Tech Founders Lunch Club #5

⌖ Birmingham · The ICC, Birmingham

Hosted by Birmingham Tech Week

The AI Symposium offers a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence technologies and their transformative impact across industries. Taking place at The ICC in Birmingham during Birmingham Tech Week, this full-day event brings together industry leaders, innovators, and AI experts to discuss the current state and future trajectory of AI implementation. What to Expect This multi-level symposium features dynamic sessions from key players across the tech ecosystem, providing attendees with practical insights into how AI is reshaping business operations, innovation strategies, and digital transformation initiatives. The event runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, offering extensive opportunities for learning and networking throughout the day. The speaker lineup includes over 20 industry professionals representing diverse sectors and specializations. Featured speakers include Andrew Knight (NED), Phill Chell (Co-founder & CEO), Clare Streets (Innovation Lead), Laura Bond (Founder), Mike Lewis (Strategic Lead – West Midlands Digital Roadmap), David Plumb (Chief Innovation Officer), and many other distinguished professionals working at the forefront of AI adoption and implementation. Who Should Attend This symposium is designed for technology leaders, business executives, innovation managers, AI practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding how artificial intelligence is transforming industries. Whether you're exploring AI adoption for your organization, seeking to expand your technical knowledge, or looking to connect with fellow professionals in the AI space, this event provides valuable insights and networking opportunities. The diverse speaker roster ensures coverage of multiple perspectives—from technical implementation and product management to strategic planning and business transformation. Attendees will gain practical knowledge they can apply within their own organizations while understanding broader industry trends shaping the AI landscape. Birmingham Tech Week Context As part of Birmingham Tech Week, the AI Symposium benefits from being embedded within a larger celebration of technology and innovation in the West Midlands. This positioning allows attendees to connect with the broader regional tech community and explore additional events throughout the week. The event takes place at The ICC, Birmingham, providing a professional venue with excellent facilities for this scale of t

⌖ Birmingham · x+why Foundry

Hosted by ProductTank Birmingham

Explore AI strategy and product execution at scale with Martin Eriksson and Max Borodin in Birmingham on 21 October 2026. This ProductTank Birmingham fringe event for Birmingham Tech Week brings together two complementary perspectives: how AI changes the foundations of product strategy, and what happens when a team puts that strategy into practice for a health app serving more than 20 million users. Expect candid lessons, practical product insights and debate with Birmingham’s product community. Two talks, from strategy to execution Martin Eriksson, “Welcome to the Software Renaissance. Your Strategy Isn’t Ready.” As development becomes faster and cheaper, Martin argues that the bottleneck moves from execution to clarity: away from “can we build it?” and towards “should we build it?” His talk will examine why simply using AI to perform existing work more efficiently can limit ambition, and how stronger strategic alignment can turn AI from a threat into an opportunity. Martin is a board member, strategic adviser and leadership coach who has advised more than 150 companies. His career includes The Financial Times, Monster, Huddle, Covestor, Cazoo and EQT. He also founded ProductTank, co-founded Mind the Product and wrote The Decision Stack. Read more on Martin’s website or view his LinkedIn profile. Attendees will also have the chance to win a copy of The Decision Stack. Max Borodin, “What AI Innovation Actually Did for a 20M-User Health App” Max will unpack how Simple, a US weight-loss app within Palta, used AI innovation to increase engagement by more than 50%. He will cover Coach Avo, an award-winning AI health coach used by millions; Blinky, an animated mascot created with generative AI; and the ways AI changed both the product and the team’s everyday craft. Max led the teams behind Coach Avo and Simple’s gamification system, which delivered the strongest retention growth in the company’s history. Connect with Max on LinkedIn. Format and agenda The evening combines talks, Q&A, food and informal networking:… Register for this event

Sponsors: AND Digital · Intel Stream +2

⌖ Dublin · Royal Dublin Society (RDS)

Hosted by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE)

Ireland's International AI Summit 2026 marks the official launch of European AI Innovation Month, positioning Dublin at the heart of Europe's AI conversation. Hosted by Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment during the country's EU Presidency, this flagship event brings together EU and global leaders, heads of government, CEOs, investors, innovators and academics at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) on 14th October 2026. What Makes This Summit Essential Under the theme Harnessing AI to Revolutionise Europe's Competitiveness, the summit serves as a high-level platform for strategic dialogue on AI's future application across Europe and globally. Ireland's unique position as the EU headquarters for sixteen of the world's top twenty global technology companies and eight leading foundational AI model providers makes it an ideal setting for this critical conversation about Europe's technological sovereignty and competitive future. Programme Structure The full-day summit combines multiple engagement formats designed to explore AI from policy, economic and technological perspectives. Ministerial addresses and keynote speeches from global leaders will establish the strategic context, with confirmed keynote speaker EU Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen addressing technological sovereignty, security and democracy. These high-level addresses are complemented by panel discussions and fireside chats examining: - Competitiveness and innovation in the European AI landscape - Trustworthy AI development and deployment - Digital infrastructure requirements for AI advancement - Investment strategies and funding mechanisms - Skills and talent development for the AI economy Sector Deep Dives and Practical Applications Beyond strategic policy discussion, the summit includes European-focused sector deep dives examining AI opportunities across key areas of economy and society. These sessions highlight practical examples of AI adoption and collaboration, showcasing how businesses, public services and research institutions deploy AI solutions to improve productivity, deliver innovative services and address complex societal challenges. An Innovation Spotlight Exhibition will provide enterprises the opportunity to demonstrate cutting-edge AI applications and solutions, with expressions of

◎ Online

Hosted by The Principal Dev

A virtual conference from The Principal Dev taking place on 14 October 2026, focused on the provocative theme “The $100K Hiding in Your Payroll.” The event is organised by The Principal Dev, which describes itself as a tech leads masterclass. It may be particularly relevant to engineering leaders, tech leads and others responsible for technical teams and payroll budgets. The published listing does not currently include a start time, timezone, speaker line-up, agenda or detailed session topics. Check the event page for the latest programme and booking information before making plans. Register for The $100K Hiding in Your Payroll

⌖ London · Excel London

Hosted by DTX Events

DTX London brings together 10,000+ technology leaders, innovators and decision-makers at Excel London for two days of practical insights into digital and business transformation. Taking place 14-15 October 2026, this flagship expo connects the people, platforms and processes that drive organisation-wide change across AI, cyber security, data analytics, cloud infrastructure, and automation. What to Expect DTX London is designed for teams at every stage of their transformation journey — whether you're optimising your IT stack, strengthening cyber and data strategies, or deploying AI solutions at scale. The event features multiple content stages addressing critical themes including Responsible AI, Holistic Security Foundations, Human-First Resilience, Agile IT, and Purpose-Led Tech Rollouts. Attendees from organisations including Network Rail, NHS, BBC, Booking.com, HSBC, Barclays, and John Lewis come to discover vendor-neutral insights, explore emerging solutions, and connect with peers facing similar challenges. The expo floor showcases hundreds of exhibitors across 12 technology areas, from IT infrastructure and cloud computing to unified communications and customer experience platforms. Content and Speakers The event programme is shaped by a dedicated Advisory Board of senior leaders in technology, operations, data, and cybersecurity. Expect keynote presentations, panel discussions, and case study sessions covering People-Powered Transformation, The Data Advantage, Leading Through Change, Next Generation Talent, Smarter Workspaces, and Elevated Customer Journeys. Co-located with Unified Communication EXPO, DTX London creates a comprehensive environment for exploring the intersection of technology, people, and operations. The agenda balances strategic vision with tactical implementation, ensuring you leave with actionable insights regardless of your role — CIO, CTO, CISO, Head of Data, DevOps Lead, or Transformation Manager. Technology Areas Covered The expo spans IT Infrastructure, Storage & Networks | IT Service Management | Cloud Computing | Cyber Security | Unified Communications & Collaboration | Video and Audio Visual | Data Management & Analytics | AI | Software Development & Engineering | Customer Contact & Experience. Register your interest for DTX London 2026

Sponsors: Network Rail · Comcast Sky Business +20

⌖ Cardiff · Hays Recruitment Agency - Cardiff

Hosted by Zena's Coaching

Women in tech can explore authentic leadership, career development and new connections in Cardiff on 14 October 2026 at this in-person event. Lead as yourself and strengthen your network Women in Tech: Leading as Yourself brings together women from across South Wales for a focused morning of inspiring speakers, honest discussion and meaningful networking. Celebrating Women in Tech Week 2026, the event creates space to consider how you can lead as yourself, develop your career and build the support network that women do not always find within the technology sector. The programme connects industry, academia and personal development in one room. Rather than limiting “tech” to a single profession, it welcomes women working or interested in software, hardware, AI, cyber security, design, web, data, analytics, IT and the many other disciplines under the technology umbrella. What to expect This is a 2.5-hour, in-person speaker and networking event featuring: - Speaker sessions designed to inspire reflection and career growth - Open, honest discussion about experiences in technology - Dedicated networking time with women from across the South Wales tech community - Opportunities to connect across different disciplines, organisations and career stages The emphasis is on real conversation and useful relationships,not simply exchanging contact details. Attendees can meet peers who understand the challenges of building a career in an industry that does not always recognise or celebrate women’s success. Who should attend? The event is exclusively for women already working in technology or interested in entering the industry. It is designed to be relevant whether you are: - An experienced leader or team lead - Building momentum in a mid-career role - A graduate or student - Working in academic research - Feeling stuck and considering your next step - Exploring a move into tech from another field No single level of experience or technical specialism is required. The breadth of the audience is a central part of the format, helping women at different stages learn from one another and form connections beyond their usual professional circles. Organised by Zena’s Coaching, the event is proudly partnered with WeAreTechWomen and Women in TECH-Connect Wales.… Register for this event

Sponsors: WeAreTechWomen · Women in TECH-Connect Wales