What the Tech, Bend?

AI Hot Seat Roundtable: What's Actually Working (And What Isn't)

Tue, Jul 14 · 4:00 PM PDT

TBA, Bend, OR, US

Bend isn’t just a mountain town anymore. It’s quietly becoming home to serious founders, operators, advisors, functional leaders, and AI builders figuring out where AI actually creates value.

This event brings together founders, operators, functional leaders, and advisors making real AI decisions across companies of all sizes. We’re running structured hot seats where participants bring real AI decisions affecting their company, team, product, customers, or workflow.

This is an invite-only gathering of people in the Great Bend Area actively using, building, advising on, or making decisions about AI. If you’re trying to figure out where AI actually helps your business, team, customers, product, or workflow, this is your room.

We’ll operate under Chatham House Rule: you can use the ideas, but you can’t attribute comments to individuals. This exists so people can discuss real business issues openly.

We’ll also make curated introductions before and after the hot seats so you meet the people most relevant to what you’re building, testing, deciding, or trying to figure out.

We'll connect you with the people working on AI in Bend — who's here, what they're building, and where collaboration makes sense. $25 all in.

## What to Expect

Curated introductions before and after: We match you with the right people based on what you're working on and what you need. No awkward networking — just targeted conversations with founders, operators, and advisors who can actually help.

Three-stage hot seat format:

• Real Decision Presentation: One participant presents a real AI decision, challenge, experiment, or implementation problem. The decision in front of them, what's at stake, what makes it hard.
• Pressure Testing: The table asks clarifying questions. No advice yet. We uncover assumptions, constraints, blind spots, and the real decision underneath the surface issue.
• Structured Advice Round: Experienced operators share what they'd actually do based on what they've seen work (or fail).

Chatham House Rule: You can use the ideas, but you can't attribute comments to individuals. This exists so real business challenges — not sanitized versions — can be discussed openly.

## Why Attend

• Practical advice on real AI decisions
• Better perspective on what’s actually working, failing, or overhyped
• Candid input from people using AI across products, teams, workflows, and companies
• Curated introductions to relevant people in the room
• A stronger sense of where AI creates leverage, confusion, or risk
• A high-signal room without the performative AI nonsense

## Who Should Apply

Anyone seriously working with AI, including founders, operators, product leaders, marketers, consultants, advisors, investors, and functional leaders.

You do not need to be a software engineer.

This is an invitation-only event with a simple application process. We're curating for diverse perspectives and genuine challenges, not just success stories.

Ready to share a hot seat topic or just help solve on? Fill out the form at https://forms.gle/ULfpxwmNuS9pjuQw7.

### Format

A 60-minute facilitated roundtable discussion starting at 430pm with curated introductions before and after.

### Tickets

$25

## Need a break on ticket price?

Whether you're between jobs, a student or have your own good reason, we've got you covered. Contact John McMahon at jpmcmahon@gmail.com to learn about our flex ticket program.

## Sponsors

Presented by… your company?

We're bringing on a founding partner for the AI Hot Seat series. Our sponsors don't buy ads. They become part of the community. If getting in a room with senior operators, founders, and advisors making real AI decisions sounds like your kind of thing, let's talk: jpmcmahon@gmail.com.

## About What the Tech, Bend?

What the Tech, Bend? is Central Oregon's premier tech community — 900 members strong, with an average of 15+ years of professional experience. We host curated events that bring together the region's most experienced builders, operators, and advisors. Bend is the mountain town where serious work happens in an unserious setting.

Help put Bend on the map as a place where serious AI conversations actually happen. Space is intentionally limited.

The Non-Salesperson's Guide to Closing Deals

Tue, Jul 21 · 5:30 PM PDT

EMBARK, 2843 NW Lolo Ave, Bend, OR, US

Most people don't lose deals because their product isn't good enough. They lose them because nobody ever taught them how to sell.

Todd Laurence has spent 30 years closing some of the largest deals in enterprise software history. Eight-figure contracts at Oracle. The largest enterprise deal in Cloudera's history. 50%+ quarter-over-quarter bookings growth as VP of Global Sales at Avidbots. He's built global sales organizations, turned around underperforming teams, and helped early-stage startups find their first customers — all without ever fitting the stereotype of a "salesperson."

As Managing Director of Thimble Peak Advisors and a former adjunct sales and entrepreneurship instructor at OSU-Cascades, Todd now teaches founders, operators, and builders how to do the same.

In this talk, Todd will show you how the conversations you're already having — with customers, partners, and peers — can turn into projects, partnerships, and ongoing collaboration. No scripts. No pressure tactics. Just a practical, honest framework for turning genuine relationships into closed business.

You'll leave knowing why you're already selling, how to move conversations toward commitments, and what separates operators who close from those who don't.

Todd's career spans Oracle, Cloudera, i2 Technologies, and Avidbots. He holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and a degree in Economics from Princeton.

## What to Expect

• 60-minute talk followed by Q&A
• Curated introductions before and after the talks, so you walk in knowing exactly who you should meet and why
• Food and drinks while the conversations keep going
• A room where serious work happens in an unserious setting

### The Curation Is the Differentiator

We use a matching algorithm that ingests public and private attendee inputs to surface the three most valuable connections for each person in the room. Everyone walks in knowing who they should talk to and why. No awkward cold networking. Just tighter, more productive conversations with the right people.'
Presentation slides will be shared with all attendees

### Format

A two-hour evening starting at 5:30 PM with curated introductions, a 60-minute talk, and networking over food and drinks.

### Tickets

$22 (early bird) | $28 (regular)
Early bird pricing ends Tuesday, July 14

## Need a break on ticket price?

Whether you're between jobs, a student or have your own good reason, we've got you covered. Contact John McMahon at jpmcmahon@gmail.com to learn about our flex ticket program.

## Sponsors

Presented by Codingscape — a custom software development company partnering with high-growth companies and enterprises to accelerate technology roadmaps by building world-class software, Buzztag — a promotional marketing agency focused on creating passion for your brand — and — Embark Coworking — a coworking community rooted in Bend's outdoor industry, bringing together a diverse mix of organizations and individuals.

Ready to support something awesome?
Our sponsors don't buy ads. They become part of the community. If that sounds like the right fit for your company, let's chat.

## About What the Tech, Bend?

What the Tech, Bend? is Central Oregon's premier tech community — 900 members strong, with an average of 15+ years of professional experience. We host curated events that bring together the region's most experienced builders, operators, and advisors. Bend is the mountain town where serious work happens in an unserious setting.

Come learn how to close deals from someone who's done it at the highest levels and is now in our backyard.

Happy Hour with Tech Professionals

Wed, Jul 29 · 5:30 PM PDT

Crux Fermentation Project, 50 SW Division St, Bend, OR, US

Are you exhausted from refreshing the Les Schwab Amphitheater summer lineup, sick of debating whether the Deschutes is finally warm enough for the first float of the season, and looking for a reason to meet up with like-minded people?!

Let's make the most of this time by connecting over a beer or your favorite brewery drink.

Whether you're deep in the tech world or just tech-curious, if you're in Bend and want real conversations with interesting people, you belong here. Bring a friend, bring a coworker, or come solo and leave with new connections. No presentations, no sales pitches. Just good people and good conversation.

We'll gather at the indoor communal tables to the right of the main bar.

## Need a break on ticket price?

Whether you're between jobs, a student or have your own good reason, we've got you covered. Contact John McMahon at jpmcmahon@gmail.com to learn about our flex ticket program.

## Sponsors

Presented by… your company?
We're bringing on a founding partner for the happy hours. Our sponsors don't buy ads. They become part of the community. If getting in a room with senior operators, founders, and advisors sounds like your kind of thing, let's talk: [jpmcmahon@gmail.com](mailto:jpmcmahon@gmail.com).

## About What the Tech, Bend?

What the Tech, Bend? is Central Oregon's premier tech community — 900 members strong, with an average of 15+ years of professional experience. We host curated events that bring together the region's most experienced builders, operators, and advisors. Bend is the mountain town where serious work happens in an unserious setting.