Join Us for an Exclusive Dinner Exploring New Frontiers in AI Research

We’re hosting an intimate VIP dinner on May 20 in Seattle, gathering a select group of AI researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs for a candid, no-pitch discussion. Our focus: cutting-edge advancements in AI, from breakthrough research initiatives to practical industry applications. This exclusive dinner, sponsored and moderated by Ascend, is designed for active builders, decision-makers, and founders deeply involved in—or seriously exploring—frontier AI solutions.

☝️ Apply Now - Limited to 20 Attendees ☝️

What to Expect

This VIP dinner is invite-only and curated for 25 hand-selected members of our AI-focused community. Rather than superficial networking, it’s a moderated discussion where everyone in the room is immersed in the technical and operational challenges of bringing next-generation AI capabilities to life—whether in academia, enterprise, or emerging startups.

• Deep, Technical Focus: No fluffy predictions—just concrete insights on advances in AI/ML, large-scale deployments, and breakthroughs in research.
• Interactive Format: We’ll emphasize dialogue with the audience—think one big conversation rather than a stale “talk at you” panel.
• Practical Lessons Learned: Hear directly from those tackling real-world constraints around data, compute, and regulatory issues that arise when exploring the frontiers of AI.
• Networking with Peers: Connect with fellow researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of AI across different sectors.

Key Details

• Date: May 20, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Location: (Four-star dinner venue in a private room - To be disclosed upon registration confirmation)

Who Should Attend?

• AI Researchers & Practitioners pushing boundaries in natural language processing, computer vision, generative models, or other advanced AI disciplines.
• Tech Innovators & Engineers focused on large-scale AI deployments, emerging applications, and robust infrastructure.
• Startup Founders & Execs developing next-generation AI solutions and eager to share insights and challenges with like-minded peers.

This dinner is purposefully curated to maintain a high technical and strategic bar, ensuring a truly valuable discussion for all in attendance.

Potential Topics & Speakers

We’ll shape the conversation around real-world applications and technical problem-solving in frontier AI research. If you have a wishlist of specific institutions, industry leaders, or AI experts you’d like to invite—or if you have suggestions for speakers who bring groundbreaking AI insights—please let us know!

(Some potential focuses include large-scale model training, generative AI, trustworthy/explainable AI, ethical considerations, and more.)

Our Sponsor: Ascend

Ascend is a pre-seed venture capital firm investing in AI infrastructure and what we call SaaS 3.0—AI-native vertical software applications disrupting the status quo in B2B software. Ascend’s team is dedicated to backing founders who are reshaping the technological landscape and pushing boundaries in AI innovation. For those advancing the next wave of AI research, Ascend provides both the capital and strategic partnerships to fuel transformative solutions.

Learn More about Ascend

Why This Dinner Is Different

Unlike large meetups or conferences, our VIP Dinner is a focused, in-depth event. Expect:

• An Intimate Atmosphere: Candid, off-the-record conversations where you can delve into genuine AI research challenges and breakthroughs.
• Valuable Connections: Share insights and build relationships with a select cohort of AI pioneers and thought leaders.
• Immediate Action Items: Walk away with fresh ideas, partnerships, and practical strategies to accelerate your own AI projects.

RSVP Now!

Space is extremely limited—apply early to secure your spot. Come prepared to share experiences, ask tough questions, and leave with tangible takeaways for your work at the forefront of AI innovation.

We can’t wait to see you at the table for an evening of impactful conversation and collaboration!

📊 AI Tinkerers Seattle Stats

• Attendees (All Events): This exclusive community of 5,360 technical professionals comprises approximately 43% senior software engineers, 32% AI/ML scientists, and 25% technical founders. Members possess deep expertise in agentic workflows, LLM orchestration, and cloud infrastructure. Notably, the group bridges elite enterprise talent from Microsoft and Amazon with venture-backed startups, driving rapid, open-source AI integration and local-first hardware-software innovations.
• Companies Represented: Featuring industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Google, and Apple, alongside leading AI innovators such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Together.ai, and rising startups like CopilotKit, OpenPipe, Fixie.ai, and Moondream, and more