Network Virtualization

**Welcome to Networx London!** Calling all e‑commerce founders, dropshipping entrepreneurs, and tech professionals: join us for an evening of relaxed networking and idea-sharing. Connect with like-minded innovators, brand owners, marketers, and investors—no formal pitches, just real conversations. We start at **6:30 PM** with a warm welcome and light icebreakers to get conversations flowing, followed by **open networking all evening**. No formal pitches—just real connections, fresh ideas, and meaningful relationships in a friendly, laid-back setting. **Venue: The Refinery Regent Place, Warren St** Located in the vibrant Regent Place area, The Refinery offers a stylish yet welcoming atmosphere perfect for networking and socializing. With its modern interiors, spacious layout, and relaxed vibe, it’s an ideal spot for after-work drinks and professional gatherings. Just a short walk from Warren Street station, it provides the perfect setting for meaningful conversations and new connections in a chic but unpretentious environment. Come join us, grab a drink, and grow your network one great conversation at a time. **Event Schedule** **18:30 – 19:00 \| Welcome** Kick off with a warm intro and fun icebreakers to set the tone. **19:00 – 19:30 \| Meet & Greet** Mingle and network in an open, friendly setting. **19:30 – 21:30 \| Informal Networking** Free-flowing, informal networking all evening—no sales, no pressure. Just authentic connections with amazing people. **Why Attend?** **Connect** with business leaders, investors, and professionals across London. **Discover** new partners, collaborators, or clients. **Learn** about the latest trends in tech, startups, and entrepreneurship. This event is perfect for anyone seeking to expand their professional circle, grow their business, or gain fresh perspectives from a dynamic mix of professionals. **Who’s coming?** This event is ideal for e-commerce founders, retail professionals, tech innovators, marketers, investors, product managers, creatives, and anyone curious about the future of retail and digital commerce. ** Tickets & Entry** To avoid the venue getting overcrowded and ensure everyone enjoys an amazing night, we've introduced a small ticket price to keep things running smoothly. **Limited spots!** Register today and hit **Follow** for updates on future weekly events. **Event Photography** Please note that photos and videos may be taken for promotional purposes. **Note**: Proof of ID required for alcoholic beverages. 18+ only. \*\*Join our WhatsApp group to connect before and after the event:\*\* [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg "https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg")

Happy 2026! Our first meetup of the year will be back at Zühlke's offices near Old Street, with Guillaume Faas talking about better ways to handle exceptions, Jenny Martin talking about taming complexity with OOPSI, plus the usual drinks, snacks, and plenty of time to chat. Doors 18:30, the first talk starts at 19:00 and we'll be done and heading to the pub at 21:00 to continue the conversation. **Guillaume Faas: Throw exceptions... out of your codebase** Throwing exceptions is often used to handle errors, validations, and other specific use cases. It is considered by many to be the standard way of indicating a failure and providing feedback to the caller. However, this approach can cause significant issues like being hard to detect, obfuscating the flow or leaving the system invalid. In this talk, I want to show you a faster alternative that offers more transparency and predictability. We will see how to integrate ideas from the Functional paradigm, such as "Monads", into an Object-Oriented codebase using a real-life project: Vonage's open-source .NET SDK. This talk will be the perfect opportunity to show you what they are and how easy they are to use. **Guillaume Faas** is a Senior .Net Developer Advocate at Vonage, based in Thionville, France. In recent years, Guillaume has focused on sharing my experience through mentoring, public speaking, and open-source contributions; all aimed at helping teams grow and build sustainable software. With nearly 15 years of experience in .NET development, he's worked across industries as an engineer, coach, and now developer advocate. His current focus is on developer experience: building SDKs, writing approachable technical content, and speaking at conferences around the world. **Jenny Martin: OOPSI: Making Sense of Complexity** OOPSI stands for outcomes, outputs, process, scenarios, inputs. It’s a flexible, easy-to-use collaboration framework that helps agile and product development teams cut through complexity and focus on value. OOPSI is timely because it maximises the intrinsically human aspects of effective delivery, helping teams understand how and when to collaborate, while producing lean, example-driven artefacts that clarify scope and intent so both people and automation can work more effectively. In this talk, you’ll learn how to apply OOPSI to strengthen shared understanding, clarify assumptions, and support testable delivery, using a detailed, end-to-end example. **Jenny Martin** is a practitioner, facilitator, and product discovery specialist with over 25 years’ experience working at the intersection of technology, delivery, and human behaviour. She has spent more than 15 years working with Agile and modern product development teams, helping them make sense of complexity and build shared understanding. Known as The Collaboration Coach, Jenny focuses on practical collaboration that supports effective delivery. She is currently writing a book on OOPSI.

Looking for quality **business networking in London**? Join an exclusive evening at **Tide HQ**, organised by **GMax Card**, **Getshop Today,** and **Tide** \- three products built by founders\, for founders\. **WHY ATTEND:** * Free premium digital business card (£65 value) - claim it on the night * Real connections - co-founders, customers, partners & more * 50% off premium GMax Card upgrades for your team * Practical tools & insights to run your startup smarter Connect with **tech founders, startup teams, business owners, and professionals** **across fintech, finance, banking, business and technology.** **Testimonials:** Check out [video testimonials from founders who've attended previous events.](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) **Please note:** Free ticket includes event access only. To receive a physical contactless GMax Card, please purchase a paid ticket when available. **DRESS CODE** Business or smart. Dress as you would for an investor meeting - polished and professional. **VENUE** **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ - Featherstone Building, Silicon Roundabout, London** Right at the heart of UK's tech and startup hub, Tide's modern headquarters provides an open, professional environment designed for founders and operators and built for collaboration. **ABOUT THIS STARTUP AND BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT** In the **startup and business world**, success rarely happens in isolation. The right connections unlock **co-founders, early customers,** and relationships that accelerate **growth**. But most networking events don't deliver that. After hundreds of iterations, we've built a **format that actually works:** * Well-tested icebreakers (optional, but they work) to break the initial awkwardness * "Quick intros" round - 30-60 seconds each so everyone knows who's who in the room * Short talks from [GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/) on strategic networking and Tide on founder-friendly business tools * On-the-spot [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) consultations - bring your banking and ops questions, get real answers * Drinks and refreshments for real conversations to develop naturally Co-organised by **[GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/)** and **[Getshop Today](http://www.getshop.today/)**, hosted at **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ** \- the digital bank built for entrepreneurs\. Created by founders who've done it themselves. Whether you're pre-seed or scaling, solo or building a team, this is where you meet the people who get it and can help you move faster. **WHO'S IN THE ROOM** Expect a mix of: * **Early-stage to growth-stage startup founders** * **Tech entrepreneurs** and product builders * **Fintech innovators** and operators * **Indie founders, solopreneurs** and **bootstrapped business owners** * **Finance professionals** and **startup advisors** * People working across **business and technology** Limited to 40 attendees to keep conversations meaningful. **WHAT YOU WALK AWAY WITH** * Free [premium business card (£65 value) ](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop)\- ask the host to claim yours on the night * Real connections - potential co-founders, early customers, advisors, hires, or partners * 50% off [premium digital cards from GMax Card](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop) for your whole team * Actionable insights on tools that actually make running a startup or business easier Part of our bi-weekly series. Check out [video testimonials](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) from founders and business professionals who've attended previous events. **ORGANISERS** **[GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/)**[ - Free digital business cards](http://www.gmaxcard.com/), with Premium NFC smart cards and team networking tools. **[Getshop Today](http://www.getshop.today/)**[ - UK based eCommerce platform ](http://www.getshop.today/)to build your own independent online store in minutes instead of relying solely on global marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. **Hosted at [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)**[ - The digital-first business bank ](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)built to support entrepreneurs and SMEs. **IMPORTANT DETAILS** Dress code: business / smart Capacity: 40 people Photography & Video: Content may be captured by [CineEye Audiovisual Production Studio in London](http://www.cineeye.co.uk/) for promotional use. If you do not wish to be captured, please refrain from attending. ID Requirements: Attendance for 18+ only. Proof of ID may be requested at reception. Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 1 day before the event if any. Meetup fees are non-refundable (if any). **RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW** **Only 40 places available - secure your ticket today!**

We're welcoming back the legend that is Dave Whitney after a covid time lapse of years. Your chance to catch one of the best tech speakers in the UK software community! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- It's a tough time to be a technology professional. We're simultaneously being told that AI will change everything we know about the world, while simultaneously being told that the bubble is going to burst. Everyone is going to be redundant! AI will fail! AI will ruin the internet! AI can't do anything! It's disorienting and stressful trying to work out what a reasonable strategy should be to move forwards with this technology that appears to shift it's goalposts almost daily. In this session, we'll talk about understanding what AI really is, how to form a reasonable, governance friendly strategy around it, and what the sensible bets for the future are in the space. We'll do a deep dive into ethics, the human cost of content moderation, and having to be confronted by the reality of technical change in real-time. A survival guide to getting the most from the most controversial technology in a decade. An AI moderates warts and all deep dive into surviving as technology changes, without giving in to the hype during times of technology innovation and change. BIO: David is the Director of Architecture for NewDay, and the founder of Electric Head Software. Focusing on iterative software delivery, developer mentoring and cultural change - mostly working with London-based organisations. He speaks about software design, culture, and ethics in technology - rounded out by an assortment of talks about software that probably doesn't need to exist but makes the world a little more fun. David has previously served as the chief coding technical architect for JustGiving and helped market-leading organisations including JUST-EAT, Trainline and Vodafone improve their technical capabilities. David is a Microsoft MVP, has been part of the OpenUK Honours list for open-source advocacy, and is a twice bestselling author of children's books about programming. You can find his open-source projects on NuGet, npm and GitHub, follow him on Twitter @david_whitney, or check out his technical blog at [http://www.davidwhitney.co.uk/Blog](http://www.davidwhitney.co.uk/Blog). [http://www.electricheadsoftware.com](http://www.electricheadsoftware.com/) [http://www.davidwhitney.co.uk](http://www.davidwhitney.co.uk/)

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/startup-networking-event-london-featuring-live-elevator-pitches-tickets-1982275830370?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/startup-networking-event-london-featuring-live-elevator-pitches-tickets-1982275830370?aff=meetup)** Network with startups, founders & investors at Founders Connector® 15th Edition – grow, pitch & connect in London Join the **19th edition of Founders Connector®**, London’s leading **startup and entrepreneur networking event** designed for **founders, business owners, directors, and investors**. This exclusive event helps you **build connections, find funding, pitch ideas, and grow your business** in today’s competitive landscape. **This is your chance to:** * **Fuel your entrepreneurial spirit:** Be inspired by success stories and cutting-edge ideas. * **Gain a competitive edge:** Develop your business acumen and refine your strategies. * **Expand your network:** Connect with key players in the business ecosystem. * **Find funding:** Meet with potential investors and learn how to secure capital. This event isn't just about inspiration (although there'll be plenty of that!). It's about equipping you with the tools and connections to **turn your business dreams into reality**. **Entrepreneurs & Aspiring Business Owners:** * **Validate your idea:** Get valuable feedback from experienced founders and investors. * **Develop a winning business plan:** Learn how to craft a compelling roadmap for success. * **Find your tribe:** Network with like-minded individuals who share your passion and vision. The format of the evening is pure networking. 24 hours before the event, we will create a whatsapp group so that you can start interacting with other attendees of the event. We strongly recommend early booking for this event, which we expect to be sold out in advance. ### **Event Host** ### The event is hosted by [Jim McLaughlin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mclaughlin-b227975/ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mclaughlin-b227975/"), a successful entrepreneur with 35+ years of experience building and exiting multiple businesses, is hosting this event as an FSB Membership Advisor to share insights and showcase the essential support services available to help fellow business owners and entrepreneurs thrive. The [Federation of Small Businesses](https://www.fsb.org.uk/ "https://www.fsb.org.uk/") (FSB) is the UK's leading business organisation providing essential membership benefits including networking, legal protection, business insurance, financial expertise, and advocacy support, helping over 165,000 small businesses and self-employed individuals across the UK grow and succeed. ### **Event Details** * **6:00 PM**: The event starts with free format networking, the event is fully hosted. * **7:00 PM:** Elevator pitches and then more free format networking * **WhatsApp Group**: Enhance your connections before and after the event by joining our exclusive attendee WhatsApp group. To join, send a WhatsApp message to 07789740193 with your full name after purchasing your ticket. **Event Disclaimer** Please note that photos and videos may be taken during this event. These may be used on our social media channels and promotional materials to showcase our events. If you prefer not to appear in any photos or videos, please inform the event host upon arrival, and we will ensure your preference is respected. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events/) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events/) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london/) * [London Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking/) * [London Business Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking/) * [#investor](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23investor/) * [#startup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23startup/) * [#entrepreneur](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23entrepreneur/) * [#networkingevent](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23networkingevent/) * [#founders](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23founders/) * [#businessnetworking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23businessnetworking/) * [#business_growth](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_growth/) * [#startup_business](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23startup_business/) * [#startup_event](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23startup_event/) * [#startup_networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23startup_networking/)

We're back to our usual format of 3 speakers + Q&A followed by networking. 18:30: Doors open 19:00 Welcome by Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino (organiser since 2011) 19:10 Rob Poll, membot, 'A Tale to Two Products: how the wisdom we gained from Line-us helped develop [membot](https://www.membot.net/)' 19:30 Rob Hallifax, [Windfall Energy](https://www.windfallenergy.com/), 'How to start a hardware startup' 19:50 [Andrew Delamare](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-delamare-79a4111/), AWS Solutions Architecture Manager 20:10 Networking 21:00 End of event and move to a nearby pub There will be drinks (including non-alcoholic) and nibbles. **About our sponsors:** [Green Custard](https://www.green-custard.com/) is an award-winning AWS IoT specialist consultancy that helps organisations design, build, and scale secure cloud-connected products and solutions. With deep expertise across IoT architectures, data lakes, ML and agentic AI our IoT expertise spans from product innovation to smart factory innovation. We have full stack capability from embedded & mobile to cloud-native development. Green Custard partners with clients to deliver on their business outcomes whether modernising legacy devices, unlocking new value from existing data, or accelerating the delivery of production-ready solutions. Customers trust Green Custard for its technical excellence, pragmatic delivery, and we are proud of our customer success. [Aqua Libra](https://aqualibra.com/pages/flavour-tap) is redefining sustainable hydration through innovative, low-impact dispensing technology. Beyond its zero-sugar infused drinks, the brand has pioneered solutions such as the Aqua Libra Flavour Tap, a digitally controlled dispensing system that delivers chilled, filtered water with natural flavours on demand. By removing the need for single-use bottles and reducing transport emissions, the Flavour Tap enables offices, venues, and public spaces to offer great-tasting drinks with a dramatically smaller environmental footprint. Aqua Libra’s approach blends sustainability, smart technology, and convenience to meet the growing demand for healthier, greener beverage options.

**This event is open to current university students only. Unfortunately, non-students will not be admitted. Thank you for your understanding.** Join **AWS Cloud Club** for an exclusive deep dive with **Viola Harperath**, Software Engineer at **Trainline**! We’re peeling back the curtain on how one of the world’s leading travel platforms leverages AWS to power seamless travel for millions. Whether you’re interested in cloud architecture, the current tech industry outlook, or just want to hear from someone crushing it in the field, this is for you. * **When:** Tuesday\, Feb 24th \| 6 PM \- 7 PM * **Where:** Clerkenwell Campus (Exact room TBA on the day!) * **Bonus:** We’ve got **AWS Cloud Club Merchandise**! Don't miss out on the chance to network and level up your cloud knowledge. See you there!

Open Mic and Networking, Singers , Musicians , Bands, Hip Hop Artists, Sound Engineers, Producers Networking

**Looking for a business networking event in London's Canary Wharf?** Join us and connect with **startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, FinTech operators, and professionals in business, finance & tech**. Event by tech startup GMax Card and Getshop Today. Why Attend? • Meet founders, entrepreneurs, tech pros, FinTech operators • Build valuable business and startup connections
 • Discover new ideas and opportunities
 • Real conversations in a mid-sized group - not a crowded conference (max 40 people) • Paid ticket holders get a free GMax contactless business card Venue: The Sipping Room, Canary Wharf **The Sipping Room** is set in a beautifully converted dockside warehouse at West India Quay, blending Canary Wharf’s industrial heritage with a modern, social vibe. Surrounded by historic port docks and framed by a dramatic skyscraper skyline, it offers a relaxed yet buzzy atmosphere - perfect for business networking with character, views, and great energy. ** Note re contactless cards:** Free RSVP gives entry only - no contactless card included. For the card, book a paid ticket when available. Agenda 18:30 – 21:30 Informal business networking in London, Canary Wharf. On arrival, please ask the receptionist about the networking event. Hosts can make introductions if necessary, followed by open, informal business networking. Meet and Connect with: • Startup founders & entrepreneurs
 • FinTech, Finance, banking & investment specialists
 • IT, tech & product professionals
 • Business owners & consultants
 • International professionals based in London and internationally Co-organised by tech startups: • [GMax Card - Digital & contactless business cards
](www.gmaxcard.com) • [Ciitab - AI-powered LinkedIn automation](www.ciitab.com) • [Getshop Today - Build an eCommerce site in minutes](www.getshop.today) ⚠️ Important Information: **Dress Code:** Smart or business casual. No hoodies or sportswear, please - this is a business networking event rather than a fully informal gathering. Age & ID: 18+. ID may be required for alcohol purchases. Photos & Video: Filming and photography by [CineEye (Visual Media Production in London)](www.cineeye.co.uk). Images may be used for promotion - inform organisers on arrival if you do not consent. ️ Liability: Attendance is at your own risk. Organisers and venue accept no responsibility for loss, injury, or damage to you or your property. ✅ Register Early - Only 40 Spots! Join this evening of relaxed networking with the business, tech, finance, and startup community in East London. We’re excited to meet you! Register now, and don’t forget to join the group for future event alerts.

**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 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!**

Join us **the night before Elastic{ON} London** for an exclusive meetup, a perfect warm-up to the big day ahead! This is your chance to connect with the Elastic community, mingle with fellow attendees, and get energized for a full day of presentations at Elastic{ON} London. Don’t miss out! Register for the meetup and make sure you’ve also signed up for [Elastic{ON} London](https://www.elastic.co/events/elasticon/london) as well to experience a full day of learning and networking! **Date and Time:** Wednesday, February 25, from 6:00-8:30 PM **Location:** Davidson Building Address: 1st floor, 5 Southampton St, London WC2E 7HA Note: please use Exeter St entrance as the main entrance is closed after 6pm **Agenda:** * 6:00 pm: Doors open; say hi and eat some food * 6:30 pm: #Talk 1 - Re-thinking significant term discovery Mark Harwood - Ex-Elastic Core Developer and Lucene committer * 7:00 pm: Q&A * 7:10 pm: #Talk 2 - From Specs to Play: How I Built a Generative AI Game with Elastic + Microsoft AI Mike Richter - Principal Partner Solution Architect at Microsoft * 7:30 pm: Q&A * 7:40 pm: Networking and event wrap-up * 8:30 pm: Event close If you’re a long-time Elastic user or just starting your journey, this is the perfect opportunity to share ideas, meet new people, and get inspired. Invite your friends and RSVP on this page! **⚡️ Interested in giving a talk? ⚡️** Have you ever considered presenting on your Elastic use case? We welcome 5-10 minute lightning talks, 45-minute deep dives, and everything in between. If you're interested, please submit via our [CFP](https://sessionize.com/elastic-meetups/) or send us an email at [meetups@elastic.co.](http://meetups@elastic.co./)

Join us on February 25th for talks from engineers at **Nebius, Fireworks AI,** **Together AI** and **Cerebras** \- four companies working on distinct approaches to AI infrastructure\, from cloud\-native training platforms to custom silicon\. Topics: * **Nebius** \- Tips and tricks for Training High\-Performance Speculators by Filipp Fisin * **Fireworks AI** \- LLM evaluations and closing the benchmark\-to\-production gap by Shaunak Godbole * **Cerebras -** Technology underpinning the fastest inference by Dmitry Gaynullin * **Together AI** \- Road to 5M Sequence Length: Breaking Memory Barriers in Context Parallelism by Max Ryabinin If you’d like to give a talk or become a partner for one of the upcoming meetups, message [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fedorshabashev/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/fedorshabashev/) or [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirzharov/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirzharov/) In the meantime, you can watch the previously recorded talks: [https://youtube.com/@londonpytorchmeetup](https://youtube.com/@londonpytorchmeetup) Please subscribe to our channel! ❤️

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.

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?!"

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

Welcome to Casual Boardgames, where we enjoy classic tabletop games and social deduction games while bonding over good food, drinks, and great conversations. 
We started this group to meet new people and make new friends, and bonding over games in a relaxed atmosphere is a great way to do that. We currently meet near route 23 and Polaris Parkway, and this is close to areas like Powell, Lewis Center, Worthington, and parts of Westerville and Columbus. 
Feel free to bring your own games or play one of the many games our members bring. If you are inexperienced, we will help you learn. 
Here are just a few examples of the kind of games we play. 
Tabletop/board games: Splendor, Catan, Azul, Dominion, 7 Wonders… 
Social deduction games: Code Names, Chameleon, Werewords… 
IMPORTANT: 
1. While we love playing a variety of games and competing, we are not just about the games. We interact and talk while playing, and this leads to a lot of laughter and fun. If you just want to compete and focus solely on the game, then this is probably not the group you are looking for. 
2. Many people join groups like this and never (or rarely) show up after weeks or months. If you join and never really come, we will eventually remove you from the group as a courtesy to our members. Why? Because limiting group conversations (on the app) to regular members makes communication and planning much easier. Also, while it may be rare, it protects members from people who join because they are interested in following a person instead of having a real interest in our group. If you get removed, it is just because you haven’t come, and we follow this protocol as a courtesy to our regular game players.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Spec-Driven Development with GitHub Spec-Kit: From Intent to Implementation* Spec-driven development flips the traditional workflow on its head: instead of code being the source of truth, the specification becomes the backbone of design, collaboration, and delivery. In this session, we’ll explore how GitHub Spec-Kit enables teams to treat specifications as first-class artifacts—living documents that drive architecture, implementation, and verification. You’ll learn how Spec-Kit helps teams clearly express intent using structured, version-controlled specs that live alongside code. We’ll walk through a practical workflow that starts with defining system behavior and constraints, then progressively refines those specs into testable, automatable outcomes. Along the way, we’ll show how specs can reduce ambiguity, improve cross-functional collaboration, and make design decisions explicit before a single line of production code is written. This talk will cover: --What spec-driven development is (and what it isn’t) --How GitHub Spec-Kit fits into modern developer workflows --Using specs to align product, engineering, and AI-assisted development --Real-world examples of turning specs into implementations with confidence Whether you’re building greenfield systems, integrating AI into your stack, or trying to reduce costly rework, spec-driven development offers a scalable way to move faster without sacrificing clarity. Attendees will leave with concrete patterns and a clear mental model for adopting GitHub Spec-Kit in their own projects. **YouTube Link** TBA