Frequently Asked Questions

Chelsea Rustrum is a community builder, author, and speaker based in Lisbon and San Francisco. She founded CoLab Lisbon to teach AI skills through hands-on workshops and collaborative dinners. She is the author of "It's a Shareable Life" and a 2x TEDx speaker on blockchain and shared ownership. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Wired, and The Economist.

Community building is the practice of creating spaces and experiences that foster genuine human connection around shared interests or goals. Chelsea's approach combines hands-on activities (like cooking together) with learning about emerging technology, creating environments where people form lasting relationships while gaining practical skills. She has hosted 100+ dinners in Lisbon and taught 200+ people AI skills in person.

Chelsea teaches practical AI skills through CoLab Lisbon, including Claude Code workshops, hands-on AI building courses for entrepreneurs, and team training sessions. Her courses focus on learning by doing, with students building real projects alongside their peers. Courses range from beginner to advanced levels and are offered at venues including Unicorn Factory, Tribe, and Impact Hub in Lisbon.

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Collaborative dinners are themed events where guests cook together and discuss specific topics. For example, at "Dumplings & AI," participants learn to fold dumplings by hand while exploring artificial intelligence topics. Other events include Ethics & AI and the Generosity Experiment. The format creates natural conversation and connection through shared activity, turning strangers into collaborators over a meal.

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The sharing economy refers to peer-to-peer platforms and practices that enable people to share access to goods, services, and resources. Chelsea's book "It's a Shareable Life" is a practical guide to participating in the sharing economy, covering platforms for sharing transportation, housing, skills, and more. She has been writing and speaking about collaborative consumption since 2008.

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Shared ownership is a model where multiple people collectively own assets or organizations, enabling more equitable distribution of value. Chelsea spoke about this at TEDxBoulder in 2018 with "The Future of Blockchain," exploring how distributed technology can enable new ownership structures. Her project Nomad Apartments in Bansko is an example of co-owned digital nomad housing.

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Chelsea is available for keynotes, panels, and workshops on AI adoption, community building, the sharing economy, and shared ownership. She has spoken at TEDx twice, Web Summit, the European Parliament, PwC, and events in 15+ countries. To inquire about booking, email chelsea@rustrum.com with details about your event.

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Chelsea splits her time between Lisbon, Portugal and San Francisco, USA. Most of her in-person courses, dinners, and community events take place in Lisbon. She travels frequently for speaking engagements and has visited 50+ countries.