Side Events

The best bits happen off the main stage.

Turing Fest is more than two days of talks. From a failure-first evening to a VC deal exchange, startup dinners, the Opening Party and a morning run - here's everything happening around the two days.

Get Your Pass → See the agenda

What's on

Three days of side events.

The programme around the programme - optional, informal, and where a lot of the real connections happen.

Day 0 · 21 September

FuckUp Nights Edinburgh

Fuckup Nights London is the UK's largest failure-first community, where founders and operators get together to share their biggest mistakes. We create a no judgement space, where you can be open and reflective, without the pressure of traditional networking. Our mission is to get you the lesson without the scar, check out the Edinburgh edition.

Hosted by Saul Truman Founder & Host, FuckUp Nights London

Guest speakers

Keith Bradbury Co-founder, Ember Mathew Norbury Co-founder & CEO, Aelo Neurotech

Date21 September

Time6pm - 9pm

VenueThe Waverley Bar

Day 1 · 22 September

VC Deal Exchange

New for 2026, the VC Deal Exchange is a private, VC-only deal flow session taking place before Investor Day. Limited to 20 investors, each participant gets three minutes to pitch one company to the room.

The deal criteria: companies raising £2M–£10M rounds, with a bias towards enterprise software.

To gain entry, each investor must bring one high-quality company that fits criteria. In return, you'll access 19 other investment opportunities, brought by fellow investors and backed by their initial interest and diligence. Held under the Chatham House Rule, this is a focused opportunity where investors discover new companies, real pipeline opportunities and exchange with peers from across the UK and Europe. Bring one deal. Get access to nineteen. Application required.

Hosted by Edward Keelan Partner, Octopus Ventures

Date22 September

Time12pm - 1:30pm (before Investor Day)

VenueEdinburgh Futures Institute

Startup Dinners

Intimate dinners with a small number of founders and operators, hosted at restaurants across Edinburgh. An evening spent with peers in an informal setting, because sometimes the best networking happens over good food and outside of office hours.

Date22 September

Time6:15pm - 8:45pm

VenueEdinburgh - locations coming soon

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Investor Dinner

The Investor Dinner takes place at the historic Edinburgh Castle. This is where Europe's leading early-stage VCs and investors will gather for an evening of great food, great company and great conversation, all taking place right before the Summit Day. Invitation only.

Brought to you by: Orrick & Barclays.

Date22 September

Time6:45pm - 9:15pm

VenueEdinburgh Castle

Request an invite →

The Opening Party

The Opening Party takes place at Eve, music venue at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, bringing founders, investors, and operators together in a relaxed setting after the day's sessions. The first round is on us, with a VIP lounge area and a live vinyl DJ until 11pm. RSVPs open soon!

Date22 September

Time9pm - 11pm

VenueEve, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

RSVP →

Day 2 · 23 September

5k Run

Start your day right. We're hosting a 5k run before Summit Day kicks off, so whether you're an avid runner or just want to see Edinburgh at pace, we'll be gathering a group of founders, operators, and investors to join you. Get the miles in before the meetings.

Date23 September

Time7am - 7:45am

VenueMeeting point shared one week prior

Home Ground Dinner with Ada Ventures

Hosted by the Ada Ventures team on Day 2 of Turing Fest, we've convened some of our Scottish-based portfolio companies alongside our Scottish-based LPs for an evening focused on a new generation of Scottish companies. Home Ground is where Scotland's talent comes home. It convenes the families, HNWIs and exited founders best placed to underwrite Scotland's entrepreneurship engine, turning capital, exit proceeds and lived experience into committed backing for homegrown companies built to win in Europe and worldwide, not only the UK.

Hosted by: Michael Tefula, Principal, Ada Ventures.

Date23 September

Time6pm - 8:30pm

Request to join →