frAIdays at Granite City: Three Tracks. One Rush.
AI is moving fast. But for most founders, small business owners, operators, marketers, developers, and community leaders, the real question is not “What is the latest model?”
It is much simpler:
How can I actually use this stuff?
That is the idea behind frAIdays at Granite City, a monthly AI gathering for the Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Highway 50 corridor. The event brings together people at every stage of the AI journey — from beginners still figuring out ChatGPT to builders working on AI-powered products, automations, and systems.
No gatekeeping. No generic AI hype. Just useful conversations, local connections, and practical ways to put AI tools to work.
What to Expect
1. Lunch + Conversation Tables
The event starts with lunch and optional guided conversation tables.
This is designed to make it easy to meet people, especially if you are walking in cold and do not already know everyone in the room.
Table topics may include:
AI tools people actually use every day
What people have tried and dropped
AI for marketing, hiring, scheduling, and operations
What people wish they understood better about AI
Where AI is saving time right now
Think of it as a low-pressure on-ramp. No need to show up as an “AI expert.” In fact, that is kind of the point.
2. Choose Your AI Track
After lunch, attendees will break into sessions based on where they are in their AI journey.
Spark — For Beginners
For people who are new to AI or still figuring out what today’s tools can actually do. This track is ideal for AI-curious professionals, small business owners, students, and anyone who wants a practical starting point without jargon.
Flame — For Practical Users
For people already using AI who want better workflows. Expect examples around marketing, proposals, operations, research, automation, customer communication, and productivity. This is a good fit for founders, operators, consultants, marketers, managers, and business owners.
Forge — For Builders
For developers, technical founders, product teams, AI consultants, automation builders, and advanced operators. Topics may include APIs, agentic workflows, coding with AI, production deployments, and real-world implementation lessons.
3. Leave With Practical Takeaways
The goal is not just to talk about AI.
The goal is to leave with:
New tools to try
Better workflows
Practical ideas
Local connections
People to keep building with
As the event description puts it: “Bring your stack. Or come find one.”
Schedule
11:45 AM — Lunch + Conversation Tables
Grab lunch, choose a table topic, and meet people working through similar AI questions.
12:45 PM — Breakout Sessions
Choose the track that best fits your current AI journey: Spark, Flame, or Forge.
1:45 PM — Wrap-Up + Open Networking
Compare notes, meet facilitators, and keep the conversation going.
Who Should Attend
frAIdays is a good fit for:
Founders
Small business owners
Operators
Marketers
Consultants
Developers
Product teams
Students
Civic leaders
AI-curious professionals
Anyone building or exploring AI in the Folsom–Rancho Cordova–Highway 50 corridor
Hosted at Granite City Workspaces
frAIdays is hosted at Granite City Workspaces in Historic Downtown Folsom, a home base for founders, builders, remote teams, small businesses, and community-led innovation. Weather and setup permitting, some sessions may also be available outdoors on the patio using silent disco headphones.
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
Time: 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: The Commons at Granite City, 705 Gold Lake Dr., Suite 150, Folsom, CA 95630
Cost: Free
Register: Luma