5 Things We Learned Running 100+ AI Meetups

We have now run AI Underground meetups every week since 2024 - starting in Dubai and growing globally. Here is what actually works.

1. Format Matters More Than Content

The best sessions were not the ones with the most impressive speaker. Open floor conversations and peer reviews outperform keynotes every single time.

2. No Pitches is a Feature, Not a Rule

We tried allowing startup pitches early on. Attendance dropped. The moment we enforced no pitches and no vendor demos, attendance went up and seniority increased.

3. Non-Technical Attendees Make It Better

Lawyers, marketers, and business people ask the questions engineers are afraid to ask.

4. WhatsApp is Where the Community Actually Lives

The meetups are the heartbeat. The WhatsApp group is the bloodstream. Without that ongoing connection between sessions, communities go cold fast.

5. Show Up Ready to Contribute

The best sessions happen when members bring one thing they are working on or one question they cannot answer.

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