As someone who has actively participated in technology community events for almost a decade, I've witnessed the challenges faced by organizers and seen that many businesses aren't aware of the benefits of community-focused events. The major assumption is that being involved with community things costs time and money, which is often perceived as charity. However, investing time into tech ecosystems can be a massive-career enhancer or business. Growing a meetup event increases technical profile to potential clients, making you an industry leader. It also introduces your employees to people learning about or pioneering new technologies that your business can harness. Additionally, getting involved in niche groups contributes to diversity and inclusion, giving you the opportunity to hire talent based on actual potential rather than box-ticking. Many businesses don't see the obvious return on investment beyond immediate fiscal metrics, but events like sponsoring events or encouraging staff to speak at events can result in increased hiring, new business, and general brand awareness. Local meetups offer a great format for learning and connecting with companies that are hiring, and attending these events can give you valuable information for free and boost your career. To contribute, start small with little effort, remember that the number of people who turn up is insignificant, and try to make events neutral as possible. Reaching out to help build communities also helps build your own community, making it a good tradeoff.