platform teams at large enterprises, showing how he's helped: * Explain platform engineering in the language of different stakeholders * Define outcome-based KPIs that align with each sponsor’s priorities * Track those metrics over time to demonstrate value and build accountability He will walk through: * Strategic metrics such as faster market entry and fewer launch failures * Delivery metrics such as lead time and deployment frequency * Enabling metrics such as pipeline reliability and environment readiness * Governance metrics such as change success rates, policy coverage, and audit time **Speaker: Christopher Bater, CTO @ Core Engineering Consulting Group** *Over 20 years Christopher has spent time in most areas of software delivery, product development, JVM library development (concurrency/distributed systems), Infrastructure engineering, architecture & system design and most recently Platform Engineering. He has a passion for speed and stability, focusing on what we need to do next to speed up the software delivery lifecycle. Over the years he’s contributed to many open source projects including Akka & Kubernetes.* * 7.45pm - food, more drinks & networking * 8.00pm - **Talk** **2: "TBC"** **Speaker: Lewis Denham-Parry, Staff Solutions Engineer @ Edera** *Lewis Denham-Parry orchestrates containers by day and puts them through rigorous security testing by night. As Staff Solutions Engineer at Edera, he leverages his diverse background to deliver the robust security and isolation that modern systems demand.* *A dynamic speaker at KubeCon, OSS, SANS, and BSides, Lewis enthusiastically shares his expertise with the global tech community, though his heart remains in the Welsh tech scene.* *You can easily find him online, just search for his surname.* * 8.30pm onwards - drinks and networking. So, please come and join us, we look forward to seeing you there. The LOPUG team. * Food and drinks provided * Good time will be had by all

🎉 Come along to the London Scala Talks! 🎉 In this event you'll hear from Sabrina Konrad-Lee and Joe Warren. **Agenda** 6:00pm - 🥤 Doors open. Come along and grab a drink! 6:40pm - 🗣️ Sabrina Konrad-Lee: Frameless an introduction 7:20pm - 🍕 Intermission: Join us for some free food and drinks! Vegan and vegetarian options are provided. Let us know if you'd like something special - we'd be happy to accommodate. 7:50pm - 🗣️ Joe Warren: How I Use Haskell for 3D Printing 8:30pm - 🥤 Socialising: Grab a drink and let's discuss the talks. 9:00pm - 🍻 Join us in a nearby pub to discuss the talks! **🗣️ Sabrina Konrad-Lee: Frameless an introduction** Frameless is an open source Scala library for using more expressive types with Spark. This talk will discuss the benefits to using Frameless, why some businesses might be hesitant to utilize it and how it can add business value. **⭐ Sabrina Konrad-Lee ⭐** Sabrina is an open source enthusiast with interests in functional programming, the Typelevel ecosystem and Spark. **🗣️ Joe Warren: How I Use Haskell for 3D Printing** Programmable CAD" is a category of software where objects are defined using code. This talk covers how I’ve used programable CAD to design parts for 3D printing, why I think Functional Languages are uniquely suited for programable CAD, why I decided to write a programable CAD framework, and how the Scala Logo lead me to decorate a Christmas tree. ⭐ **Joe Warren** ⭐ Joe Warren is a Haskell developer at Permutive: working on the Permutive Query language. He likes functional programming in Scala and Haskell, and using FP to design for 3d Printing. You can check out his previous talk on Lessons learnt with van Laarhoven lenses on our YouTube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7qQv898cPk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7qQv898cPk "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7qQv898cPk") ———————————————————— 🗣️ Would you like to present, but are not sure how to start? Give a talk with us and you'll receive mentorship from a trained toastmaster! Get in touch through [this form](https://forms.gle/zv5i9eeto1BsnSwe8) and we'll get you started 🏡 Interested in hosting or supporting us? Please get in touch through [this form](https://forms.gle/3SX3Bm6zHqVodBaMA) and we can discuss how you can get involved. 📜 All London Scala User Group events operate under the [Scala Community Code of Conduct](https://www.scala-lang.org/conduct/). We encourage each of you to report the breach of the conduct, either anonymously through [this form](https://forms.gle/9PMMorUWgBnbk1mm6) or by contacting one of our team members. We guarantee privacy and confidentiality, as well as that we will take your report seriously and react quickly.

This event is open to anyone who works in or is interested in the tech industry, whether you are a developer, designer, engineer, entrepreneur, student, or hobbyist. You can meet new people, share your experiences, learn from others, and find potential collaborators or mentors. Attending the brunch club also earns you [Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points](https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/how-to-get-cpd-points). CPD offers numerous benefits, including skill enhancement, career progression, and up-to-date knowledge. It helps professionals stay competent, advance in their careers, and maintain professional credibility. The event starts at Grill on the Hill, which offers a variety of dishes and beverages to suit your preferences and dietary needs. We'll group in 4's, get to know each other and enjoy fantastic food. Please note that this is a ticketed event to secure the brunch venue. Purchasing a ticket ensures admission to the event but does not include food or drink at the restaurant or the pub afterwards. Come hungry, curious, and ready to have a great time!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA

**Doing KPIs Right: a KEY to Analytics (and AI!) Impact!** On the one hand, KPIs are such a Business 101 concept that it may seem a little silly to dedicate an entire session to the topic. On the other hand, KPIs get handled so poorly so often that a case could be made that this meetup could just be one of the most impactful sessions of the entire year! We’re starting off the year at a new location: [COhatch Upper Arlington](https://www.cohatch.com/locations/columbus/upper-arlington/) but with a familiar speaker, Tim Wilson! We’ll be back at Rev1 in February, when the speaker will presumably not be Tim. Tim will make the case that effectively measuring performance of projects, campaigns, and initiatives (and even meetups!) should be a foundation for any data analytics program. Topics covered will include: the “two magic questions” of performance measurement, how to help business partners distinguish between outcomes and outputs, and effective tactics for collaboratively establishing KPI targets. He will also stick his neck out by demonstrating some of these techniques in real-time by measuring whether his talk lives up to the promise of this description! All CBUSDAW events are free thanks to our 2026 Sponsors: Clarivoy, Conductrics, What Box Consulting Group, and Piwik PRO. Check out [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com) for more information.

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group × DevOps Columbus** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS, Columbus HashiCorp User Group, and DevOps Columbus meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

## Details \#\# Learn Infrastructure\-as\-Code \(the FUN Way\) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: DevOps Columbus - Azure CBUS - Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint DevOps Columbus, Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. \#\#\# What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time \#\#\# Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐