UGLY TALK: REAL SETBACKS, HARD-WON WINS, AND WHAT WORKS IN 2026
By 2026, AI isn’t failing because the tech is weak. It’s failing because implementation is brutal.
Most pilots die in experimentation. Agentic workflows overpromise, wrappers buckle under API costs, and internal builds stall without the right partners or governance. Demos impress; ROI doesn’t follow.
This Ugly Talk cuts through the noise to examine real failures, hard-earned lessons, and the few pragmatic playbooks that actually scale as the hype correction sets in.
🎯 Why You Should Attend
Shortcut costly trial and error. Learn from real failures and wins shared by founders and operators who’ve spent months building, breaking, and fixing AI in production.
Focus on what actually works now. Walk away with pragmatic tools, architectures, and workflows that deliver measurable ROI, not experimental demos.
Get clarity on where AI belongs and where it doesn’t. Understand which use cases scale, which quietly drain budget, and where human judgment still outperforms automation.
Set realistic success metrics. Learn how teams define and measure outcomes like cost savings, productivity gains, reliability, and operational lift when AI is in the loop.
🙋 Who's Getting In This Room
Founders and operators building AI-native or AI-enabled products
Early-stage to mid-market teams (pre-seed to Series B) navigating PMF, pilots, and scale
Angels and investors with hands-on exposure to what breaks and what survives
Builders integrating AI into real workflows not academic or theory-only roles
🎤 Who's Taking the Stage
Jordan Skinner - Founder & CEO of Build: NextGenAI
Jordan Skinner is an AI Engineer and Implementation Architect specializing in enterprise-scale agentic AI systems. At Blend, he designs and deploys multi-agent frameworks for Fortune-scale clients, translating cutting-edge AI capability into production-grade, real-world solutions. He is also the founder of Build: NextGenAI, where he develops AI-native SaaS platforms from architecture through launch. With over 8 years in enterprise technology and a foundation in decisioning systems and predictive analytics, Jordan brings a rare dual perspective — deep technical fluency paired with sharp business context. He is passionate about moving organizations from AI experimentation to measurable enterprise deployment.
Brian Rider - CEO of Symbolic Systems
Bob Waltenspiel - Founder of IT in the D
Bob Waltenspiel is the founder the longest running and largest networking group in Michigan, IT in the D. He is also the host of the podcast with the same name. He has been running monthly events since 2007 and has hosted a weekly podcast since 2013.
Moderator:
Robert Skinner - Co-Founder of NeuroAIgent Inc.
Robert Skinner is a seasoned digital transformation leader and AI advocate with decades of experience driving exponential change across industries. As a CXO-level executive and public speaker, he helps organizations harness the power of generative AI, advanced analytics, and intelligent automation to reimagine business models and accelerate growth. Through his SkinnersChoice platform, Robert shares insights on AI strategy, digital innovation, and transformative technologies that unlock competitive advantage. His thought leadership bridges strategic vision with practical execution, empowering teams to leverage AI responsibly and effectively in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.
💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat
The AI pilot graveyard (90–95% fail)
Why most agentic projects stall, wrappers implode under cost pressure, and hype-driven experiments burn cash without ROI backed by real numbers and war stories.
Lessons from the scars
Model tradeoffs, governance failures, talent churn, and recovering from overpromised demos or broken integrations.
What actually works in production
Field-tested wins: pragmatic deployments delivering measurable value, vertical AI that sticks, and how teams cross from pilot to production without exploding budgets.
Where AI is really headed in 2026 and beyond
The shift toward pragmatism smaller models, hybrid and edge infrastructure, agent reliability, and separating enduring tech from noise.
Audience hot seat
Direct challenges to panelists on “what would you do differently,” current pitfalls they’re seeing, and tactical advice for attendees’ specific AI roadblocks.
🥂Food & Drinks on Us
Enjoy cocktails and light hors d'oeuvre during the event.
🤝 Who's Hosting It
🤝 Who's Backing This
GREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
⭐ About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website: UglyTalk.com
🗣📢 Important Notice for Ugly Talk Attendees
Admission & Confirmation
Attendance is by approval only. Approved guests will receive a confirmation email along with a calendar invite. Invitations are non-transferable. Additional event details will be shared as the event approaches.
Code of Conduct
By attending, you agree to:
Maintain respect and professionalism, adhering to all venue rules, policies, and applicable laws.
Refrain from harassment, discrimination, unwelcome sexual advances (verbal or physical), intimidation, or inappropriate photography/recording.
Report any violations to the event hosts immediately.
Violations may result in immediate removal from the event and exclusion from future invitations.
Liability & Risk
Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. The event organizers, hosts, sponsors, and venue are not liable for personal injury, lost or stolen belongings, or any other damages incurred during the event.
Media Consent
By attending, you grant the event organizers and affiliated entities the right to capture, use, and distribute photos, videos, and audio recordings of you for promotional, marketing, and other lawful purposes, including digital and print media, advertising, and social media. You waive any right to inspect or approve the final materials and release all claims related to their use.
Communications
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Agreement
If you do not agree to this Code of Conduct, please refrain from attending the event.
Official Event Page: [Link]