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Tyler Hoff

Background​

  • Director of Community and Partnerships at OpenTeams
  • Married to Sydney (originally from Germany)
  • Father of multiple young children
  • Active member of LDS church
  • Business development professional with focus on sovereign AI and enterprise solutions
  • Active in Austin tech community
  • Familiar with Austin AI Alliance dynamics
  • Has sense of humor (references The Office in meetings)

Professional Experience​

OpenTeams Role​

Business Development:

  • Engaging with potential partners for Navari OS ecosystem
  • Recent successful call with former FBI/military contact about sovereign AI
  • Building relationships with organizations interested in owning their technology
  • Evangelizing sovereign AI story and ecosystem approach

Partnership Philosophy:

  • Tyler: "He just got it really quick. And he was really excited. He's like, yeah, I need something like Navari OS to get my stuff out there."
  • Focuses on ecosystem plays rather than single-product sales
  • Understands need for technology sovereignty in government and enterprise

Community Observations​

Austin AI Alliance Critique:

  • Tyler: "It's putting in, these are decision makers and movers and shakers, but if you're not at the wheel, you shouldn't be a part of this conversation."
  • Recognizes exclusionary nature of executive-only AI communities
  • Advocates for inclusive approach: "Some of the sheep want to be present because they want to have a little bit of a voice"
  • Sees gap in market for practitioner-level community

Applied AI Society Perspective​

Inclusivity Concerns​

Overwhelm Potential:

  • Tyler: "The non-technical person who's as Gary mentioned, 'Hey, I want to stay current with AI... I don't want to be afraid of it. And I want it to empower me.'"
  • Recognizes challenge: "That's going to be every, I feel like that's everybody"
  • Sees both opportunity and scaling challenge in inclusive approach

Community Differentiation​

  • Understands Applied AI Society fills gap left by executive-focused groups
  • Values giving voice to all levels of organization
  • Tyler: "This allows for people who aren't having their hands on the wheel to be a part of the conversation"

Business Development Insights​

Partnership Approach​

  • Quick to identify aligned partners
  • Focuses on ecosystem value over individual sales
  • Understands government and enterprise needs for sovereignty
  • Building relationships with security-cleared professionals

Market Understanding​

  • Recognizes broad appeal of AI empowerment message
  • Understands fear-based resistance to AI adoption
  • Sees opportunity in education and enablement
  • Values practical applications over theoretical discussions

Strategic Value for Gary Sheng​

Austin Network​

  • Knowledge of Austin AI ecosystem dynamics
  • Understanding of what's missing in current communities
  • Connections to enterprise and government contacts
  • Ability to identify and engage aligned partners

Business Development​

  • Can help scale Applied AI Society through partnerships
  • Understanding of sovereign AI narrative
  • Experience with enterprise engagement
  • Practical approach to community growth

Personality and Work Style​

Communication Style​

  • Casual and humorous (Office references)
  • Direct and practical observations
  • Good at analogies (shepherds and sheep metaphor)
  • Enthusiastic about aligned opportunities

Meeting Approach​

  • Tyler about successful calls: "Can we have this call every Monday morning? I want to start my Monday morning"
  • Values productive, aligned conversations
  • Quick to recognize value alignment
  • Appreciates clear mission and purpose

Potential Collaboration Areas​

Applied AI Society Growth​

  • Austin chapter development
  • Enterprise partnership cultivation
  • Government sector engagement
  • Bridging executive and practitioner communities

Sovereign AI Evangelism​

  • Promoting ownership models
  • Engaging security-conscious organizations
  • Building ecosystem partnerships
  • Creating enterprise adoption strategies

Key Quotes​

On Community Exclusion: "If you're not a shepherd, they don't want sheep at the event. They only want the shepherds."

On Broad Appeal: "The non-technical person... I want to stay current with AI... I don't want to be afraid of it. And I want it to empower me... I feel like that's everybody."

On Current Gap: "This is where the Austin AI Alliance is falling short"

On Inclusion Value: "This allows for people who aren't having their hands on the wheel to be a part of the conversation"

Connection Points​

  • OpenTeams leadership team
  • Austin AI community
  • Former FBI/military contacts
  • Enterprise technology decision makers
  • Government contractor network

Notable Observations​

  • Recognizes tension between exclusivity and scale
  • Understands practitioner perspective despite director role
  • Values ecosystem approach over single-vendor solutions
  • Sees Applied AI Society as addressing real market gap

Transcripts​

Transcript IDDateSummary
2026-01-09-applied-ai-communities-sync2026-01-09Group sync on Applied AI Society Q1 strategy; praised Gary's "opposite of gatekeeping" documentation approach as enabling rather than just leading

Interaction History​

  • 2026-01-09: Applied AI Communities Sync; praised Gary's open documentation approach as "the opposite of gatekeeping" and emphasized the message of "you can do this yourself."
  • 2025-08-03: Attended dinner at Allan and Heather Staker's home with wife Sydney and children. Part of LDS community welcome dinner - Gary was surprised to realize Tyler worked with Travis.
  • 2025-11-24: Applied AI Society planning meeting with Gary Sheng, Travis Oliphant, Emma Merrill, Inessa Pawson, Josh Oliphant, and Willie. Discussed community inclusivity, critiqued Austin AI Alliance's executive-only approach, and emphasized need for practitioner voices in AI development.