Tech Meetup Edinburgh - September 2026

⌖ Edinburgh · Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Hosted by UK Startup Events

Meet founders, investors and potential cofounders in Edinburgh on 20 October 2026 for tactical startup insights and focused networking. Organised by UK Startup Events, this founder-focused meetup combines practical conversation with structured opportunities to make useful connections. It takes place at Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, 9 Haymarket Square, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, followed by optional pub drinks at The Jolly Botanist. What to expect The evening begins with open networking and colour badges designed to support speed networking. After introductions, the community shoutouts give attendees a safe space to explain what they are building, celebrate recent wins and ask for help with current challenges. The centrepiece is an informal, hands-on tactical fireside chat about the strategies involved in building, shaping and growing a startup. Topics change each month, with experienced entrepreneurs and diverse guests sharing their stories. The October guest has not yet been announced; follow the Founders Meetup LinkedIn page for updates. Agenda: - 18:00: Arrival and open networking with speed-networking colour badges - 19:00: Welcome and introductions - 19:05: Community shoutouts - 19:20: Tactical fireside chat - 20:00: Open networking and drinks - 20:30 onwards: Pub drinks at The Jolly Botanist Who should attend? This meetup is designed for people currently building startups, those exploring an idea, founders searching for cofounders or team members, investors looking for opportunities, and anyone keen to learn from experienced startup operators. The format is useful whether you are at the idea stage or already working to grow a company.… Register for this event

Sponsors: Start to Scale · Shepherd and Wedderburn

⌖ Edinburgh · The Melting Pot

Hosted by OutGeekWomen - Badass Pros

Women in Tech Edinburgh brings mid- and senior-level tech professionals together for CTO pitches, speed interviews and career-focused networking on 20 October 2026. Taking place from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at The Melting Pot in Edinburgh, this in-person OutGeekWomen event offers a lively alternative to conventional recruitment fairs. Attendees can meet hiring teams, discover local technology companies and build meaningful connections with accomplished professionals from across the industry. What to expect The evening puts tech professionals and job seekers in the driving seat. Rather than relying on long corporate presentations, CTOs and hiring teams will deliver concise pitches,and attendees will vote for the best one. The programme also creates space for informal technical conversations, networking and fast-paced interviews. Activities include: - Short pitches from CTOs and hiring teams - An attendee vote for the evening’s best company pitch - Speed interviews with potential employers - Conversations about technology, teams and current opportunities - Networking with fellow mid- and senior-level professionals - The chance to meet people behind established tech brands and explore Edinburgh’s local tech scene This format is designed to help you assess companies as much as they assess candidates. Whether you are actively considering your next career move or simply want to expand your professional circle, the event provides direct access to engineering leaders, development teams and talent acquisition professionals. Who is it for? The event is particularly relevant to software engineers, data scientists, product managers, project managers and UI/UX designers who want to keep up with the fast-moving technology sector. It centres women in tech and creates an opportunity to connect with accomplished women working across diverse IT disciplines, but the organisers explicitly welcome everyone. Employers will include CTOs, VPs of Engineering and talent acquisition leaders looking to present their organisations, network and hire. Companies interested in participating can register through the OutGeek website, while tech and community groups can contact the organisers about collaboration. Tickets and venue… Register for this event

⌖ Edinburgh · Edinburgh Futures Institute, The University of Edinburgh

Hosted by Traveltech

University of Edinburgh students can spend a full day solving real-world festival challenges at this collaborative arts, culture and technology hackathon. Taking place on Friday 30 October 2026, from 9am to 5pm, the in-person event brings innovators, artists, developers, designers and festival enthusiasts together at the Edinburgh Futures Institute in Edinburgh. What to expect Festival partners will provide challenge prompts based on pressing issues faced by the Edinburgh Festivals. Participants will form multidisciplinary teams, combine their different perspectives and develop creative solutions designed to enhance the festival experience. The programme also includes insights from festival organisers and data visualisation leaders, covering challenges, opportunities and emerging directions across cultural events. Projects may explore how technology can help festivals reach wider audiences, strengthen their communities and make a more positive environmental impact. No specific technical experience requirement is stated; coders, designers and arts enthusiasts are all encouraged to contribute. Practical details: - Room 2.55, Floor 2, Edinburgh Futures Institute - 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9EF - Eight-hour, in-person format - Food and refreshments provided - Organised by Traveltech Get tickets for the hackathon

⌖ London · Bush House, KCL

Hosted by KCL Womxn in STEM, Imperial Women in STEM and UCL Women in STEM

IKU Womxn in STEM Hackathon brings female and non-binary university students to central London for a free, beginner-friendly 24-hour build weekend. Taking place 17–18 October 2026 at Bush House on King’s College London’s Strand Campus, this cross-university hackathon creates a supportive setting in which participants can develop technical skills, meet peers and turn an idea into a working project. It is organised by KCL Womxn in STEM, Imperial Women in SET and UCL Women in STEM. Build, learn and find your community IKU was designed to make hackathons more accessible to gender-minority students in technology. Attendees will work in teams of typically two to four, supported by workshops, talks and mentorship from experienced developers. You can arrive with friends or attend solo and form a team on the day. The event welcomes female and non-binary students aged 18 or over from any UK university. All experience levels are encouraged, including complete beginners and students outside Computer Science. A dedicated Best Beginner side track recognises eligible teams where at least half of the members come from non-CS-adjacent backgrounds. Over the weekend, participants can expect: - 24 hours of focused project building, from first line of code to final demo - Practical workshops, technical talks and mentor support - Mini-events and opportunities to connect across King’s, UCL and Imperial - Sponsor networking, prizes and a completed project to add to a CV - Judging followed by a closing ceremony Project work begins after Saturday’s opening ceremony, with hacking running from 11:00 on 17 October until the 12:00 submission deadline on 18 October. Judging starts at 13:00, followed by the closing ceremony at 15:00 and the event finishing at 16:00. Participants may go home overnight, remain awake or use the dedicated sleeping and quiet rooms at Bush House. Cost, venue and support IKU is completely free, with meals, snacks and swag included. Attendees should bring a laptop, charger and any other equipment required for their build; those staying overnight are advised to bring comfortable items such as a pillow, blanket or hoodie. Travel reimbursement is not available.… Register for this event

Sponsors: Wise · incident.io

⌖ Leicester · Bru Leicester town centre

Hosted by Namra

AI + Coffee Leicester is a free, one-hour AI networking meetup at Bru in Leicester town centre on 17 October 2026. Hosted by Namra, it offers an informal space to compare notes, ask candid questions and meet other people exploring artificial intelligence. Conversation rather than presentation This in-person meetup deliberately does away with the usual conference format: there are no speakers, slides or fixed agenda. Instead, the group will spend an hour talking over coffee about participants’ real experiences with AI. The conversation may begin with questions such as: - What AI tools or ideas are you currently trying? - What aspects of AI are confusing or unclear? - What is actually working in practice? The emphasis is on connection rather than one-way instruction. You can bring a question, share something you have been experimenting with or simply arrive with nothing prepared and listen to where the discussion goes. Because the session is unstructured, attendees help shape the conversation through the challenges, observations and uncertainties they bring with them. Who should attend? AI + Coffee Leicester welcomes anyone, regardless of role or experience level. It may be useful for entrepreneurs, people working on AI startups, professionals considering how AI affects business strategy, and anyone who wants to understand what others are testing. You do not need technical expertise, a polished project or a confident opinion to take part. A central aim is to provide a safe setting in which people can admit uncertainty without it feeling like a professional risk. There are no silly questions, and people who believe they have little to contribute are especially welcome, the organisers note that some of the best questions often come from precisely those participants. View the event and registration details

⌖ Location TBC · Voco Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Hosted by Confer Global

Riyadh is set to host a landmark summit bringing together infrastructure and AI leaders from across the region. Taking place October 19–20, 2026 at Voco Riyadh, this executive-level gathering will address the critical intersection of AI infrastructure, data centers, and the energy systems that power digital transformation in Saudi Arabia and beyond. Why This Summit Matters As Riyadh positions itself at the forefront of digital innovation, this summit addresses the fundamental infrastructure challenges that enable AI deployment at scale. The event brings together decision-makers working on AI strategy, cloud architecture, power management, cooling solutions, and sovereign AI initiatives — the essential building blocks of modern AI capabilities. What to Expect Attendees will gain access to strategy sessions focused on market insights, infrastructure planning, and enterprise AI deployment. The summit creates a unique environment for executive networking with regional and international leaders shaping the future of digital infrastructure. Topics span the full spectrum from data center design and energy efficiency to AI workload optimization and regulatory frameworks. The event caters to multiple stakeholder groups: - Delegates can access strategy sessions, market intelligence, and networking opportunities with infrastructure and AI decision-makers - Speakers can showcase expertise on AI infrastructure, data center innovation, energy solutions, and digital growth strategies - Sponsors and Exhibitors can connect directly with enterprise buyers, strategic partners, and technology leaders driving AI adoption - Media professionals can cover breaking developments and access industry leaders shaping the region's digital infrastructure landscape Who Should Attend This is an executive-level summit designed for: - AI infrastructure architects and platform engineers - Data center operators and facility managers - Cloud services providers and hyperscale operators - Energy and cooling solution providers - Government officials working on digital transformation initiatives - Technology vendors supporting AI deployment - Investment professionals focused on digital infrastructure The summit addresses the unique challenges of building AI infrastructure in the Middle East, including sovereign AI considerations, energy sustainability, and regional m