News and Insight - Inside Level39: February Edition

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it certainly didn’t feel like it on the 39th floor of One Canada Square, where connection, collaboration, and dialogue continue to drive the UK fintech ecosystem.

From student delegations and CEO conversations to fintech, AI, Pride celebrations, and apprenticeship spotlights, the month was defined by learning, growth, and forward-looking discussions across our community.

Welcoming the next generation

We were delighted to host a delegation from Northumbria University for an out‑of‑classroom lecture in our pitching area.

Elisha Aspillaga, Event Manager, and Lalitha Aiyer, Membership Associate, introduced the students to the Level39 ecosystem – spotlighting the benefits of our structured MentorHours39 and InvestorHours39 programmes, which connect members with industry experts and investment opportunities.

They also highlighted the role CWG plays in fostering collaboration, supporting growth, and expanding market access. As Level39 is wholly owned by CWG, we’re uniquely positioned to provide this long‑term support, leveraging the wider estate and its strategic vision to help our members scale effectively.

CEO Breakfast Club: connection and conversation

Our first Level39 CEO Breakfast Club of 2026 returned, hosted in our CWG Marketing Suite, gathering CEOs and senior leaders from across our membership community.

The morning created space for open conversation, shared challenges, and peer‑to‑peer learning. Members also heard from Shobi Khan, CEO of CWG who shared updates on the future of the estate and the continued evolution of Canary Wharf as a hub for business, innovation, and community.

Showcasing our spaces

Beyond Level39, Elisha Aspillaga, Daisy Harris (Membership & Ecosystem Coordinator), and Aimee Tiernan (Marketing Associate) represented the team at the London Summer Event Show 2026, hosted in the stunning Freemasons’ Hall.

Now in our second year exhibiting at the Show, the team connected with a blend of new faces and familiar partners, showcasing our versatile 39th‑floor event spaces to agents and corporate buyers.

With over 150 of London’s top venues and suppliers and more than 950 qualified buyers in attendance, the Show remains a key destination for event professionals planning summer events and beyond. It was an ideal platform to spotlight our unique environment, build new relationships, and spark fresh conversations.

We’re gearing up for a busy season of venue hire – explore our spaces here or contact events@level39.co to discuss hosting your next event with us.

Building Real AI: From Foundation Models to Scalable Enterprise

The latest event in our AI Series convened a panel of practitioners working at the forefront of applied AI. Moderated by Monia Ben Nejima, Fractional COO to high‑growth tech companies, the panel featured Jean‑Philippe M.L. Schepens van Thiel (Founder & CEO, AxonJay.ai), Liviu‑Marian Negrila (Director, The Agile Software Team), Karen Zhang (Startups Lead & VC Partnerships, Google Cloud), and Sanjeev Gandhi (Co‑Founder & CEO, Val‑iQ).

The group unpacked the realities of taking AI from concept to enterprise value, emphasising that start-ups succeed by being niche, precise, and partnership‑driven – especially when selling into large, compliance‑heavy organisations. They highlighted a shift away from lengthy POCs toward faster, data‑led validation, reinforcing that meaningful AI adoption depends on measurable business outcomes, not “AI hype.”

Discussion also explored human‑in‑the‑loop oversight, the rising importance of domain‑specific models, and the adoption of modular, multi‑agent architectures that strengthen governance and traceability. A key insight was the growing reliance on real‑time behavioural signals, offering a more dynamic foundation for decision‑making than traditional static datasets.

In short: enterprise AI success demands specialisation, strong data foundations, and hybrid human‑AI collaboration – core themes driving our AI series.

Fin|Tech|Bio at Canary Wharf: The Future of Data and Cross‑Sector Synergies

This month marked the return of Fin|Tech|Bio, delivered in partnership with CWG Life Sciences. The event opened with Mike McMillan, Head of Business Development at CPRD, unveiling CPRD Emulate, a new synthetic data platform designed to safely accelerate research, AI development, and clinical trial modelling. McMillan demonstrated how probabilistic, explainable synthetic data can support innovation while upholding the strict privacy and regulatory standards of UK health environments.

The panel brought together leaders across data science, blockchain, and biomedical innovation: Catriona Campbell (Author, Speaker, and Chair of AI 100 UK), Michael Cook (Chief Science Officer, Our Future Health UK), Adi Ben‑Ari (Founder & CEO, Applied Blockchain), and Adam Laing (CFO, President & Co-Founder, IMU Biosciences). Their conversation explored the UK’s exceptional health data assets, as well as the structural challenges slowing progress in precision medicine and commercialisation.

Key themes included the need for standardised data models (OMOP), the role of confidential computing and federated learning, and the potential for blockchain‑enabled trust layers to strengthen secure collaboration. Speakers also highlighted the growing intersections between fintech and biotech – particularly around identity, consent, and safe data sharing.

Pride History Month: community and celebration

February is LGBT+ History Month, and we celebrated with a Pride History Month Bingo night in Space39 – transformed for one evening into “The All Inn,” a LGBTQ+‑friendly popup bar.

In collaboration with Unity members, CWG colleagues, networks across the estate, and charity partner Positive East, the event blended education with celebration. Through people, places, films, and historic milestones, guests explored LGBTQ+ history in an inclusive and joyful environment.

Fintech reflections: Kalifa Review – 5 Years On

Members of our team and community also joined the wider fintech ecosystem at Kalifa Review – 5 Years On, hosted by Moody’s and delivered by Innovate Finance.

Speakers including Sir Ron Kalifa, Janine Hirt, Irene Graham, Anna Wallace, and Myles Stephenson reflected on the sector’s evolution since the report was launched in 2021, from SME lending and financial inclusion to international competitiveness and policy priorities.

The discussion reaffirmed the UK’s strong foundations and the ongoing need for coordinated industry–government action to maintain global leadership within the UK fintech ecosystem.

Partnerships and networks strengthening the UK Fintech ecosystem

Amy French (Director) and Aimee Tiernan met with Innovate Finance and London & Partners to plan a series of ecosystem initiatives for 2026, including flagship events and collaborative programmes.

Amy was also invited to join the judging panel for the 10th Innovate Finance Women in FinTech Powerlist, recognising outstanding women shaping the future of the industry.

Apprenticeships and talent pipelines

During National Apprenticeship Week, Daisy Harris took part in a CWG apprenticeship panel, sharing her journey from application to early career.

She highlighted the value of apprenticeships, hands-on learning, gaining industry experience and building confidence, reinforcing the importance of supporting talent at every stage.

Closing thoughts

February brought insight, connection, and momentum – from students exploring entrepreneurship to CEOs sharing vision; from breakthroughs in synthetic health data to the realities of applied AI; and from celebrating LGBTQ+ history to supporting the next generation of talent.

As always, our members, partners, and wider UK fintech ecosystem continue to shape Level39 as a place for learning, growth, and community.