Tech Series Kickoff: AI-Native Companies — How Modern Businesses Are Actually Running on AI
Hosted by: Tech Series AI
Life Time Work Sandy Springs – 5600 Roswell Rd Building C, Sandy Springs, GA 30342
Thursday, April 30, 2026
4:00–7:30 PM
Overview
The Tech Series at Life Time Work brings together Atlanta’s founders, executives, and technology leaders who are actively building the future of business.
This kickoff session focuses on how artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation and into real execution inside modern companies.
This series brings together operators across industries to learn, share, and innovate as AI rapidly reshapes how businesses operate.
This event is designed for leaders seeking clarity around:
real adoption
real systems
real business impact
Not hype.
Not theory.
Execution.
What This Session Covers
- The shift from AI tools → AI operating systems
- What AI-native companies look like in practice
- The rise of agentic AI and autonomous workflows
- Where AI is actually driving ROI today
- What breaks when AI hits real operations
- What leaders should prioritize over the next 6–12 months
Optional Coworking Experience (Included)
12:00 – 4:00 PM | Open Coworking at Life Time Work
- Full coworking access
- Work alongside other founders and operators
- Take meetings or get focused work done
- Build relationships before the event begins
Come early. Work. Then step into the room.
Event Experience
4:00 – 5:15 PM | Arrival, Registration & Networking
- Guest check-in and registration
- Bar and light refreshments open
- Curated networking with founders, operators, and executives
- Partner and community engagement
PROGRAM
5:25 – 5:30 PM | Welcome & Framing
Host & Moderator:
Ethan Cortazzo – Founder, GetNetworked & Cortazzo Consulting
Purpose:
- Welcome attendees
- Frame the shift from tools → systems → AI-native companies
- Set the tone for execution-focused conversation
5:30 – 6:00 PM | Featured Panel Discussion
“From AI Tools to AI Systems: How Modern Companies Are Actually Operating”
Moderator:
Ethan Cortazzo – Founder of GetNetworked & Cortazzo Consulting
Panelists
AI strategy leader advising Fortune 500 and growth-stage companies on turning AI into measurable business outcomes.
Leads AI implementation across real business operations, deploying systems that improve execution across workflows.
Jason Malec — Management Consulting (IDE8.org), formerly Gloo & American Bible Society
Focuses on AI strategy, product innovation, and organizational transformation, helping leadership teams adopt and scale AI across mission-driven and technology organizations.
Daniel Merrill — Micromanager AI
Building agentic AI systems that autonomously manage workflows, from task extraction to execution and risk monitoring.
Discussion Themes
- Where AI is actually working today
- Why most companies stall at tools
- How workflows are being replaced by systems
- What changes when AI starts executing work
- What leaders are getting wrong
6:00 – 6:10 PM | Special Guest Set
Jashan Kaleka — Ascend Transportation Group
AI/ML developer and Head of Data & Analytics, bringing a sharp, relatable perspective on work and technology through a short stand-up set.
6:10 – 7:10 PM | Practitioner Sessions (3 × 20 Minutes)
Real Systems. Real Builds. Real Results.
Topic: AI for Marketing Systems & Brand Intelligence
- Scaling content systems with AI
- Brand voice + audience intelligence
- Real-world implementation lessons
Tyler Sztuka — Founder SZDLABS & Anthropic / Claude Community ATL
Topic: Designing AI Workflows & Agentic Systems
- Building agentic workflows
- Data pipelines and execution layers
- What companies get wrong about AI-native systems
Builder Spotlight (Closing)
Diego Herrera-Rios — ShooflyAI
Topic: From AI Tools to Owned Infrastructure
- Turning AI into core business systems
- Infrastructure vs tools
- How companies build AI they actually own
- Execution at scale
7:10 – 7:30 PM | Networking Reception & Social
- Intentional networking
- Speaker conversations
- Partner engagement
- Community building inside Life Time Work
Who Should Attend
- Founders building AI-enabled companies
- Executives responsible for growth and efficiency
- Product, marketing, and operations leaders
- Enterprise innovation and transformation teams
- AI practitioners focused on real implementation
Why Attend
Real-World Insight
Hear directly from operators building AI systems in production
Execution-Focused
Understand what actually works beyond experimentation
High-Value Networking
Connect with 80–120+ founders, executives, and decision-makers
Immersive Experience
Work, learn, and connect inside one of Atlanta’s top professional environments
Key Questions We’ll Answer
- What does an AI-native company actually look like?
- Where is AI driving real ROI today?
- How do companies move from tools to systems?
- What breaks when AI hits real workflows?
- How should leaders approach agentic AI?
- What should you do in the next 90–180 days?
RSVP & Registration
Tickets starting at $20
(Includes coworking access, refreshments, and networking reception)
Register now:
Hosted by
TechSeries.AI, powered by GetNetworked, in partnership with Life Time Work Sandy Springs
About GetNetworked
GetNetworked is an AI-powered platform designed to help you discover events, meet the right people, and build real relationships in person.
Built for founders, operators, and professionals, GetNetworked enables you to:
- Discover curated, high-signal events
- Connect with attendees before and after the event
- Build meaningful relationships beyond the room
- Host, manage, and monetize your own events
This isn’t about collecting contacts.
It’s about building a real network.
Real rooms. Real conversations. Real relationships.
All attendees will be invited to connect inside GetNetworked before and after the event.
Join the platform: https://app.getnetworked.com
Upcoming Tech Series Events
June 2026 — 
The Economics of AI
August 2026 — Building AI-Ready Teams
October 2026 — 
Autonomous Business Systems
December 2026 — Executive Summit
Final Note
This isn’t another AI event.
It’s a room of people who are actually building with it.