Governance & playbook

Governed open source, written down.

Nobody owns Tech Wave, everybody builds it. That only works with a small set of values, a playbook anyone can run, and integrity rules that are actually enforced. This is that set.

Principles

What we stand for

European values by default

We build on European ground rules: privacy, fairness, transparency and human dignity. GDPR and the EU AI Act are not a compliance chore here — they are the baseline we operate on.

Human judgment first

AI supports people, it does not replace their responsibility. People decide, systems support. Anyone presenting AI work here owns its consequences.

Calm over loud

No hype, no growth theatre, no pitch competitions. Technology and this community should stay in the background and surface when they are useful.

Sustainable growth

We favour work that improves profit, people and operating flow at once. Scale that turns into strain is not a win worth applauding.

Open by default

Values, playbook, brand system and code are public and reusable. If a decision cannot be explained in the open, it is not made in our name.

Positive-sum networking

You leave with something useful, and so does the person you met. Anything else is extraction wearing a lanyard.

The playbook

How a chapter runs

01

One community, no divisions

A chapter is open to founders, corporate teams, solo builders, creators, students and investors alike. No tiers, no inner circle, no membership fee.

02

A rhythm, not a calendar

One flagship gathering to open the chapter, then a monthly meetup on a fixed cadence. Predictable beats impressive.

03

Substance in the room

Every event carries at least one thing people can use the next morning: a working example, a real number, a lesson that cost someone money. Slides optional, evidence required.

04

Hosts, not owners

Organisers are caretakers. They hold the domain, brand and lists on behalf of the community and hand them to the governing body once it is registered.

05

Partners without capture

Venues and sponsors are welcome and named. They do not buy the stage, the agenda or the mailing list. Any commercial relationship is disclosed.

06

Fork it, keep the standard

Anyone can start a chapter under the same name, brand and charter. Adopt the values and the integrity rules, or use another name.

High integrity

The two hard rules: legal business, high integrity of members.

  • Legal business only. No grey-zone schemes, no unlicensed financial advice, no laundering of anything through community credibility.
  • Say what is true. No inflated traction, invented clients, borrowed logos or AI output presented as your own expertise.
  • Disclose your interest before you speak on it — employer, investment, commission, affiliation.
  • The room is not a lead list. No hard selling, no cold-scraping attendees, no recruiting on the floor without consent.
  • Confidentiality holds. What is shared in the room stays there unless the person says otherwise.
  • Respect people and the venue. Harassment, discrimination and intimidation end participation, permanently.
  • Data is handled with care: minimum collected, never sold, deletable on request.

Enforcement is simple and boring: organisers speak to the person once, and remove participation if it repeats. There is no appeal committee yet — there will be one inside the governing body currently being structured.

Status

Version 0.1. Tech Wave is run by volunteer organisers while an independent non-profit governing body is being structured. Proposals and objections are part of the model — bring them to the next meetup or message the organisers on Luma.

See also the charter & terms, license and privacy pages.

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