San Diego AI Events & Meetups
Builder-first meetups, hackathons for public good, and a growing network shipping AI in production.
Upcoming Events
Thu, Feb 26 · 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
AI Tinkerers San Diego: February Meetup
Join 109+ builders for the February AI Tinkerers meetup. Live demos, technical deep dives, and networking with senior engineers deploying AI in production.
Sat, Feb 28 · 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Backland Builder Lab - Healthcare Edition
A full-day hackathon focused on building AI solutions for healthcare. Teams tackle real problems, build working prototypes, and present to judges. Open to developers, designers, and domain experts.
What We Do
We host San Diego AI events — monthly, builder-first meetups where engineers and operators demo what they're shipping, share technical deep dives, and connect with peers working on real AI systems. No pitch decks, no hand-waving. Just people building.
We also organize hackathons, bringing together developers, designers, and domain experts to tackle challenges in healthcare, emergency services, education, and civic engagement. These events pair practical impact with expert mentorship and post-event support to keep solutions moving forward.
Whether you're a senior engineer at a Fortune 500, a startup founder, or someone exploring AI for the first time — there's a seat at the table.
San Diego's AI Community
133+
Recent Attendees
C-Level
to Senior Engineers
Monthly
AI Tinkerers Meetups
100%
Hands-on Builders
Attendees from Intuit, Qualcomm, ServiceNow, Google, Microsoft, and leading startups.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I meet AI professionals in San Diego?
- There are a number of meetup groups, happy hours, and coffee chats such as AI Tinkerers SD, SDx, and North Park AI Happy Hour.
- Are Backland Labs events free?
- Yes, our events are free to attend and supported by volunteers and sponsors.
- How often does AI Tinkerers San Diego meet?
- We meet once a month, typically the third Thursday of the month.
- Do I need to know AI to attend?
- We put on different events ranging from non-technical meetups to highly technical hackathons. For our monthly AI Tinkerers meetup you should be actively building with AI tools but do not need a technical understanding of AI or software engineering.
- How do I register for an event?
- Navigate to the individual event page for links to registration.
- Where are Backland Labs events held?
- Events are held in San Diego and Orange Counties.
Get Involved
Interested in Sponsoring?
Partner with San Diego's premier AI community. Connect directly with senior builders and decision-makers actively deploying AI in production.
View Sponsor KitLast updated: February 2026