Elevate Your Career with Ottawa’s Meetup Networks at Bayview Yards
By: Bayview Yards
15-minute read
1968 words
Staying ahead of the curve is more crucial than ever, and that’s exactly what the Bayview Yards Meetup Program helps you do.
These dynamic, collaborative communities are designed to give professionals the edge by offering opportunities to connect with like-minded innovators, stay up to date on the latest industry trends, and gain fresh insights from peers and experts alike. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, developer, or tech enthusiast, these meetups provide a space to sharpen your skills, exchange ideas, and build relationships that can propel your career forward.
At Bayview Yards, we’re not just fostering events—we’re cultivating connections that open doors to new possibilities and future success. Over the past few years, the Bayview Yards Meetup Program has blossomed into a thriving ecosystem of innovators, creators, and changemakers.
What began as a simple idea to offer space and support for community-led meetups has evolved into a dynamic platform that brings people together around shared passions, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurial spirit. From AI practitioners and cybersecurity experts to immigrant entrepreneurs and Apple developers, this program has become a launchpad for meaningful conversations, hands-on learning, and authentic connections.
Here’s a look at just some of the incredible groups that are shaping Ottawa’s innovation community through the Meetup Program at Bayview Yards.
Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Meetup Group
In 2024, the Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Meetup Group was launched by Karla Briones, a long-time partner of Invest Ottawa and a passionate advocate for newcomer entrepreneurs. With deep roots in entrepreneurship and firsthand experience as a Mexican immigrant, Karla understood the unique challenges of starting a business in a new country.
She also recognized how isolating the entrepreneurial journey can feel, especially for those navigating the complexities of immigration at the same time.
What began as a way to build community has since grown into a vibrant network of over 300 participants. Through marketplaces, tradeshows, networking sessions, potlucks, and more, this group has created a welcoming space where women and non-binary immigrant entrepreneurs can connect, support one another, and grow together.
Learn more about the Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Meetup Group.
“Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada’s involvement with Bayview’s Meetup Program has been a game changer. It has allowed our group to grow steadily and continue on our mission to create a more diverse and inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.”
- Karla Briones, Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Meetup Group
Ai Tinkerers
AI Tinkerers is another standout community within the Bayview Yards Meetup Program, built for those who live and breathe artificial intelligence.
Created by a group of professionals in Ottawa, this meetup is more than a gathering, it’s a collaborative lab for AI practitioners to experiment, exchange insights, and stay at the cutting edge of machine learning and large language models (LLMs). With over 200 engaged members, AI Tinkerers offers a space for technical deep dives, live demos, and meaningful conversations that go beyond surface-level hype.
Designed for individuals with machine learning, technical, and entrepreneurial backgrounds, the group encourages open sharing of challenges, discoveries, and innovations. It’s a place where vulnerability meets expertise, and where pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI happens through community and collaboration.
Troubleshoot challenges and expand your network. Join Ai Tinkerers today! Learn more.
“We’re lucky to have Bayview Yards as home for AI Tinkerers Ottawa. The space is inspiring, the community is welcoming, and the environment fuels creativity and collaboration. Being here has helped us grow our network, attract new members, and explore exciting ideas in artificial intelligence. It’s a place where innovation feels possible every time we meet.”
- Hai Nghiem
Canadian Cyber Forum
A long-standing member of the Bayview Yards Meetup Program, the Canadian Cyber Forum, also known as the Ottawa Cyber Security Meetup, has been building a strong foundation for more than five years. Founded by local entrepreneur and tech expert Mark Tse, this not-for-profit initiative creates a vital space for cybersecurity professionals and business leaders to learn, network, and grow.
With events ranging from large-scale forums attracting over 300 attendees to smaller, focused sessions of 30 members, the group addresses the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats. Monthly meetups feature expert speakers and breakout discussions designed to tackle the latest challenges and share best practices. As cyber threats grow in complexity and frequency across sectors, this community plays a crucial role in promoting knowledge, collaboration, and security resilience within the business and tech ecosystem.
“Partnering with Invest Ottawa through the Meetup Program has been a game-changer for the Canadian Cyber Forum. Their generous support—providing professional facilities, technical AV assistance, and an inviting space—has enabled us to deliver high-quality monthly meetups that attract a growing and engaged audience. More than just infrastructure, the partnership has helped elevate our presence within the local tech ecosystem, connecting us with a broader Ottawa community of cybersecurity professionals, startups, and innovators.
What truly stands out is the incredible team at Invest Ottawa. The team at Invest Ottawa is fantastic—always responsive, proactive, and dedicated to helping our group succeed. This partnership has been instrumental in growing our community, and we look forward to continuing our work with them.”
- Mark Tse, Canadian Cyber Forum
Ottawa Autonomous Vehicle Group
The Ottawa Autonomous Vehicle Group 
OAVG) is another innovative addition to the Bayview Yards Meetup Program, where curiosity meets hands-on experimentation. Founded in 2019 by Ottawa tech enthusiast and University of Ottawa graduate Nicholas Schmidt, OAVG is on a mission to make autonomous vehicle technology more accessible.
The group brings together makers, tinkerers, and tech lovers of all skill levels to explore machine learning, control systems, and electronics through small-scale RC car projects. What sets OAVG apart is its welcoming spirit—anyone with a passion for learning and a desire to build is encouraged to join.
Whether you’re just beginning your AV journey or already deep into the tech, the group offers a collaborative space to share knowledge, experiment, and, most importantly, have fun. Regularly hosted in the Bayview Yards Training Room, OAVG meetups are all about learning by doing—and building community in the process.
To receive invitations to attend virtually or in person, click here.
“The Bayview Yards Meetup Program has been a key part of having a physical meetup space for our group. We’ve had a welcoming atmosphere for guest speakers in an easily accessible part of Ottawa. The Audio-Visual setup makes it easy to offer hybrid meetings for people who would prefer to connect from home. The training room has been perfect for members. Its modular setup makes it easy to move tables around and test or demonstrate members’ robots.
Being part of the Bayview Yards ecosystem means the meetup group can reach an even broader audience that it would otherwise. Bayview Yards have always been supportive of the group. Whenever technical help was needed during a meetup, there was a staff member on-site to help.
The Meetup Program actively promoted our events and offered opportunities to participate in events above and beyond our regular programming, such as the Monthly Innovation Showcase Series.”
- Nicholas Schmidt, Ottawa Autonomous Vehicle Group
Product Hunt (Ottawa Chapter)
Product Hunt Ottawa
is riding the wave of global tech enthusiasm, bringing the city’s makers, builders, and product lovers together every 6–8 weeks. As part of the growing Product Hunt phenomenon, this meetup gives entrepreneurs, investors, and enthusiasts a place to connect, share, and celebrate the latest innovations emerging from Ottawa’s startup ecosystem.
Whether you’re launching a new product, looking for feedback, or simply eager to discover the next big thing, these gatherings offer a dynamic space to explore it all.
Attendees can expect everything from AMA sessions with founders to startup showcases and hands-on networking with the local tech community. Rooted in the spirit of discovery, Product Hunt Ottawa has become a key stop for anyone passionate about tech, product design, and building what’s next.
Don’t miss the next event, join the Product Hunt Ottawa group today.
“Organizing Product Hunt at Bayview Yards has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The Meetup Program has provided a welcoming space for innovation and collaboration, helping to build a strong, diverse community around emerging technologies.
The event space and technology make hosting seamless, creating an environment where ideas can thrive. Bayview Yards truly fosters connection and inclusion, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a vibrant community hub.”
- Rami Alhamad, Organizer of Product Hunt Meetup Group
Cocoaheads
Cocoaheads Ottawa joined the Bayview Yards Meetup Program in 2024, bringing together a community of Apple developers led by Philippe Casgrain. This group is devoted to exploring Apple’s development frameworks across macOS, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS, with a healthy curiosity for server-side technologies, Swift, web development, and the Internet of Things.
Their monthly meetups, hosted in the Bayview Yards Training Room, feature project showcases, in-depth tutorials, and live coding sessions.
It’s a welcoming space for developers to share ideas, level up their skills, and get inspired by the work of others in the community. And, as tradition has it, the learning continues over food and drinks after the talks, making each meetup as social as it is technical.
Join the Cocoaheads group and sharpen your skills with fellow developers.
“Our Cocoaheads meetup has been going strong, monthly since 2008. During the pandemic we went virtual, but it’s never the same as a real-life meetup.
We started the Bayview Yards meetup program in Summer of 2024 with the intention of rekindling our in-person relationships, and I must say that it has exceeded our expectations. The quality of the space and the ease of configuration, its availability, the central location of Bayview Yards and most of all the friendly and supportive staff have made this experience extremely agreeable.
We’ve settled on a virtual / non-virtual cadence monthly cadence for Cocoaheads and so far it’s been working really well. We hope to continue this for the foreseeable future. Thanks for providing this meeting space.”
- Philippe Casgrain – Cocoaheads Ottawa / Gatineau
Get Involved in Our Thriving Meetup Community
These remarkable meetup groups are just a glimpse of the vibrant community at Bayview Yards. From AI enthusiasts and cybersecurity experts to immigrant entrepreneurs and developers, each group brings together passionate individuals eager to connect, collaborate, and push the boundaries of innovation. Whether you’re looking to share your expertise, discover new ideas, or network with like-minded individuals, Bayview Yards offers the perfect environment to foster growth and creativity. It’s a place where knowledge is shared, challenges are tackled, and new opportunities are constantly emerging.
If you lead a group or initiative that aligns with the spirit of innovation, we invite you to apply to join the Bayview Yards Meetup Program. This is your opportunity to become part of an exciting and supportive community that’s dedicated to shaping Ottawa’s future. Together, we can continue to create spaces for meaningful connections and inspire the next wave of creators, thinkers, and entrepreneurs. Join us and help us build something extraordinary.
Unlock your professional potential by connecting with Ottawa’s leading innovators. Bayview Yards Meetup groups offer a collaborative space to learn, share, and grow. Best of all, they’re free to attend and open to everyone.
