Set for Friday, November 7, this is the follow‑up to our opening meetup — and it’s already shaping up to be something meaningful for the Bay Area Web3 & AI community.

Looking Back: What Happened at the First Meetup

The inaugural gathering of the series (formerly known as We 💜 SF) convened at the House of Web3 in the Presidio with a mission: bring innovators, builders and dreamers together who believe that Web3 and AI can do more than just tech—they can strengthen community, trust, transparency and solve real societal challenges.

From the published report on the event by Amplify Web3AI, we know the featured speakers included Ian Utile (CEO of ATTN.LIVE, serial entrepreneur) and Riza Utile (founder of Web3AI). They dove into how decentralized AI might become a force for generosity and philanthropy. (amplifyweb3.ai)

In addition to lively dialogue, the event brought together a diverse cross‑section of the tech world—nonprofits, social enterprises, Web3 builders, faith‑motivated community leaders—over a meal and in a setting designed for collaboration and connection (not just another panel).

That first meetup laid a foundation of what this series is trying to do: anchor tech innovation in community purpose, not just hype.

Why This Matters: The Bay Area’s Biggest Challenges

The event’s broader theme is solving the Bay Area’s biggest challenges. What might that mean? Let’s explore a few of the pressing problems facing the region—and why a Web3 + AI community gathering is timely.

Housing & home‑ownership

One of the major systemic issues: home ownership in the Bay Area is increasingly out of reach. A recent panel discussion noted that 70 % of tenants earn below median income, yet the housing being developed is largely above their income point. (Local News Matters)

Another angle: for Black residents, the region has seen a loss of thousands of owner‑occupied households, combined with higher housing cost burdens. (bayareaequityatlas.org)

These realities speak to disconnection: people who work and build here can’t always afford to buy, and communities are shifting.

Demographic shifts & aging population

The Bay Area is facing a “silver tsunami.” The median age here is among the highest of major U.S. metros and among the fastest ageing. (San Francisco Chronicle)

What does that mean in practice? Older populations may have fixed incomes, may struggle with housing cost burdens, may need services that aren’t being scaled fast enough. (Public Policy Institute of California)

For a community that’s defined by innovation and change, adapting for aging means rethinking everything from housing design to mobility to community supports.

Equity, inclusion & community resilience

Beyond the numbers, the challenge is deep: how can the Bay Area ensure the benefits of the tech economy are broadly shared? How can communities remain resilient in the face of displacement, rising costs, shifting demographics? The conversations at this meetup aim to get beyond the tech for its own sake and into: How can innovation serve people?

In short, the Bay Area’s biggest challenges aren’t only about better code or faster processors—they’re about people, place, trust, equity, and systems. That’s exactly where a meetup exploring Web3 + AI + community impact can make a difference.

What to Expect on November 7

For this second meetup, hosted by INNOVAT3 and the Connected Communities DAO at the House of Web3, the agenda is ambitious in a good way. According to the event page: the discussion will focus on how blockchain (and Web3 more broadly) can empower generosity, transparency, community ownership, and solve real social issues. (Luma)
Here are some highlights you won’t want to miss:

• The conversation will dig into how Web3 and blockchain can drive social good—moving past “cool tech” to purpose‑driven innovation.
  
• We’ll explore trust, transparency, community ownership—all key elements when tech moves into public ecosystem spaces.
  
• And importantly: it’s not just about panels—it’s about connection, a great meal, and a community of changemakers.

Meet the Guests: Brandon Burgason of Firma & Curtis Smith of $CIK

Two featured guests this month:

• Brandon Burgason, founder of Firma (via Firma Labs) and active in the Web3/social impact space.
  
• Curtis Smith, founder of Christ Is King (CIK) (ticker $CIK) — a faith‑based token/movement which positions itself as “the first major faith‑based meme coin and tokenized community” uniting 2.4 billion+ Christians worldwide. (Forbes)

Their conversation promises to explore how blockchain can do more than trading—it can support values‑driven innovation and community impact.

A Bit Deeper: How Ian Utile & Curtis Smith Have Worked Before + What is $CIK

Ian Utile

Ian Utile has been a driving force at the intersection of Web3 and AI. As highlighted in the recent AmplifyWeb3AI article, Ian (and Riza) led the first meetup’s discussion on how decentralized AI could become generous and philanthropic. (amplifyweb3.ai)

His background: CEO of ATTN.LIVE, producer of Web3AI, a serial entrepreneur with over a decade in Web3 and AI spaces. (Medium)

He brings the kind of lens we need: tech + values + community. At the previous meetup he helped lead a conversation about how AI and decentralization can actually support human flourishing (not just hype).

Curtis Smith & $CIK

Curtis Smith’s project $CIK is interesting because it blends meme‑coin energy with purpose. According to multiple crypto data sources, $CIK is a token on the Base network, total supply 777 billion, positions itself as faith‑based and mission‑driven. (Phantom)

What this means in context: it’s an example of how Web3 projects are evolving from purely financial‑speculative vehicles into community‑driven ecosystems with values baked in. In this meetup context, having Curtis Smith present means attendees will hear how values + tokenomics can align with broader community goals.

Furthermore, the event description describes Brandon and Curtis as “pioneering voices in the movement to align Web3 innovation with social purpose” through Firma and $CIK. (Luma)

So when we talk about them together: we’re talking about the intersection of community‑first design, tokenized participation, values alignment and blockchain mechanics.

Why You Should Mark Friday, November 7 on Your Calendar

If you’re curious about Web3, AI, or how tech can be used for real impact (not just hype), this meetup is built for you. Here’s why:

• It’s not just another tech meetup — this is a purpose-driven gathering focused on community, values, and solutions, not just buzzwords.
  
• You’ll connect with doers across the spectrum: startup founders, nonprofit leaders, technologists, visionaries, and Web3 builders.
  
• You’ll hear from some of the most forward-thinking voices in the space. Especially exciting? Ian Utile returns, and if his last talk sparked curiosity, expect this next one to light the fire.

Ian is known for looking far ahead — where decentralized AI meets ethics, where tokenized trust systems could redefine how we organize as communities, and where generosity can become programmable. Will he expand on his vision of “Generous AI”? Will we hear updates from his recent return to the Philippines and global faith-tech events? Or maybe a preview of what’s next for Web3AI? One thing’s for sure: when Ian speaks, people lean in.

• You’ll engage with Curtis Smith and Brandon Burgason as they unpack how $CIK and Firma aren’t just projects—they’re models for how blockchain can serve communities and amplify generosity.
  
• You’ll be part of a movement that asks: How can we use our tech for good—right here, right now, in the Bay Area?

What to Do Next

So as we gear up for the second meetup, here’s a quick checklist for you:

• Save the date: Friday, November 7, at the House of Web3 in the Presidio.
  
• Follow our channels: The event mentions tuning into social media to catch what will happen. Be ready—there may be live‑streams, highlight reels, post‑event content.
  
• Bring curiosity: Think about your own context in the Bay Area—what challenges you see, what your community needs. Come ready to listen, connect, collaborate.
  
• Invite someone: The energy of this event grows the more voices show up. Whether you’re new or longtime in Web3/AI, this is a space for you.
  
• Keep the mission in mind: This isn’t just about “Web3 for tech’s sake,” but “Web3 for community’s sake.” The theme is bold, and the intention is real.
  

In closing, I’m excited that Ian Utile and Riza Utile will be present again at this upcoming meetup—bringing back the energy, the lens, the vision from the first session. Together with Brandon Burgason and Curtis Smith, we’re looking at a gathering that could spark new collaborations, fresh thinking and meaningful action.

Mark your calendar. Tune in. And let’s see what happens when Web3, AI and community purpose collide in the Bay Area on November 7.