Industrial Networking

PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at http://www.londonbuiltenvironment.com/ The London Built Environment committee would like to extend you an invitation to our February 2026 City of London Networking Breakfast to be held at the famous Polo Bar - and hope you can join us for pre-work delicious breakfast and productive business networking to make new contacts and deals for 2026. We now have over 20,000 diverse and relevant London members so it’s the perfect opportunity for making new business connections. See photos from our latest events at http://www.londonbuiltenvironment.com/ PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at http://www.londonbuiltenvironment.com/ ALSO PLEASE NOTE we take most of our event bookings through our website and EventBrite so the numbers booked is much larger than displayed on this Meetup page (normally about 70-100 guests).

Join startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in business, finance and tech for an **evening of business networking in the elegant Sycamore Bar at the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel, Covent Garden.** \*\* Note re Contactless Cards\*\* 
Free RSVP gives entry only - the contactless business card is not included.
To receive a contactless networking card, please book a paid ticket when available. **This informal yet refined business mixer** is the perfect opportunity to exchange ideas, spark collaborations, and build meaningful business connections that go beyond LinkedIn. \*\* Dress Code\*\*
 As this is a 5-star hotel, smart or business attire is required. Please avoid casual wear, hoodies, or sportswear. **What to Expect** ✅ Relaxed, premium networking environment - no stage or speeches, just natural conversations with inspiring professionals.
 ✅ Mix of industries - startups, tech, finance and business. ✅ Guest list of max 40 attendees to encourage genuine connections as opposed to impersonal crowded conferences. **Why Attend** • Expand your network with startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, business owners and senior professionals in business, finance and tech from London and beyond.
 • Share insights and opportunities in tech, business growth, and digital innovation.
 • Experience luxury yet relaxed networking in one of Covent Garden’s most sophisticated venues. **Venue** Sycamore Bar, Middle Eight Hotel
A refined, design-led bar inside the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel.
Located in the heart of Covent Garden, within walking distance of Holborn, Covent Garden, and Tottenham Court Road stations. **Important Info** • Ages: 18+ (ID required for bar purchases)
 • Photography Notice: The event may be filmed or photographed for promotional use by [CineEye (audiovisual production company in London)
](www.cineeye.co.uk) • Dress Code: Smart/business attire only (see above). • Contactless Cards: Free RSVP does not include contactless business card (see above). **Join Us** Step into an evening where business meets elegance - designed for founders, innovators, and professionals who value meaningful business conversations. **Limited to 40 spots - reserve yours today!**

In February, we are taking a look at what is happening with agentic AI and data pipelines 🙌 Join us in lively Hoxton as we learn from Carmen's and Laura's learning from real-world experiences with agentic AI systems in data pipelines. We are running this event in collaboration with **[Sahaj Software](http://www.sahaj.ai)**. **6pm:** Doors Open **6:30pm:** Talks Start 🗣️The Speakers🗣️ ***Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for Real-World Data Engineering Time Sinks*** ***Carmen Mardiros, Solution Consultant at*** ***[Sahaj Software](https://www.sahaj.ai/)*** ***([Carmen's LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenmardiros/))*** ***Abstract*:** While the world is obsessed with agentic self-healing ETL pipelines, data engineers everywhere still spend hours upon hours on the same tasks as before -- debugging failing tests, exposing new fields into pipelines, navigating schema changes, QA-ing data and business logic. In this session we'll look at some practical examples from the trenches around how to shrink those time sinks using AI coding assistants so that you can spend more time on what really matters. Examples are dbt-based and Claude Code but accompanied by core tenets applicable to any stack and any coding assistant. ***Carmen's Bio:*** Carmen Mardiros has worked around analytics and data for 15 years. Her experience covers areas such as Data architecture design and implementation and has worked in roles that cover Data Strategist, Lead Data Engineer, Data Warehouse Architect, Tracking Developer, Product/Project Manager, Technical BA, Insight Analyst, Data Modeller. ***Agentic AI for Data Pipelines: Our Good, Bad, and Ugly Learnings*** ***Laura Bogaert, Co-Founder and COO at [Tracer.cloud](https://www.tracer.cloud/)*** ***([Laura's LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bogaert/))*** ***Abstract:*** As teams move from single models to agentic systems, data pipelines present a uniquely hard production challenge: failures are distributed, context is fragmented, and root-cause analysis is slow. This talk shares practical learnings from building agentic AI systems for troubleshooting real-world data pipelines, including what worked, what didn’t, and why data ontology and context management are critical. Attendees will leave with concrete insights into designing agentic architectures that actually hold up in production. ***Laura's Bio:*** Laura is a co-founder of [Tracer.cloud](http://tracer.cloud/), where she works on building agentic AI systems for alert investigation in production data pipelines across industries. She started her career at McKinsey as part of the fintech and biopharmaceutical team working on AI strategy and M&A. She holds a BSc from University College London and a MSc from Oxford University. **8pm:** Talks finish. We have the space for networking until 9pm. There will be a short break between the talks. Afterwards, we may head to a pub to continue chatting. You can sign up by subscribing to this event 🚨**IMPORTANT**: Please make sure to have a ***valid form of ID***. See you all on the 26th February🤩 Happy Networking 🍻 **About our collaborators**: [Sahaj](https://www.sahaj.ai/) is an artisanal technology services company crafting purpose-built AI and data-led solutions for our clients. By attending this event, you agree to abide by our rules of conduct: * Respect others' opinions which may differ from your own. * Keep it appropriate - no harassment of fellow attendees will be tolerated. * If you see something or have a complaint, please reach out to one of the organisers on LinkedIn or email events@dataengineerslondon.com.

**PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND THE EVENT. YOU CAN RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981574998162?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981574998162?aff=oddtdtcreator) Join us for an exclusive **Legal Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Professionals Networking Event** in the heart of London, designed for ambitious individuals in the legal, tech, and startup sectors. Whether you're a legal professional looking to expand your network, an entrepreneur seeking expert legal advice, or a startup founder interested in partnerships, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded peers. **Event Overview:** Legal Professionals Networking Event is a premier networking event that provides a unique platform for Legal Professionals, potential clients, and legal startups to come together, collaborate, and engage in meaningful discussions. Seamlessly merging the realms of law, business, and technology, this dynamic gathering is your gateway to forging meaningful connections, fostering thought-provoking discussions, and unlocking a spectrum of opportunities within the legal landscape. Legal Professionals Networking Event is tailored to bring together a diverse range of legal professionals who are keen on expanding their networks, sharing insights, and exploring collaborative opportunities. This event is ideal for: * Attorneys and Lawyers * In-House Counsel * Legal Technology Innovators * Law Students and Recent Graduates * Legal Consultants * Legal Administrators and Paralegals * Legal Startups and Entrepreneurs * Legal Associations and Organizations * Legal Services Providers * Anyone looking to hire legal professionals Remember, the event is designed to encourage interdisciplinary discussions and collaborations, making it a valuable opportunity for professionals across various sectors of the legal industry. ### **Why Attend**: **Expand Your Network**: Meet and connect with legal entrepreneurs, startup founders, and professionals who are shaping the future of the legal industry. Build relationships with potential partners, clients, or investors that could help accelerate your venture. **Discover Innovative Solutions**: Gain insights into the latest technologies and innovations transforming the legal landscape, including legal tech, AI, and automation solutions that are reshaping the way legal services are delivered. **Investment Opportunities**: Investors will have the chance to discover legal startups and ventures with high growth potential, offering a unique opportunity to fund and support the next big legal innovation. **Grow Your Business**: Entrepreneurs and legal professionals will gain valuable insights and strategies for growing their ventures, securing funding, and navigating the complex legal market. **Collaborative Atmosphere**: The event fosters collaboration, providing the perfect setting to discuss joint ventures, explore partnerships, and exchange ideas that drive innovation in the legal industry. The event will be held in a sophisticated and vibrant venue, adorned with modern decor and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure your comfort and convenience throughout the day. Don't miss this unparalleled opportunity to expand your legal network, forge meaningful connections, and contribute to the advancement of the legal field. Secure your spot at the Legal Professionals Networking Event and be part of an evening that promises to shape the future of law through collaboration and innovation. **How our event works:** **You will be able to join the dedicated Whatsapp group for the event and start networking before the actual event.** 7.00pm - When you arrive your name will be checked off the guest list, the host will direct everyone to the reserved area and explain how the event will work. 7.30pm – Event starts, you will be introduced to each other in a nice relaxed environment in the semi private reserved area. 10 pm - Event ends, all guests are welcome to stay and enjoy chatting with each other. This event will be hosted till 9pm; the key to making the most of speed friending is to follow up with your contacts over time to develop friendships. Dress code is either business or office attire or smart casual, no T-shirts, no trainers. If you have any questions email contact@thebusinessminds.co.uk Ticket for 1 person allows 1 person to enter the venue from 7pm

## DevOps Society Meetup with EDF **Location:** EDF UK, Nova North, 11 Bressenden Place London, SW1E 5BY **Time:** Doors open at 6PM **Drinks, snacks, talks, and networking.** We’re excited to invite you to our first in-person **DevOps Society Meetup** of 2026, proudly **sponsored by EDF**. This event brings together the DevOps, SRE, and cloud engineering community for an evening of honest conversations, real-world lessons, and networking with people who’ve actually done the work. A huge thank you to **EDF** for sponsoring the event and for providing the venue, refreshments, and support for our community. *** ## ️ Format of the Meetup: 6:00pm – 6:30pm — Networking on arrival, with food and drinks provided by EDF 6:30pm – 7:10pm — First speaker + Q&A 7:10pm – 7:20pm — Break for refreshments and networking 7:20pm – 8:00pm — Second speaker + Q&A 8:00pm onwards — More networking at the venue, then at a nearby pub. *Timings can vary slightly depending on Q&A.* *** We’re delighted to welcome **two fantastic speakers** to this EDF-hosted DevOps Society meetup. *** ## SPEAKER 1 – Steve Bowerman **Principal Software Engineer, EDF** ### Bio Steve is a technologist and thought leader with **25 years in the industry**, including **20 years in the utilities sector**, spanning startups through to large, established enterprises. Since stepping into the role of **Principal Software Engineer at EDF**, Steve has played a key role in reviewing and overhauling EDF’s approach to software engineering - bringing critical capabilities in-house and aligning teams with modern **DevOps and SRE principles**. His work focuses on long-term, sustainable transformation rather than tooling churn, helping large organisations evolve how they build, operate, and scale software. *** ### Talk Title **Rebooting the Enterprise: The DevOps Way** ### Talk Intro Building a DevOps mindset in a startup is relatively easy - it’s often the default DNA of modern engineering teams. Doing the same in a **large enterprise** is a very different challenge. In this talk, Steve will take you through **five years of transformation in 15 minutes**. He’ll share how EDF approached enterprise DevOps adoption, where things failed (and why), what ultimately worked, and the lessons learned along the way. Spoiler: **technology was the least difficult part**. This session is ideal for engineers, platform teams, and leaders working in complex organisations who want a realistic view of what enterprise DevOps transformation actually looks like. *** ## SPEAKER 2 – Matteo Emili **Director of Software Engineering, Avanade** **Bio** Matteo Emili is a Director of Software Engineering at Avanade UK and Ireland, leading the talent in Software Engineering and always looking at new ways of applying technology to solve business problems. He is a passionate Agile advocate and a technologist at heart, a Cloud Architect who is always driven by using technology as a vehicle for change and continuous improvement. A Microsoft MVP since 2010 (currently in the Azure DevOps and GitHub category), he enjoys sharing back as much as he can with the worldwide technical communities – especially within Agile and DevOps. He has founded several User Groups around Europe and he is a regular speaker at meetups and conferences. ### Talk Title **From Vibe Coding to Agentic Engineering: A Step-by-Step Guide** ### Talk Bio AI-augmented software development is evolving. What started as *“vibe coding”* \- intuition\-driven\, creative experimentation with AI \- is now moving toward **agentic engineering**, a more governed and intentional approach where AI agents actively collaborate with developers while enforcing best practices and organisational standards. In this session, Matteo explores how teams can transition from unstructured AI experimentation to **agentic workflows** that balance creativity with accountability. You’ll learn how agentic engineering enables: * Faster development without sacrificing quality * Built-in governance and standards * AI collaboration that scales across teams * A practical path from experimentation to production-ready AI-assisted engineering This talk offers a clear, pragmatic view of how AI will reshape software engineering in the years ahead - and how teams can adopt it responsibly. *** Please **RSVP to secure your spot**. Spaces are limited and available on a **first-come, first-served** basis. We’re really looking forward to getting the community back together again for our first event of 2026. [Our slack community](https://join.slack.com/t/devopssociety/shared_invite/zt-3mswuylw7-MhJg1IZ70rX_GpJTluG2Cw) \- join in and introduce yourself\! [Our Youtube Channel ](https://www.youtube.com/@DevOpsSociety)for regular podcasts with DevOps professionals + more DevOps content. [Website](https://thedevopsociety.com/) [To partner with us](https://thedevopsociety.com/partnerships) EDF website - https://www.edfenergy.com/ Thanks! From the DevOps Society team [Ben](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwhitmarsh/) and [Vytas](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vytasdevops/)

**Please register on [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ljc-meetup-at-capital-one-tickets-1981939102207) to join this event.** **About this event** LJC Meet-ups is a new series of events, aimed at giving all Community members an opportunity to present at an LJC event. Join us on 26th February 2026 for a London Java Community meetup hosted at Capital One. This event brings together practitioners exploring what it means to build modern, cloud‑native platforms and work effectively with AI‑powered development tools. As cloud adoption matures and AI coding agents become embedded in engineering workflows, this evening focuses on two critical themes: architecting for cloud‑native efficiency and leveraging AI agents more effectively in real‑world development. **Talk 1 – Tom Clifford‑Clarke, Lead Software Development Engineer at Capital One** *Keeping our heads in the cloud, using AI agents on the ground* Many organisations operate entirely in the cloud — but far fewer are truly cloud‑native. As architectures evolve and AI becomes a core concern, the gap between “running in the cloud” and “optimising for it” becomes increasingly costly. Tom explores why robust architectural patterns and standards are non‑negotiable today. Drawing on Capital One’s journey, he’ll cover practical approaches to Event‑Driven Architecture, serverless adoption, and service cataloguing strategies that unlock scalability, efficiency, and AI readiness — while improving the developer experience. **Talk 2 – Steve Poole, Community Director at LJC** *AI-Assisted Development and the New Risk Surface* AI-assisted coding is now a standard part of development. It accelerates delivery and reduces friction, but it also changes how risk enters our codebases. AI models replicate patterns at scale, including insecure defaults, outdated practices, and subtle flaws. In some cases, attackers can influence public training data or open-source projects, allowing weaknesses to spread quietly through tools and libraries developers trust. This talk looks at how AI-generated code fits into the modern software supply chain, and how speed, automation, and trust can be exploited. We'll examine how vulnerabilities slip past reviews, why unvetted AI output can bypass safeguards, and what these failures look like in real systems. With real-world examples, we'll focus on practical ways to review, test, and integrate AI-generated code responsibly. Strengthening your workflow instead of undermining it. AI isn't the problem. Unexamined automation is. The goal is not fear, but sharper judgment about when AI is helping, and when it needs a closer look. **Speaker Bios** **Tom Clifford‑Clarke** Lead Software Development Engineer at Capital One. Tom’s background spans large‑scale corporate software, end‑user products, and custom delivery tooling. He now focuses on cloud productivity engineering — improving developer experience and enabling teams to build high‑quality software at a sustainable pace. LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbc2/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbc2/) **Steve Poole** Community Director for the London Java Community. Steve is a Developer Advocate, DevOps practitioner and a long time Java developer, leader and evangelist. He’s been working on Java SDKs and JVMs since Java was less than one year old. Linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/noregressions/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/noregressions/) Huge thanks to our friends at **Capital One** for sponsoring this event and supporting our Community. This event is organised by RecWorks on behalf of the London Java Community. The London Java Community is sponsored by Hazelcast, Neo4j, Redis, and Discover

Hello and welcome to our next **GenAI UK x Cloud Native & Open-Source AI** meetup. This event brings together engineers, practitioners, builders, and leaders working across cloud-native platforms, open-source ecosystems, Gen AI, Data and Agentic AI. Our meetups are friendly, welcoming, and community-driven; everyone is welcome, whether you’re experienced or just curious. This session will include practitioner talks, demos, Q&A, and time for networking with like-minded peers. We run bi-monthly in-person meetups in London, bi-monthly online global events, and regional chapters across the UK, North America, and APAC. Food and refreshments will be provided for in-person events where a host venue is supporting. We are delighted to host this event in **London** on the **26th of February** with Netmind AI NetMind XYZ ([https://xyz.netmind.ai/](https://xyz.netmind.ai/)) is NetMind.AI's new agent platform where you can create your agents with just natural language. Agents on NetMind XYZ can now join moltbook. **Speakers and Sessions:** Speaker: Xiangpeng Wan, Product Lead at Netmind.AI Session Title: Gamifying Intelligence: Deploying Your Agents into the Arena Description: Got a custom agent built on Open Canvas or a unique ReAct loop? It’s time to see how it performs under pressure. Arena is an open-source sandbox where agents compete in multi-player environments—ranging from tactical "client poaching" simulations to high-stakes logic games. Speaker: Frank Contrepois, Independent FinOps Voice at Coblan Session Title: Coding standards - back to basics Description: In this session, I’ll walk through the coding standards behind the FinOps Toolkit and show how a few strict constraints unlock surprising flexibility at scale. The toolkit is unapologetically command-line-first and modeled on mature Unix-style ecosystems. **Agenda (GMT /UK ):** * 18:00: Welcome and refreshments * 18:30: Introduction - Ethan Sumner * 18:35: Xiangpeng Wan * 19:10: Break * 19:20: Frank Contrepois * 19:55: Close and Networking **Get Involved:** We are always keen to hear from: • Speakers — case studies, engineering deep dives, lessons learned, open-source talks • Hosts — organisations able to provide space for future meetups • Sponsors — support with refreshments, marketing, or accessibility If you would like to speak, sponsor, or host a future event, please get in touch with **[Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)**[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)via LinkedIn. You can find our YouTube Channel **[here.](https://www.youtube.com/@CommunityStackHQ)** This community forms part of the **[Community Stack ecosystem](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)**[ ](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)and follows the Community Stack Code of Conduct to ensure a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees.

**Amplify Her is a live event supporting women in the music industry.** Amplify Her is a thriving community committed to empowering women in the music industry. Come join us for a hot beverage, connect with like-minded music professionals and leave inspired. Let's embrace some joy, release the self-imposed pressure, and simply enjoy each other's company. As music professionals, we navigate through ups and downs, and here, we've created a space to foster a community—supporting one another, growing together and forging ahead. Our mission is clear: to cultivate a community of female music industry professionals who not only uplift each other in advancing their careers but also champion the cause of gender equality. Together, let's move forward and make a lasting impact. **[Make sure to grab your ticket on our website, so that you receive a QR code to use upon arrival.](https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/event-details/coffee-meeting-london-2026-02-27-11-00)** **Follow us on:** [https://www.instagram.com/amplify_herLive/](https://www.instagram.com/amplify_herLive/) [https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/](https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/) [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifyher/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifyher/)

**Brighton Seafront Walk & Talk** Kick off the year with fresh air and meaningful founder conversations. A relaxed seafront walk ideal for talking about workflows, automation opportunities, and AI tools. 9:00–10:00am Meet: Brighton Pier Walk to :Hove Lawns

**RSVP TO ATTEND THIS EVENT. ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND THIS EVENT..** **Welcome to Socialite Connections –** **Business Networking: Film, TV, Music, and Media** **Join us for an extraordinary networking event designed to connect the most innovative and passionate professionals across the creative industries**! This isn't just another networking event – it's a vibrant celebration of artistic talent and collaborative potential. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore new opportunities, and stay updated on the latest trends in the media and film industry. Collaborate on projects and unlock new opportunities within the creative media and film sectors with Socialite Connections. You must book a ticket via the link: https://fatso.ma/3dFO Book here via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-networking-film-tv-music-and-media-at-the-moniker-tickets-1976447697267?aff=oddtdtcreator **We start the event at 6.00pm with a warm welcome.** Having an open-minded approach is ideal, as it will enable you to establish new connections. We have hired the mezzanie room upstairs with own bar. **The Moniker -** Located on Fenchurch Avenue, between the stations of Bank Monument and Fenchurch Street, The Moniker brings you the perfect space to escape the everyday. From breakfast meetings in the morning, share a private business lunch in the cosy snug or enjoy drinks on the terrace on the sunniest day. **Event Schedule** **18:00 – 20:30 \| When you arrive\,** your name will be checked off the guest list, you will be given a name badge and you will be introduced to each other. **19:00 – 19:30 \| One Minute Elevator Pitch:** All attendees will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves to everyone in the room to talk about your startups or ideals. (Pitch starts at 19.00pm sharp, please dont be late) **19:30pm \- 20:30 \| Network & chill: I**t will be a free form event where guests can mingle amongst each other in a relaxed environment, when the pitches are finished. **Why Attend?** This is an exclusive electrifying networking event that brings together the most dynamic professionals from **Film, TV, Music, and Media!** This isn't just another industry mixer - it's your gateway to transformative connections and extraordinary opportunities. Whether you're a rising star or an industry veteran, this event promises to spark inspiration, foster connections, and open doors to exciting new creative horizons. **One Minute Elevator Pitch:** All attendees will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves to everyone in the room talk about your startups or ideals. (Pitch starts at 19:00pm sharp, please dont be late) **Who Should Attend?** Connect with Film, TV, Music, Media Professionals in a relaxed setting. **Producers, Directors, Artists, Actors, Musicians & Performers, Screenwriters, Media Lawyers, Photographers, Videographers, Investors, Content Creators, Students and Academics in Creative Fields, Business Owners and Entrepreneurs, Working Professionals.** **Tickets are limited to just 40 attendees.** We like to make sure everyone gets the opportunity to talk to each other. You must book a ticket via the link: https://fatso.ma/3dFO Book here via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-networking-film-tv-music-and-media-at-the-moniker-tickets-1976447697267?aff=oddtdtcreator You are invited to join the dedicated Whatsapp group for the event and start networking before the actual event. Register now to secure your spot and be part of this transformative networking experience! **Ticket need to be bought online in advance to attend this event. Tickets** **are not available at the door.** **Refund policy: There is no refund at this event. Your ticket can be reassigned to another person of your choice.**

### 📍**CheckedIn London — Speed Networking for Real Connections** CheckedIn London is built for one thing: **helping you meet the right people faster—in real life.** We get you out from behind the screen and into the room, where real conversations happen. We show up at tech mixers, networking events, and industry gatherings across Leeds and use the **CheckedIn app** to turn quick introductions into meaningful connections—*on the spot*. ### 🚀 How Speed Networking Works with CheckedIn At each event, the CheckedIn app helps you: * Instantly connect with people you meet—no business cards required * Follow up later without awkward LinkedIn requests * Remember who you met, what you talked about, and why it mattered * Turn short conversations into real collaborations, fast Think of CheckedIn as the **spiritual successor to LinkedIn**— but built for **in-person moments**, not endless scrolling. No cold DMs. No forgetting names. Just tap, connect, and keep the conversation going after the event. Whether you’re a founder, operator, creative, or curious professional, this is a space for conversations that actually go somewhere. Come solo or bring a colleague. No pressure. No pitches. Just good people, efficient introductions, and momentum. *** ## 🌍 Help Us Grow CheckedIn CheckedIn is expanding, and we’re actively looking for **chapter organizers** to help run and grow chapters in cities around the world. If you enjoy: * Bringing people together * Hosting great events * Building real community We’d love to hear from you. 👉 Apply here: **[www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply](http://www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply)** *** ## 🌍 About This Chapter CheckedIn is a **chapter-based, community-driven network**. The Londonchapter is part of the wider CheckedIn community. On some occasions, the primary organizer may not be in attendance. These meetups are designed to be **self-led, welcoming, and participatory**—members take ownership of starting conversations, making introductions, and helping others connect. If you show up, you belong. If you tap in, connections start immediately. **Join us. Check in. Connect faster.** **CheckedIn — open the app and tap.**

**Be part of the next Londroid event on Thursday, 26th February 2026, hosted by Vonage.** Spend the evening enjoying Android talks, conversation and community. Expect engaging sessions, the chance to meet others working in Android, and an opportunity to speak with the Vonage team. After the event, we’ll head to **The Fox** for post-event drinks and further conversation. **Tickets:** We have 100 tickets available. Don’t miss out. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates. **Schedule:** 18:00 – Doors open & registration 18:30 – Welcome from Londroid and Vonage 18:45 – Zachary Powell - *Beyond the Smartphone: Android’s Identity Crisis in 2026* 19:30 – Nicola Corti – *What I Learned from Publishing Libraries to Maven Central for 10 Years* 20:15 – Q&A and socialising 20:30 – Drinks at The Fox **Our Hosts and Sponsors** **Vonage** Vonage is a cloud communications platform that enables developers to integrate voice, video, and messaging into their applications using communication and network APIs. Whether you’re building video calls, creating a chatbot, or working with programmable phone numbers, Vonage provides the tools to make it happen **Novoda** Novoda is a digital product agency dedicated to building high-quality software. Their team of engineers helps companies scale, modernise and improve their development practices to deliver exceptional digital experiences. Join us for an evening of learning, collaboration and community. We look forward to seeing you there.

Join us for another evening at #WPLDN, where we're tackling two vital topics for every WordPress professional! This month, we're exploring the future of WordPress accessibility documentation and hearing a candid story of business survival when AI disrupted traditional traffic sources. Whether you're building inclusive websites or rethinking your business model in the age of AI, these sessions offer practical insights you can act on immediately. 📅 **Date:** Thursday, 26 February 2026 ⏰ **Time:** 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM ⬅ **EARLIER TIME** 🎟️ **Cost:** Free (Registration Required) *** **Session 1: WordPress' accessibility documentation is getting a major overhaul. What's new?** 🤝 **Speaker:** Rian Rietveld ([rianrietveld.com](https://rianrietveld.com/)) Rian is an experienced web accessibility specialist from the Netherlands who has consulted for WordPress agencies and written guidelines for the Dutch government on accessible web forms and applying WCAG. Currently, she focuses on teaching and writing documentation, including a major update to WordPress' accessibility resources. During 25 years of working as a web accessibility specialist, Rian noticed the biggest hurdle to creating an accessible web is the lack of knowledge. People struggle to find reliable information, code patterns, rules and testing methods. Together with Joe Dolson, she started working on the WP Accessibility Knowledge Base: up-to-date, well-maintained information about delivering accessible work and proper testing. With clear do's and don'ts, practical examples, and easy-to-follow documentation. Find out about their progress, how you can contribute, and how the documentation on make.wordpress.org will benefit from this project. *** **Session 2: When AI Killed My Traffic, Humans Saved My Business** 🤝 **Speaker:** Rodolfo Melogli ([Business Bloomer](https://businessbloomer.com)) Rodolfo is an author, WooCommerce expert and WordCamp speaker who has worked as an independent WooCommerce freelancer since 2011. His goal is to help entrepreneurs and developers overcome their WooCommerce nightmares. He loves travelling, chasing tennis and soccer balls and, of course, wood-fired oven pizza. For years, traffic was the engine of Rodolfo's business until it wasn't. AI changed discovery faster than he expected, and the impact was immediate. This talk tells the story of having to pivot fast: moving away from dependence on search and toward owned relationships. He'll share how building and nurturing communities, both online and offline, became the new foundation. What worked, what failed, and what he'd do differently today. If your WordPress business relies on visibility you don't control, this talk offers a realistic look at what happens when that visibility disappears and how to recover. *** **Schedule:** 🔹 **6:00 PM** – Doors Open & Networking 🔹 **6:30 PM** – Welcome & Session 1: Rian Rietveld 🔹 **7:30 PM** – Short Break & Networking 🔹 **7:45 PM** – Session 2: Rodolfo Melogli 🔹 **8:30 PM** – Social & Wrap-Up *** **📢 Help Us Grow the Community!** Know someone who'd benefit from these sessions? Share this event with your colleagues, clients and WordPress friends! #WPLDN thrives because of word-of-mouth from people like you. Tag us on LinkedIn with #WPLDN or simply forward this page to someone who should be here. The more, the merrier! *** **📢 RSVP Now!** Don't miss this chance to level up your accessibility knowledge, learn survival strategies for the AI era, and connect with London's WordPress community. Secure your free spot today and join us for post-event socials at a local bar afterwards. We'll see you there! 🎉 \-\-\- **Venue Information** **The Bridge** is a charity supporting women to make positive choices and encouraging improvements to fitness, health, and wellbeing. The venue features a plant-based café (supplied by Girls Who Grind Coffee) and is just a 5-minute walk from London Bridge Station. \-\-\- **Massive thanks to our sponsors who make these free events possible:** [DreamHost](https://www.dreamhost.com/partners/wpldn/), [PodcasterPlus](https://www.podcasterplus.com/?utm_source=wpldn&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=partnership), [Mollie](https://www.mollie.com/gb/integrations/woocommerce), [hosting.com](https://hosting.com/), [20i](https://www.20i.com/wordpress-hosting), and [Kinsta](https://kinsta.com/) \-\-\- If you're interested in being a featured speaker at an upcoming event, we'd love to hear from you at [https://wpldn.uk/speak](https://wpldn.uk/speak). **🎥 - Media Release Terms** By attending, you understand and accept that portions of the event may have audio/photo/video-recorded and/or live-streamed and may be used by the organisers. You agree that the organisers have the right and permission to use and publish such media for any purpose in any format, including online and offline, now and ever after, without further compensation, permission, or notification. You understand that all official recordings from the event are the exclusive property of the organisers, available under the Creative Commons Attribution­ShareAlike license for general use, and you do not ask for nor expect compensation or notification of the use of official recordings or photographs in which you appear or speak. Please inform an organisational team member at the event's start if you do not wish to appear in photos or videos.

## Overview Networking event for aspiring school leaders interested in building their own high-quality K-12 public school in their community. **About the Event:** Aspiring school founders in the Columbus, OH, area are invited to join us for this special in-person networking event where you will be able to ask questions, learn more about the BES Fellowship and make sure you are prepared for the application process and beyond. In addition to meeting like-minded leaders who are also committed to transforming education and bringing a high-quality K-12 option to their community, you’ll have the opportunity to meet our team and gain special insights from Dr. Chaundria Smith, BES Senior Director of Fellowship Coaching, who works closely to support BES Fellows. During this event, you can also learn more about the various regions across Ohio we are prioritizing for the BES Fellowship to ensure that new schools will respond to the needs of their community. **About the BES Fellowship:** Leaders in the BES Fellowship embark on a multi-year process to design, found, and lead an excellent K-12 public school that reflects and responds to community needs. We are currently accepting applications to the 2026 BES Fellowship. The extended deadline is March 30, and the 2026 Cohort will begin August 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Learn more at [bes.org/fellowship](http://bes.org/fellowship "http://bes.org/fellowship").

Connected Westerville Night of Networking flips the script on networking, with surprises and connections that'll make you say, "Who knew networking could be this much fun?!"

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

Excited to share that AWS Cloud Club's first meeting will take place on Thursday, February 26th at 5pm - 6pm! We’re collaborating with [Big Data & Analytics Association](https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-data-analytics-association/) to host [Alok Jha](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alok-jha-42abb928/), Head of Product Management for AWS Intelligent Application Protection at Amazon Web Services, for a tech talk + Q&A on his journey in leading cutting-edge innovation in industry. If you’re interested in cloud, cybersecurity, AI, or product management, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Make sure to join our Meetup and GroupMe to stay up to date for future events and collabs!

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!