Unblock AI is a monthly meetup in Lisbon for people building with AI, bringing it into teams, or still working out where to start.
It came from a simple frustration: there are plenty of loud opinions about AI, but fewer places to sit in a room with practitioners and talk honestly about what is working. The meetup keeps the format practical: 2 to 4 speakers, live demos, candid discussion, and no pitches.
Why I started it
I wanted a local space where builders, founders, operators, product people, engineers, designers, and curious people could compare notes without turning the evening into a sales event.
The goal is not to predict the future of AI. The goal is to leave with something useful: a workflow to try, a tool worth testing, a mistake to avoid, or a better question to ask inside your team.
Format
Each edition is an in-person evening in Lisbon. Talks are short and practical. Someone might show a backoffice they built with AI, explain how they are using agents in their work, or talk through the messy parts of adopting AI in a real company.
The first meetup happened on 29 April 2026 at Dashlane’s Lisbon office. It brought together talks on AI-built internal tools, marketing for new businesses, solo entrepreneurship, and developer workflows around Claude and OpenClaw.
What it focuses on
- Practical AI applications
- Live demos and real examples
- Honest conversations about adoption
- Responsible use of AI
- Peer learning across different levels of experience
Community
Unblock AI lives mostly through the monthly events, with the conversation continuing between sessions on Meetup and WhatsApp.
The community is open to experienced practitioners and people who are just starting. Free to join, free to attend.
Speaking, hosting, and sponsoring
The meetup is always looking for concrete demos and honest stories about adopting AI. Lisbon venues can host a weekday evening session, and sponsors can help with food and drinks without turning it into a pitch.
For talks, email talk@unblockai.pt. For hosting or sponsorship, email all@unblockai.pt.