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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

## 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](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.

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

Related topics

Events in Bend, OR

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