Inside Level39: May in Review

May was a month shaped by global perspectives, practical insight, and the continued strength of the Level39 community. From international delegations to industry-leading events, it’s been another reminder of how our ecosystem brings together ambitious founders, operators and partners to explore what’s next in fintech, AI and beyond.

Opening doors to global opportunity

Hult International Business School FinTech & AI Cohort Visit

We kicked off the month by welcoming a cohort of Master’s students from Hult International Business School, led by Terence Tse. Bringing fresh perspectives, and plenty of thoughtful questions, the group explored how Level39 and Canary Wharf Group (CWG) support founders from early-stage ambition to scale.

It’s always energising to connect with the next generation of entrepreneurs at such an early stage in their journey.

UK–Saudi AI & Data Infrastructure Dialogue

That global lens continued with a standout moment: our UK–Saudi AI & Data Infrastructure Dialogue. Bringing together Level39 members and a senior Saudi delegation, the session focused on what it really takes to scale fintech and AI businesses into Saudi Arabia – a market increasingly shaped by Vision 2030 and significant government-backed investment.

Grounded in real-world experience, founders shared insights across private debt, capital markets, and AI-led automation, offering an honest view of entering and operating in the region. The alignment was clear: Saudi Arabia is rapidly positioning itself as a key destination for fintech and deep tech growth, and our members are well placed to be part of that story.

Connecting the ecosystem through events

As always, events played a central role in bringing the community together, both to exchange ideas and to build meaningful connections.

CEO Breakfast Club: Scaling, AI & Community Insights

Our CEO Breakfast Club saw its largest turnout yet, with conversations centring on growth: from go-to-market strategies and client acquisition, to how teams are practically implementing AI.

A recurring theme was the power of the Level39 network itself – not just as a space, but as a catalyst for collaboration, insight and opportunity.

Money20/20 Europe Pre-Event Mixer

Ahead of Money20/20 Europe, we brought the community together for a pre-event mixer, creating space to connect early and maximise value ahead of a busy week in Amsterdam.

These moments, informal, peer-led and experience-driven, often prove just as impactful as the main event itself.

FinTech Global x Level39 Partner Event

During RegTech Week, we were proud to partner with FinTech Global on a satellite event alongside their Global RegTech Summit.

We kicked things off with a standout keynote from Asha Sangray (Profylr), who challenged the industry to move beyond fragmented compliance approaches towards a more connected, unified view of regulatory truth. She also highlighted the widening gap between rapid AI innovation and slower industry adoption and the urgency of closing it.

This set the tone for a panel moderated by Will Orde (Passion Capital), joined by Areg Nzsdejan (Cardamon), Haseeb Qureshi (Conister Bank) and Maria Scott (TAINA Technology). Together, they brought a blend of founder, investor, and institutional perspectives, grounding the conversation in real-world challenges and opportunities.

The discussion pointed to a clear shift:

• Compliance is evolving from reactive processes to real-time, embedded intelligence
  AI is emerging as a “digital teammate,” augmenting rather than replacing human expertise
  Trust, data integrity, and governance remain critical to adoption

What stood out most was the pace of change – shorter adoption cycles, more collaborative experimentation, and a shared focus on building scalable, trusted systems.

10th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference

We also hosted the 10th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference, welcoming global experts to One Canada Square. While distinct from our usual fintech focus, the event reflects the broader innovation ecosystem at Canary Wharf -bringing together expertise across infrastructure, safety, and emerging technologies.

UK–Nordic Frontier AI Networking Reception

Beyond Level39, we stayed closely connected to partner activity.

At the UK–Nordic Frontier AI Reception, hosted by Innovation Norway, we connected with AI leaders and frontrunners from the Nordics and the UK to explore cross-border collaboration and the growing link between UK excellence in research, talent and capital and Nordic leadership in renewable energy and infrastructure. A visiting government-led AI delegation also joined the session, which was a powerful reminder of the increasingly interconnected nature of the ecosystem.

Behind the scenes

Team Breakfast in Space39

We also took a moment as a team to pause and reconnect over breakfast in Space39.

Alongside plenty of conversation (and a shared appreciation for Dishoom), we celebrated new joiners settling into the team and recognised some well-earned promotions.

These moments matter, reinforcing that what makes Level39 special is not just the community we support, but the people behind it.

Looking ahead

If May demonstrated anything, it’s the continued momentum across the Level39 ecosystem. From global market expansion to the evolution of AI and regulation, our community is right at the centre of the conversations shaping the future.

As we move into the summer, that focus remains the same: connecting the right people, sharing practical insight, and creating opportunities for ambitious businesses to grow in the UK and far beyond.