2025 Was a Solid Year for Connecting with People

I attended 27 in-person events and had 48 virtual coffee chats. I even started hosting events myself for VetsinTech!

Most of it was centered around Veterans, AI, Tech and the Seattle startup scene. If you haven’t been to any IRL events recently, you’re missing out.

I mean, who doesn’t love awkward small talk? lol

But in all seriousness, I’ve learned a lot from these events. And if anything, it reminds me that behind the screens, there are actually other humans.

And with AI making the online world feel less and less "real," I think offline channels are making a big comeback.

Puget Sound Veterans Events Tip

If you are a veteran in the PNW looking for community, here are some groups and folks to follow :

1. Pacific Northwest Veterans, PNWVETS w/ Joshua J. Wheeldon, MPA

2. VetsinTech Seattle w/ Jake Tozier and yours truly

3. Veteran Beer Club Seattle w/ Michael Hauer

4. Venture Mechanics- Veterans Group Angie Parker and Ron Wiener 🚀

Side note

I think there should be a variation of the 7 Degrees of Bacon game called "2 Degrees of Monica M. McNeal." Seriously, at almost every veteran event I attended, someone knew her. It just goes to show how involved she is in the Puget Sound military community.

Seattle Tech Events Tip

If you’re in Seattle tech and don’t know where to start, check out the Seattle Luma calendar - luma(dot)com/seattle.

About 90% of the events I went to were from there.

I highly recommend these calendars:

1. AI2 Incubator - they’ve put out some banger talks and workshops, and have one of the best views out there.

2. WTIA Tech@Night - had solid events with great vibes.

3. Dream Bigger - If you’re Filipino, you need to be here. Tech + Lumpia, enough said.

The Seattle Tech Week (summer) and Seattle AI Week events calendars were also hosted here!

I also attend most of the Mentor Mesh - Seattle events!

2026 Plan

For 2026, with work and now having two kids under three, I’m aiming for 2 events max per month and will continue holding a weekly coffee chat to whoever books time with me.

Now go meet some people and find your community!