Frequently asked questions.

Format

What actually happens in a session?

Two hours. Two curated topics, plus a rapid-fire insights round where members share what they've learned recently. A moderator frames each topic, calls on the member who raised it, then steers the debate.

How long is a meeting?

Two hours (currently 7:30–9:30 PM PT).

Do I have to prepare?

Yes. A briefing on the topics goes out ahead of each session so everyone arrives ready to debate, not to be caught up. Read it.

Is it in person or virtual?

Both. In-person in Los Angeles is the original format and still carries the energy. A virtual option (Google Meet) runs alongside it so members outside LA can join.

How big is the room?

Eight people max per meeting, by design. Small is the point — everyone talks, nobody hides.

Is this a talk or a panel?

Neither. It's a roundtable — a working discussion among peers. No slides-at-you, no keynote. Members lead the conversation; everyone participates.

Schedule

How often does Ground Truth meet?

Monthly.

What day and time?

A weekday evening, 7:30–9:30 PM PT. The exact date shifts month to month — always confirm against the current invite.

Where is it held?

A private home in West Los Angeles with a virtual Google Meet link for remote attendees. Local chapters in other cities are in the works.

How do I RSVP, and when do invites open?

RSVP through the Luma event page for each session. Invites open roughly two weeks ahead. Seats are first-come, first-served, and sessions regularly fill — RSVP early.

How do I find the next date?

It's on the Luma event page and in the calendar invite you receive. Members also get reminders as the date approaches.

Membership criteria

Who is this for?

Builders. The one test: you shape what gets built. A builder effects material change to an AI system's behavior — through code, models, data, prompts/UX, or governance — and is accountable for the outcome.

Who counts as a builder?

• •Founders running an AI-stack company who stay engaged in the technical work
• •Engineers and researchers building AI products, models, or systems — hands-on, including training and running experiments
• •Product managers, designers, and policy leaders who define requirements, scope, or direction that changes the build
• •Anyone building their own agentic tools or workflows on an ongoing basis, in any industry

How do I get in?

Membership is referral- and vouch-based. A current member brings you, or you request an invitation and tell us what you're building. Every seat is curated — this isn't an open meetup.

Do I have to be in LA?

No. In-person is LA-based, but the virtual option is open to builders anywhere. Other chapters are in the works.

Meeting protocol

How does a session run?

A moderator opens, introduces each topic, and calls on the member who submitted it to set it up. Discussion follows. The moderator keeps it on track and makes sure participation is even.

What are the ground rules?

• •Come prepared — read the briefing.
• •Speak from what you've built, not what you've read
• •Everyone participates; nobody dominates.
• •What's said in the room is shared in confidence (recordings are stripped of PII before anything leaves).

Are meetings recorded?

Yes. Sessions are recorded, stripped of PII, and a distilled summary is shared with members. Recordings live only in the Slack group, so you need to have attended at least one meeting — which is what gets you in — to access them.

What happens between meetings?

A private Slack group carries logistics, announcements, and discussion between sessions.

What Ground Truth is not:

• •Not a networking group. Relationships form, but you're not here to work the room or collect leads.
• •Not a mastermind. No personal-goal accountability circle. The focus is the work.
• •Not a vendor showcase. No product pitches or sponsored demos. Sponsors never buy the floor.
• •Not an open meetup. Builders only, capped at eight, every seat curated.

The Slack group

What is the Slack group?

A private Slack is the community's home between sessions — announcements, logistics, member discussion, and where session recordings and summaries live.

How do I get in?

Attend at least one meeting, in person or virtually.

Topic selection

How are topics chosen?

Members submit topics ahead of the session. We select two per meeting and frame them.

What makes a good topic?

Timely, debate-worthy, impactful and relevant to builders.

Recent topics that hit the formula:

• •AI vs Hollywood — Hollywood's bars raised and lowered
• •AI-Enhanced Cyber Espionage
• •The Rise of Consumer Friendly Agents
• •Generative UI
• •The Inference Cost Squeeze
• •The LLM Performance Plateau
• •Sovereign AI

Attendance

Do I have to attend every month?

No, but we have a consistent core that usually does. It's small and curated; consistent participation is what keeps the trust and the quality high. If you can't make one, that's fine — you still get the recording and stay in Slack.

Seats are limited — what if it's full?

In-person is capped at eight and sessions are often oversubscribed. If a session fills, you go on the waitlist; when a spot opens, waitlisted members are invited in order.

Why are virtual seats so limited?

The group runs on intimate and thoughtful discussion. Everyone is a participant and we have found that too many virtual attendees dilutes the experience for everyone.

What if I RSVP'd but can't make it?

Update your status in Luma as soon as you know. Freeing your seat lets a waitlisted builder take it — especially for in-person. It's basic courtesy.

Can I attend virtually instead of in person?

Yes. Pick the virtual option when you RSVP and you'll get the Google Meet link.

I missed a session — can I catch up?

Yes. Every session is recorded and a distilled summary is shared in the Slack group, so you can catch up there — as long as you've attended at least one meeting, which is what gets you into Slack.

Can I bring a guest?

No. Seats are curated and the room is capped at eight. If you know a builder who fits, refer or vouch for them — that's the front door to membership.