Lessons Learned from Building a New DEF CON Group

The session comes from the cofounders of DC724, a DEF CON group for the Greensburg, Pennsylvania area that formed after DEF CON 33 and had about 70 members at the time. They begin with the questions a prospective organizer should settle before applying: whether they have the time, whether a nearby group already exists that they could support instead, what the group should focus on, who will serve as point of contact, and where startup money will come from. Naming is covered too, with a city name as a fallback when area-code names are taken.

The middle of the talk covers the early months. The presenters describe the intake process through DEF CON's group leadership, the value of visiting an established group's meetings, and running in-person and virtual sessions with a consistent schedule. They recommend a Meetup page, a website, and Discord announcements. Feedback should be gathered through a mix of polls and direct conversation, used sparingly, and weighed for both praise and criticism. Delegation comes next: pick reliable people and let them own tasks they enjoy.

The closing section covers working with other local tech groups, which may decline, and planning for setbacks such as losing a meeting space, shifting partnerships, member turnover, and money structure. The takeaway is that a new group grows through relationships with other communities, shared contribution, and a backup plan for where people meet.