Founder Groups Sydney

AI Tech & Startup Night — Sydney

**Nomad Global Hub** brings together builders, founders, and tech professionals for a night of curated networking and high-impact startup pitches. **Community Pass spots are limited — reserve yours before they're gone.** **RSVP: [Reserve your spot](https://luma.com/pntbm9fi)** With a track record of **235+ events** across **23 global cities** worldwide, we have welcomed over **5,000 attendees** and featured **1,200+ startup pitches** on our stages. We intentionally keep our meetups intimate because the best partnerships happen in focused, high-quality conversations, not in loud, overcrowded halls. **What to Expect** * **Live Tech Startup Pitches**: Watch selected early-stage founders present AI & Tech projects followed by sharp audience Q&A. * **High-Quality Networking:** Connect with a hand-picked audience of founders, investors, engineers, and tech leaders who value substance over small talk. * **Global Exposure:** Join a community that bridges **23 tech hubs worldwide**, providing you with a network that extends far beyond a single city. **Who Should Join** * Founders & Co-Founders looking for peers, feedback, investors and collaborators. * Tech Professionals & Builders seeking a high-quality community. * Ambitious Individuals ready to dive into the AI & Startup ecosystem. **For Investors** Active investors and VC partners are welcome to join the event and scout for early-stage talent, meet other investors, and see what teams are building. To access the startup database, please fill out the **[Investor Application Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUkSdbmDb_tchKrZNf2A4c6HjrPLd87Ub3W-5WPfOgsszI9Q/viewform)** and ensure you have purchased a ticket. **For Pitching Startups** Selected startups gain live stage time and visibility within our global network among our database of investors. Purchase a Speaker Ticket to pitch, submit your **[Pitch Deck](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZ1fGVQ-br2hQQnSsq7zz5XCAEvN5FfaYfJ7VSppMkujV8YQ/viewform)** and ensure it is accessible for viewers. **Nomad Global Hub \| 235\+ Events \| 23 Cities** *Note: To support our venue partner, we kindly encourage every guest to purchase at least one drink at the bar during the event.*

Some Harsh Lessons from Playing Games

Schedule --- • 19:00 - 19:30 General networking starts. Setup space, open the first. Brief Introduction Round (Who are you? What do you do?). FREE drinks • 19:30 - 20:00 What bugs you (i.e. Lean Mastermind)? • 20:00 - 21:00 Topic of the day (see speaker details below). Q & A • 21:00 - 21:15 Last drinks. Closing down. Carry on partying elsewhere. **Details** --- General get together. Share the latest news in the entrepreneurs community. Have a drink with like minded people Exchange stories from the trenches and tips on how to run a better business. **Lean Mastermind Session** --- Share a Challenge or an idea you have for your start up / business How can we help you resolve your problem or help you improve on your idea? ## **Topic of the Day: Some Harsh Lessons from Playing Games** Jonathan plays the "corporate" game. ## **Speaker of the Day: Jonathan Sharp** Jonathan started of as a chef an a cruise ship and has since pivoted so many times it makes you dizzy. Online Marketign, Writer, Escape Artist, Team Builder etc. etc. ## **Audience** Suitable for those with a growing business looking to share solutions and experience to accelerate growth and value. Bring a friend/aspiring entrepreneur. **Format** --- Casual get together/Mastermind **Sponsors** --- Thanks for [WOTSO](https://wotso.com/locations/manly) for hosting the event and Michael from https://www.magaconsult.com/about for nourishment (i.e. free drinks and nibbles). Thanks to Amazon Web Services for their ongoing support: [https://aws.amazon.com/getting-started](https://aws.amazon.com/getting-started)

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY DINNER WITH JENNI, AT YO SUSHI JAPANESE IN BEECROFT

Extreme Positivity 2.0 - Overflowing Generosity

We live in a world where bad news travels fast, fear grabs our attention, and negativity has had decades to occupy our mental real estate. What if, for once, we turned the tables? What if we flooded our surroundings with so much goodness that it became impossible not to know it, feel it, and be it? Welcome to "Extreme Positivity 2.0 - Overflowing Generosity" where we take our best finds and see what happens when we broadcast it on everyone around us. This isn't about pretending life is perfect or forcing ourselves to be happy. It's about deliberately creating hope for hope's sake, then seeing what happens when this new energy gives people permission to flourish, heal, and become positivity beacons themselves. Expect more expressions of goodness than you've ever experienced packed into 3 hours. Some of you will immediately know you need this right now as you read this invitation. Others might not realise how much they've needed it until afterwards because sometimes, the busyness of life gets in the way of noticing, appreciating and sharing good news. Because positivity isn't just something we can cultivate within ourselves. It's something we can give and multiply... **Who is this for?** * anyone surrounded by toxic environments or negative people * those who need to communicate optimism and convince others to embrace positivity, whether professionally or as a business owner * people who would benefit from connecting with a diverse network of humans working to make the world a better place in different fields **What will happen?** * exercises to discover what brings people to life and learn what makes each other tick * team challenges that turn feelings of joy, awe and ecstasy into expressions of goodness for others to experience * simulations to explore and practice the power of words, thus honing in awareness of how the way we communicate matters a lot **What will you get out of it?** * leave very, very, very positive about yourself and others * learn techniques and tools to make positivity feel more natural and become your new default * gain a greater appreciation of your own influence in the world 🎟️ This is a ticketed event. Register to attend using this link: [https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1663936](https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1663936) Ticket includes drinks, snacks and a vegetarian meal. \*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^ ***Utopia Rising*** delivers unconventional social experiences for self-improvement seekers looking to broaden their network or simply be inspired by life again. It’s a party reimagined - alcohol-free, featuring healthy plant-based food. [www.utopiarising.com.au](https://www.utopiarising.com.au) \*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^\*^

Bundeena Art Trail

WSTI Festi 2026: Build with AI Innovation Challenge x Google, Sat 7 Nov

**Overview** Solve a Parramatta city challenge or your own with AI. Build at Maker Space PHIVE with Google on Sat 7 Nov. Finalists pitch 20 Nov. **WSTI Festi 2026: Build with AI Innovation Challenge** Solve a real challenge with AI, set by City of Parramatta or one of your own, compete for prizes and pitch your solution on the festival stage. No coding background needed. If you can describe what you want to build, AI will help you build it. And we will help you gain the essential skills to use AI to achieve this. **How it works** The challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night on Thursday 5 November. Pick one of two tracks: * **City Challenge:** real-world challenges set by City of Parramatta and WSTI * **Open Innovation:** bring your own challenge, from your business, your industry or your community. Innovators, this is the place to build the idea you want to turn into a business Every team, in person or online, joins through the WSTI Festi hackathon portal, where the challenges are published and teams form. **One rule for both tracks: build from scratch.** Bring a problem or an idea, but not an existing project or product. Everything you submit must be built during the challenge, from 5 to 17 November. **Choose how you take part** * **Build Day, Sat 7 Nov, $15** (this page): at Maker Space PHIVE with Google. Antigravity sessions led by Brett Morgan, plus hands-on mentoring * **Build Day, Sat 14 Nov, $15** ([book here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-sat-14-nov-tickets-2002985253813)): at Western Sydney Startup Hub with WSTI mentors * **Online, free** ([book here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-online-tickets-2002985256822)): build from anywhere. Both Build Days give you the same two tracks and a full day to build with mentors in the room. Come to one, or book both. **Every ticket dollar goes back into the challenge:** prizes for participants, event costs and our volunteers. **From launch to the big stage** * Thu 5 Nov: the challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night * Sat 7 or Sat 14 Nov: your Learn and Build Day at Maker Space PHIVE or Western Sydney Startup Hub * Tue 17 Nov, 11:59 PM: submissions close. Submit a 90-second video pitch, a landing page and a working prototype * Thu 19 Nov, by noon: finalists announced * Fri 20 Nov: finalists pitch at the WSTI Festi Pitch Night * Sat 21 Nov: winners and finalists showcase to government, industry, business leaders, investors and local communities at the Grand Festival Day **Build Day run of the day, Sat 7 Nov** * Welcome and opening, Lailei Huang, WSTI * Google Antigravity and beginner vibe coding, Brett Morgan, Google * The two tracks: City Challenge and Open Innovation * Form or join your team on the hackathon portal * Build session 1 * Lunch break * Advanced vibe coding: creating agent skills in Antigravity, Brett Morgan, Google * Build session 2: practise and polish * Demo and feedback * What's next: submissions close Tue 17 Nov **What you get** * Hands-on time with Google Antigravity, from your first prompt to a working app * How to create agent skills, which automate the everyday tasks every business has * Mentoring from Brett Morgan and the WSTI team through both build sessions * Lunch on your Build Day (in person) * A real shot at prizes, a pitch on the festival stage and a showcase booth * Networking with Western Sydney's largest grassroots AI community, 4,000+ members strong **Who should come** You do not need a tech background. What you know about your field is the most valuable thing you can bring. * Business owners and professionals from any field, such as health, finance, education, property, trades or community services, who want the skills to create with AI * Founders and startups * University students, recent graduates and young people * Developers, designers and creatives curious about building with AI * Anyone who wants to go from "I have an idea" to "I built it" **What to bring** * A laptop (essential) * A Google account * Your own challenge for the Open Innovation track, or pick a City Challenge on the day * Joining online? A stable internet connection **With** WSTI · Investment NSW · Google · City of Parramatta · Western Sydney Startup Hub Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: [wsti.org.au/wsti-festi](https://wsti.org.au/wsti-festi) **Notice of Photography and Filming** By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Everyone is welcome, from in and around Parramatta and beyond. When you RSVP, we ask for the postcode where you live, work or study, only for our statistics. If you have one in the City of Parramatta, please use it.

WSTI Festi 2026: Opening Night

**Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival opens.** Join the people leading AI for good, from global industry to our own community. WSTI Festi 2026: Opening Night Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival opens here. Join founders, small business owners, government, AI industry and community leaders for the evening that kicks off three weeks of building, learning and celebrating the people leading AI for good in Western Sydney. Hear the global view from AI industry leaders, the local view from Parramatta's own changemakers, and how the two connect. Then be in the room as the Build with AI Innovation Challenge launches. How the night runs • 5:30 PM: Doors open, networking and light refreshments • 6:00 PM: Welcome, and the official opening of WSTI Festi by Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP, Federal Member for Parramatta • 6:10 PM: Industry panel with AI industry leaders • 6:35 PM: Community panel with civic and community leaders from Parramatta • 7:00 PM: Launch of the Build with AI Innovation Challenge • 7:15 PM: Networking until 7:30 PM Join the challenge WSTI x City of Parramatta present the Build with AI Innovation Challenge: solve a real Parramatta challenge, or bring your own, and build it with AI. No coding background needed. Pick a Build Day or take part online. Register your interest here: https://wsti.org.au/initiatives/wsti-festi-2026#programme-events Getting there Jacks Cucina, Level 3, Parramatta Leagues Club, 1 Eels Place, Parramatta. Parking on site. Proudly supported by Investment NSW · City of Parramatta · Google · Parramatta Leagues Club · Office of Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP · Western Sydney Startup Hub powered by Spacecubed Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: https://wsti.org.au/wsti-festi Notice of Photography and Filming By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Everyone is welcome, from in and around Parramatta and beyond. When you RSVP, we ask for the postcode where you live, work or study, only for our statistics. If you have one in the City of Parramatta, please use it.

WSTI Festi 2026: AI for Not-for-Profits & Community

WSTI Festi 2026: AI for Not-for-Profits & Community Curious about using AI agents to augment and automate everyday work, but not sure what that would actually look like in your organisation, or whether your team could do it? This night is for you. A well-established local not-for-profit brings a genuine everyday challenge, the kind almost every not-for-profit will recognise. Over a few short sessions before the night, WSTI has coached their team to set up an agentic AI system and build their own AI solution. On stage, they'll show you how they did it: the questions they asked, the decisions they made and the challenges they faced. Then they'll showcase the initial results live, using sample data only, so no real client or volunteer information is shared. We don't build it for you. We build it with you. That's how WSTI works with organisations every week, because the skills should stay with your team long after we leave. And we believe the team should always be in the driver's seat. After all, responsible AI starts with your organisation, the people you serve and the problem worth solving, not with the technology. You'll leave knowing how to take that first step in your own organisation. How the night runs • Doors open from 5:30 PM, with light refreshments • Welcome from WSTI and Cr Hayley French, City of Parramatta • Meet the case study: what the organisation does and where the pressure points are • The journey: what the AI transformation sessions looked like, from the first discovery questions to choosing one safe, contained use case • The live showcase: the not-for-profit team shows what they built and the initial results, on stage • The honest reflection: in their own words, what works, what the challenges are, and what they decided must stay human • Your turn: in teams, run the discovery questions on your own organisation and pick your first use case. Then discuss how your team's roles could change when AI agents work alongside people. • Q&A and networking until 8:00 PM What you get • A real look at how a not-for-profit team, not just a tech expert, moves from a problem to a working AI tool; the experience speaks for itself. • Hands-on time with the discovery questions on your own organisation, with resources to help • Your own first use case, chosen and written down before you leave • A plain-English view of the risks: privacy, accuracy and human oversight • A take-home starter kit with the questions, a simple safety checklist and ready-to-use templates for everyday admin • Connections with other local not-for-profits facing the same challenges and opportunities, and with WSTI's mentors and members, Parramatta and Western Sydney's largest grassroots AI community Who should come You do not need any tech background. That's the point. • Directors and managers at charities and not-for-profits curious about boosting organisation capacity with AI that goes beyond ChatGPT • Volunteer coordinators, program leads and social workers • Board and committee members • Community, faith and cultural organisations • Social enterprises and community service providers Coming with a colleague? Even better. You can work through your own organisation together in the hands-on part. Free to attend: register your interest first Places are limited, and we want them to go to the people who will get the most from the night. So there are two simple steps: 1\. Register your interest by Friday 6 November\, with a few quick questions about you and your organisation 2\. We'll confirm your free ticket on a rolling basis\, and no later than Tuesday 10 November\. We aim to welcome people from as many local organisations as possible If your plans change after you're confirmed, please let us know so someone else can take your place. Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-ai-for-not-for-profits-community-tickets-2003273717616 Getting there Western Sydney Startup Hub, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta, near the Ngara light rail stop. We're in the Event Space. With WSTI · City of Parramatta · Western Sydney Startup Hub Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: https://wsti.org.au/wsti-festi Notice of Photography and Filming By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Everyone is welcome, from in and around Parramatta and beyond. When you RSVP, we ask for the postcode where you live, work or study, only for our statistics. If you have one in the City of Parramatta, please use it.

WSTI Festi 2026: SME AI Forum, Can AI Help Your Business Grow?

WSTI Festi 2026: SME AI Forum, Can AI Help Your Business Grow? After a full house on 30 September, WSTI and Parramatta Business Connect (PBC) are hosting the SME AI Forum again! You've heard AI can save time, cut costs and help business grow. But what does that actually look like in a business like yours, and where do you start? This evening, you'll hear it from local business owners who have already done it. They're not tech companies. They run everyday Western Sydney businesses, and they've set up a team of AI agents to take on the paperwork, reports and admin that used to eat their evenings. They'll tell you what they built, what it took, what went wrong along the way and what changed in their week. Then the WSTI team will show you live demos of AI agents doing real work, so you can see exactly how it works. No hype, just real stories, real demos and honest answers to your questions. How the evening runs • Doors open from 5:30 PM, with light refreshments • Welcome from WSTI and Parramatta Business Connect • Fireside chat: local business owners share how they use AI agents in their business, from the first step to the results • Live demos: the WSTI team shows AI agents doing real work, start to finish • Q&A: bring your questions about cost, privacy, accuracy and where to begin • Networking until 7:30 PM What you get • Real stories from local business owners: what worked, what didn't and what it saved them • A live look at AI agents doing real business work, not slides about the future • A plain-English view of the risks: privacy, accuracy and keeping a human in charge • A clear idea of where your business could start • Connections with other local business owners, and with WSTI's mentors and members, Parramatta and Western Sydney's largest grassroots AI community Who should come You do not need any tech background. If you run a business, this evening is for you. • Small business owners, founders and sole traders • Managers and team leaders who look after operations, admin, sales or marketing • Anyone who has tried ChatGPT and wondered what comes next Free to attend: register your interest first Places are limited, and we want them to go to the people who will get the most from the evening. So there are two simple steps: 1\. Register your interest by Friday 6 November\, with a few quick questions about you and your business 2\. We'll confirm your free ticket on a rolling basis\, and no later than Monday 9 November\. We aim to welcome as many different local businesses as possible If your plans change after you're confirmed, please let us know so someone else can take your place. Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-sme-ai-forum-can-ai-help-your-business-grow-tickets-2003434706137 Getting there Western Sydney Startup Hub, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta, near the Ngara light rail stop. We're in the Event Space. With WSTI · Parramatta Business Connect · Western Sydney Startup Hub Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: https://wsti.org.au/wsti-festi Notice of Photography and Filming By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Everyone is welcome, from in and around Parramatta and beyond. When you RSVP, we ask for the postcode where you live, work or study, only for our statistics. If you have one in the City of Parramatta, please use it.

SydDT #132: State of the Design Nation with Ben Crothers & Min Kong

We’re lucky to have Ben Crothers and Min Kong sharing their reflections as a couple of the judges for the 2026 Good Design Awards. This has been a SydDT tradition since 2018 and a time to reflect on the state of the design nation… full of interesting observations, insights, and trends. [Good Design Australia](https://good-design.org/) has a proud history that dates back to 1958 and they’re passionately committed to recognising, rewarding, and promoting the importance of design to business, industry, government and the general public… and the critical role it plays in creating a better, safer, and a more sustainable and prosperous future. Come join us for some fun conversations with interesting people in and around the design thinking community. New members are welcome! **SPEAKERS** **[Ben Crothers](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencrothers/)** **Principal Facilitator, [Bright Pilots](https://brightpilots.com/). Good Design Ambassador** Ben has been a designer since before Netscape ruled the www, and is currently a facilitator and design strategist at Bright Pilots (his online training and facilitation business), where he teaches teams of all sorts about design and facilitation methods, running strategic workshops, and generally helping teams get un-stuck. Previous to Bright Pilots, Ben was Principal Designer at Atlassian, a Design Director at Second Road (a strategic innovation consultancy), plus some assorted startups, agencies, and government departments. Above all, Ben wants everyone to be just as good at the whiteboard as they are at the keyboard, to be better at thinking, communicating, and solving problems together visually. He’s the author of a few books, including Presto Sketching: Simple Drawing for Brilliant Product Thinking and Design. **[Min Kong](https://www.linkedin.com/in/minkong/)** **Associate Design Director, [Caon Design Office](https://caondesignoffice.com/). Good Design Ambassador** Min is a strategic designer with nearly two decades of experience shaping physical products, services, and environments across aviation, transport infrastructure, healthcare and consumer sectors. Her approach brings together strategic thinking, experience design, and industrial design expertise to uncover opportunities for innovation and improvement and translate complex business and customer needs into high-quality, tangible experiences with real-world impact. At Caon Design Office, Min currently leads customer experience design across major Qantas Airways aircraft programs, including the flagship Project Sunrise A350 fleet. Min’s work has been recognised through multiple design awards, including the Australian Good Design Awards and Red Dot Design Award. An active member of the design community, Min taught industrial design at UNSW for over a decade and has served on multiple design award juries. **EVENT SPONSORS** This event is brought to you by [Thoughtworks](https://www.thoughtworks.com/), [Shapeshifters](https://www.shapeshifterscreative.com.au/), [Bright Pilots](https://brightpilots.com/), and [Dynamic4](https://dynamic4.com/). We take photos and record our events for documentation and promo purposes. Just let us know if you prefer not to be featured.

WSTI Festi 2026: Build with AI Innovation Challenge, Sat 14 Nov

**Overview** Last Build Day before submission. Two streams, mentor follow-ups, tech support and pitch practice with WSTI. $15. **Build with AI Innovation Challenge Day, Saturday 14 November** The last Build Day before final submission on Tuesday 17 November at 2:00 PM. Start your idea here, or bring the build you began on 7 November or online, and spend the day moving it forward with WSTI mentors. No coding background needed. WSTI mentors bring design thinking, tech support, business and strategy advice, and a stage to practise your pitch, with feedback on your build and on how customers and investors would see it. **At a glance** * 🕙 6.5 hours, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, in two streams: build at your own pace with mentors on call, or learn step by step in guided training * 🎟️ $15, lunch included. Ticket money goes into the cash prize pool * 🔓 Full challenge details are revealed at the WSTI Festi Opening Night, Thursday 5 November * 🔁 Started online or on 7 Nov? Come back for a follow-up with mentors and check where your build stands * 🎤 A stage for pitch practice to close the day * 👥 Come on your own, bring your team or find one on the day * 🏆 Cash prizes on Pitch Night, plus community recognition from City of Parramatta * 📍 Western Sydney Startup Hub, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta **Wherever you are up to** * New to the challenge: start in the training stream. Find a team, shape your idea with design thinking, and make your first build, from your first prompt to a working app * Started on Sat 7 Nov or online: keep going in the build stream. Get a follow-up with mentors, check where your build stands, get tech support where you are stuck, and practise your pitch before Tuesday's submission **What WSTI mentors help with** * Design thinking: shape the problem and your idea, and test who it is for * Tech support: get unstuck on your build, with the AI tools you use or prefer * Business and strategy: who your users are, and how your idea could work as a business or a community solution * Pitch practice: get your pitch ready during the day, then practise it on stage for feedback on the tech and on how customers and investors would see it **Pick your challenge** Parramatta Possibilities Innovation Challenge, set by City of Parramatta. Choose one of five focus areas: 1. Climate Resilience and Community Wellbeing 2. Better Community Events and Public Spaces 3. Cleaner and More Sustainable Neighbourhoods 4. Smarter Decisions for a Growing City 5. AI for Smarter Asset and Environmental Management Full challenge details are revealed when the challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night on Thursday 5 November. Showcase your skills for the opportunity to have your innovation piloted with the local council. Open Innovation: bring your own challenge, from your business, your industry or your community. Build it into a business, a working solution or something for your community. One rule for both tracks: build from scratch. Bring a problem or an idea, but not an existing project or product. Everything you submit must be built during the challenge, from 5 to 17 November. **How the day runs** * Welcome, and form or join a team on the WSTI Festi Innovation Portal * Build stream: build at your own pace, with WSTI mentors on call for tech support and follow-ups on where your build stands * Training stream: learn step by step in guided sessions with WSTI mentors, from design thinking to a beginner build, from your first prompt to a working app, plus business and strategy * Lunch * Pitch practice on stage: teams who have their pitch ready practise it in front of mentors and the room, with feedback on the build and the story * What's next: teams finalise Sun 15 Nov at 8:00 PM, final submission Tue 17 Nov at 2:00 PM **What you get** * 6.5 hours to build, in the stream that suits you * WSTI mentors for design thinking, tech support, and business and strategy advice * Help with the AI tools you already use or prefer * A follow-up with mentors if you started online or on 7 Nov * A stage to practise your pitch before final submission * Feedback on your build, and on how customers and investors would see it * Lunch on the day * A team and a challenge through the WSTI Festi Innovation Portal * A shot at cash prizes on Pitch Night, and a podium for every finalist at the Grand Festival Day * Connections across WSTI's AI community, 4,200+ members on Meetup **From launch to the big stage** * Thu 5 Nov: the challenge launches at the WSTI Festi Opening Night * Sat 7 or Sat 14 Nov: your Build Day * Sun 15 Nov, 8:00 PM: finalise your team on the portal * Tue 17 Nov, 2:00 PM: final submission of your pitch video, demo video and live prototype link * Thu 19 Nov, 12:00 PM: finalists announced by email * Fri 20 Nov: finalists pitch live at Pitch Night. The audience votes, and the winners take home cash prizes * Sat 21 Nov: every finalist gets a podium at the Grand Festival Day to show their innovation to the panel, industry and community **Other ways to take part** * Build Day, Sat 7 Nov, $15 ([book here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-x-google-sat-7-nov-tickets-2002679991766)): at Maker Space PHIVE with Google. Hands-on Antigravity training led by Brett Morgan, Developer Relations Engineer, Google Cloud * Online, free ([book here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wsti-festi-2026-build-with-ai-innovation-challenge-online-tickets-2002985256822)): build from anywhere Come to one Build Day, both, or take part online. **Who should come** You do not need a tech background. What you know about your field is the most valuable thing you can bring. * Business owners and professionals from any field, such as health, finance, education, property, trades or community services * Founders and startups * University students, recent graduates and young people * Developers, designers and creatives curious about building with AI * Anyone with an idea they want to build **What to bring** * Your laptop (essential) * The AI tools you prefer, with your own accounts and licences. Mentors help you get the most out of them * Your own challenge for Open Innovation, or pick a Parramatta Possibilities focus area **With** WSTI · Investment NSW · City of Parramatta · Western Sydney Startup Hub Part of WSTI Festi 2026, Western Sydney's first grassroots AI festival, 5 to 21 November in Parramatta. See more: wsti.org.au/wsti-festi **Notice of Photography and Filming** By entering this event, you acknowledge that photography, audio, and video recording may occur. Your attendance constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of such media for promotional purposes by Western Sydney Tech Innovators (WSTI). If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform a WSTI team member upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Everyone is welcome, from in and around Parramatta and beyond. When you RSVP, we ask for the postcode where you live, work or study, only for our statistics. If you have one in the City of Parramatta, please use it.

What is 'Woke' and is it coming back? - Marinos Maragos

**What is 'Woke' and is it coming back?** Donald Trump famously said that "woke" is thrown around so much, yet no one actually knows what it is. In this presentation, we will begin with a categorical definition of *what is* woke, as well as how the post WW2 philosophical movements of the Frankfurt School, French Post-Modernism & Critical Theory, helped form modern woke ideas. We'll also briefly explore its explosive rise in Obama's 2nd term and the reactionary cultural shift that led to its recent retreat from public, academic, corporate and state discourse. **About Marinos Maragos** Born in Western Sydney, I completed a Masters of Business Management in 2014 and worked for over 16 years with the universities, sourcing Australia's top performing graduates for some of the largest banking, finance, legal, insurance & tech conglomerates in the country. With on the ground insights to both the academic and private sector, I also run an entertainment business, working with a number of independent musicians & artists across Sydney & surrounds. **On the second Monday of the month, Philo Agora has a speaker on a philosophical topic and a Q&A and discussion after. On the fourth Monday we meet again for open philosophical discussion.** Philo Agora's format is a talk for 20 minutes starting at 7:15 for 7:30. The presenter then answers any questions of clarification from the floor. We then take a break of 5 minutes for more coffee and to mull over the talk and discuss it within small groups. The microphone is then passed around the audience for comment, opinion, and often counter argument to a maximum of 3 minutes. The presenter is then given a 5 minute right of reply. We usually finish up at 9pm. The cover charge is $5 for the talk. There are tea and coffee facilities available in-house. Sam Alexander - Convener (0457 749 310)