techSPARK Next Gen: What I Wish I'd Known

⌖ Bristol

Hosted by Canopy Community

Demo Night Bristol brings startups, investors and community members together for an evening of live demos in Bristol on Wednesday 21 October 2026. See what Bristol’s startup community is building Hosted by Canopy Community, this four-hour startup showcase offers a focused opportunity to discover new ventures, meet the people behind them and connect with others involved in the local innovation ecosystem. The event runs from 4:00pm to 8:00pm (GMT+1) in Bristol. Demo Night is designed around startup discovery and community connection. Whether you want to see what founders are working on, make useful new contacts or gain greater visibility into Bristol’s startup scene, the evening provides an accessible setting in which to do so. The exact venue address is shared with registered attendees. Who should attend? The event is relevant to: - Founders and startup teams interested in seeing other ventures in action - Investors looking for priority access to startups and information about the evening - Members of Canopy Community - Paid members, active programme participants and team members from SetSquared - People who want to engage with Bristol’s wider startup community Hosts Stewart Noakes and Sophie Connolly will represent Canopy Community for the evening. You can learn more about the organiser through the Canopy Community website, watch its content on YouTube, or follow the community on LinkedIn. Tickets and practical details Registration is free, with several ticket options available: - Standard: free general registration - Investor: free, subject to approval, with priority startup access and information about the evening - Canopy Members: free, subject to approval, for paid Canopy Community members - SetSquared Members: free, subject to approval, for eligible members, programme participants and SetSquared team members The event takes place on Wednesday 21 October 2026, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Register in advance to receive the full Bristol venue address and select the ticket category that best matches your involvement. Register for Demo Night Bristol

⌖ Bristol · Lost & Found Bristol

Hosted by Software Crafters Bristol

Explore how real engineering teams can use AI to accelerate software delivery without sacrificing quality, security or architecture in Bristol. Hosted by Codurance for Software Crafters Bristol, this panel discussion examines the practical realities of AI-powered software development, the good, the bad and the ugly. It takes place on Thursday 22 October 2026, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm BST, at Lost & Found Bristol, 85 Queens Road, Clifton. Guest speakers from the Bristol technology community include: - Jamie Loudon, Principal Engineer at Babcock and creator of Campaigns Never Die - Justin Paul, Marketing Director, Open Gateway at GSMA The panel will explore: - Where AI genuinely speeds up delivery, and where it introduces risk - Why craftsmanship, shared understanding and maintainable code still matter - Engineering guardrails for quality, security, scalability and architecture - Real examples of responsible AI adoption inside teams - How AI affects the way experienced and early-career engineers build, learn and make decisions The event welcomes anyone interested in software, engineering or problem-solving, across all industries and experience levels. Pizza and drinks will be provided on arrival, sponsored by Codurance, with vegetarian and vegan options available. Friends are welcome but should RSVP separately. Register for the panel on Meetup

Sponsors: Codurance

⌖ Bristol

Hosted by Founders Coffee Club

Founders Coffee Club brings Bristol founders together on 28 October 2026 for relaxed coffee, honest conversation and a coworking day, with no pitches or selling. Coffee, conversation and founder connections Taking place in Bristol from 10:00am to 11:00am GMT, this in-person meetup offers a refreshingly simple alternative to conventional business networking. There are no speeches, presentations or sales pitches. Instead, attendees can grab a coffee, meet fellow founders and let conversations develop naturally. The event is designed exclusively for founders and is hosted by Founders Coffee Club, a community that runs founder networking events across the UK. Whether you want to compare experiences, broaden your local network or simply spend time with people who understand the realities of building a business, the emphasis is on informal, peer-to-peer connection rather than structured content. What to expect - A one-hour, face-to-face networking session over coffee - A founder-only environment with no selling or formal pitches - Relaxed, unstructured conversations rather than talks or panels - A coworking day pass included with the ticket - A friendly introduction on arrival if you are attending for the first time If walking into a room of strangers feels daunting, the hosts specifically aim to make the first few minutes easier. New attendees will be greeted and introduced to someone straight away, helping the conversation get moving without the awkwardness often associated with traditional networking. The included coworking pass also makes this more than a quick coffee meetup. Attendees can combine the morning networking session with a day of working in Bristol, creating additional space to continue conversations and build relationships beyond the scheduled hour. Tickets and location Tickets cost £15, and registration requires host approval. The exact Bristol address is only shown to registered attendees, so request your place in advance rather than turning up without confirmation. You can also follow Founders Coffee Club on Instagram or LinkedIn. Request to join and get your ticket

⌖ Bristol · The Berkeley Square Hotel

Hosted by Bristol Young Business Owners (BYBO)

Meet Bristol business owners under 45 for a relaxed networking social at The Square Club on 28 October 2026, focused on honest founder-to-founder conversation. Hosted by Bristol Young Business Owners (BYBO), this monthly gathering offers founders a low-pressure way to connect with other people building and growing ventures across Bristol. Rather than formal networking, sales pitches or polished presentations, the evening centres on candid conversations, shared experiences and the realities of running a business. What to expect There is no fixed agenda, no talks and no selling of services. Attendees can move naturally between conversations, compare experiences and build relationships with business owners at different stages of their journey. Topics are not prescribed, leaving space to discuss the opportunities, decisions and challenges that matter to the founders in the room. The social is designed to help strengthen a collaborative young business community in Bristol. It is an opportunity to: - Meet founders and business owners on a similar path - Exchange practical experiences of starting and growing a venture - Learn informally from people who understand the demands of ownership - Develop genuine local connections without a sales-led atmosphere - Drop in for part of the evening or stay for the full session Who it is for This community is specifically for Bristol-based business owners under 45. BYBO distinguishes business ownership from offering freelance services, so the event is best suited to people building and operating their own ventures rather than attending primarily to market professional services. Both newer founders and experienced operators are welcome. You do not need to arrive with a prepared pitch or a particular question, the format is intentionally informal and based around useful, person-to-person conversation. Time and location The event takes place on Wednesday 28 October 2026, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm GMT. The planned meeting point is The Garden at The Square Club, at The Berkeley Square Hotel, 15 Berkeley Square, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1HB. View the event and registration details

⌖ Bristol · Torchbox

Hosted by Bristol AI Ethics

Explore the ethics of artificial intelligence through expert-led discussion, an AI news roundup and networking in Bristol on 29 October 2026. This monthly, in-person meetup from Bristol AI Ethics creates space for a candid look at the ethical,and sometimes distinctly unethical,use of AI. Taking place at Torchbox in Bristol, the evening combines a topical talk with group discussion, practical reflection and opportunities to meet others interested in responsible technology. What to expect The two-hour programme moves from informal networking into a structured exploration of current AI ethics issues: - 6:00pm , Arrival and networking: meet fellow attendees before the formal programme begins. - 6:30pm , Monthly News Roundup: review recent developments and stories shaping conversations about AI and its impact. - 6:50pm , Main Talk: the October speaker and subject are still to be confirmed. - 7:20pm , Q&A and discussion: question the ideas raised and contribute your own perspective. - 7:35pm , Grab a drink: take a short break and continue conversations informally. - 7:50pm , Positive Actions: finish by considering constructive responses to the issues discussed. The scheduled programme wraps up at 8:00pm. Attendees can remain for further discussion and networking until the group needs to vacate the building at 8:30pm. Who it’s for This meetup is relevant to anyone who wants to think more critically about how artificial intelligence is designed, deployed and discussed. It offers an accessible forum for technologists, researchers, product builders and other interested participants to exchange views on responsible AI. No specific experience level or technical prerequisite is listed; the emphasis is on talks, questions and open conversation rather than a hands-on technical workshop. Venue details The event runs from 6:00pm to 8:00pm GMT on Thursday 29 October 2026 at Torchbox, 3rd Floor, 15 Colston Street, Bristol. The venue entrance has a short ramp leading to the front door. Press the Torchbox buzzer for access, then use either the lift or stairs to reach the third floor. Attendees can also use the venue’s what3words location for directions.… Register for this event

⌖ Amsterdam · RAI Amsterdam

Build AI applications and agents at this free hybrid hackathon, running online from 16–19 October 2026 and on-site in Amsterdam on 19–20 October. The TechEx Amsterdam Hackathon is the official hackathon of AI & Big Data Expo Europe, organised by TechEx Events and lablab.ai. It gives participants the opportunity to create real AI projects in the context of one of Europe’s largest enterprise technology events, and, if approved for the in-person experience, present their work live at the expo. Build across enterprise technology Rather than limiting participants to a single use case, the hackathon invites projects spanning a broad range of connected technologies. You can develop AI applications and agents focused on: - Artificial intelligence and big data - Cybersecurity - Cloud technology and data infrastructure - Internet of Things and edge computing - Automation - Digital transformation This makes the event particularly relevant to AI builders, agent developers, technologists and product creators interested in applying emerging technology to practical enterprise challenges. The page does not specify a required experience level, but the emphasis is firmly on building and showcasing a working project. A two-stage hybrid format The programme combines a remote build period with an optional on-site experience: - 16–19 October: build your project online - 19–20 October: approved participants attend the on-site portion at RAI Amsterdam The physical venue is RAI Amsterdam, Europaplein 24, 1078 GZ Amsterdam, placing selected teams directly inside the AI & Big Data Expo Europe environment. The live showcase is a distinctive opportunity to put your AI application or agent in front of people attending a major enterprise technology expo. On-site participation is subject to approval. Participants should also plan their logistics carefully: travel and accommodation are not covered by the organisers. Those taking part remotely can use the online build window, while the lablab.ai Discord community provides access to mentors and the event team. Register for the TechEx Amsterdam Hackathon