What we’re about
Let's hang out at night and talk about generative AI. On different occasions we will be hosting seminars, networking events, or meeting for informal discussion of shared and individual projects.
We now have a Discord server for the Meetup:
https://discord.gg/XqrTkd3bnn
A really beautiful thing about generative AI is that it is accessible to lots of people - the tool is technical to build but familiar to use. People of all backgrounds, talents, and levels of expertise are welcome. We make an effort to host diverse events for our diverse membership.
We typically meet on Tuesday nights with 2-3 meetings per quarter. It has not proven realistic to stick to a particular Tuesday in each month. We do our best to avoid other similar Meetup events, but not all constraints can be satisfied in practice and conflicts may occur.
No food or other accommodation will be provided unless explicitly stated in the event description. This is rare. However, we typically meet at venues that will either allow you to bring dinner or that sell food and drink themselves.
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Vibe Coding SummitSlalom Consulting, Clayton, MO
6:00-6:30 Semi-structured networking
6:30-7:00 Some crowdsourced mini-presentations (maybe)
7:00-8:00 Invited speaker - Stephan Smith of LowCodeCTOPlease arrive by 6 pm!
The focus of this meeting is AI coding tools and their ramifications. We'll devote the first hour to discussing these topics informally with one another, with some possible presentations from attendees if anyone has anything to say, before devoting the second hour to a (remote) presentation from an invited speaker.
*** Some information from Stephan about his presentation ***
In 2023, I walked away from a startup that should’ve been a big win—but wasn’t. That failure forced me to re-evaluate everything I believed about software, teams, and what early-stage founders really need. Since then, I’ve worked as a fractional CTO, partnering with non-technical founders to build scalable products without bloated dev teams or endless sprints.
This talk is part personal story, part market analysis. I’ll share how failure led me to embrace low-code, how AI tooling (like Vibe coding) is changing the game, and what I’ve learned from launching Launch By Lunch—a 4-week AI + Low-Code accelerator that’s grown into a thriving community.
We’ll cover:
- Why traditional startup playbooks are failing non-technical founders
- How fractional tech leadership is evolving into a productized service
- Where AI and low-code unlock speed, clarity, and margin
- How to build trust, velocity, and value without hiring a full-time team
If you’re a founder, fractional, or just watching the shift in how tech gets built—you’ll walk away with practical takeaways and a clearer sense of what’s next.
*** Some information from Stephan about himself ***
Stephan Smith is a Boston-based software developer, startup founder, and fractional CTO/CISO. After what should have been a successful startup exit in 2023 turned into a dumpster fire, Stephan took a hard look at how technology was being used—and misused—in startups. That experience broke him in the best way. He rebuilt his career around a simple truth: less is more. He became a fractional CTO to help founders make smarter, leaner tech decisions.
Stephan specializes in working with non-technical founders to turn raw ideas into production-ready products using low-code, AI, and automation. He’s helped launch scalable platforms using tools like Firebase, Algolia, Make.com, and Stripe—often with no full-time engineering team. He brings an API-first, revenue-focused mindset to every project.
His current focus is Launch By Lunch, a program he co-founded with a business partner. It's a 4-week AI + Low-Code accelerator that helps non-technical founders launch real products fast. What began as a hands-on offering has grown into a vibrant community of builders and fractional CTOs, where both sides benefit from real collaboration and shared momentum.
Stephan’s second passion is helping other fractional execs get started—especially those with deep technical backgrounds who want to escape bloated roadmaps and focus on value creation. The Launch By Lunch community is designed to be a nurturing space for both sides: the founders who need guidance, and the fractionals who want to build with purpose.
He publishes a newsletter at LowCodeCTO.com, where he shares insights on AI-assisted development, lean startup strategy, and real-world stories from the edge of tech minimalism.
