The hard part of AI is no longer access. It’s knowing where to spend it.
Founders & AI is an event series in London for early-stage startup founders in the UK, run by Digital Back Office with The Brew. Session 1, “What to Buy, What to Build, What to Ignore”, takes place on Thursday 29 October 2026, 5:30 to 8:00 PM, at The Brew, 163 City Road, London EC1V 1NR.
Every founder is being told to “do something with AI”. Very few are told what that something should be.
A 2026 survey by Harness estimates that around 26% of AI spending is wasted. Large companies can absorb that. An early-stage startup can’t. Every pound spent on the wrong tool, and every sprint spent building something you could have bought, comes straight out of your runway.
That is why we’re launching Founders & AI.
Introducing Founders & AI
Founders & AI is a monthly event series for pre-seed and seed startup founders across the UK, run by Digital Back Office with The Brew in Shoreditch, in the heart of Silicon Roundabout.
The series has one aim, captured in its tagline: from idea to efficient businesses.
Each session focuses on one real decision founders face as they move from idea or MVP to a working business. No hype and no sales pitches, just honest conversation with people who have built and run technology at scale.
Places are kept limited on purpose, so every founder in the room can ask questions and take part.
Session 1: What to Buy, What to Build, What to Ignore
A few years ago, building AI meant hiring machine learning engineers and spending months on the runway before you knew if it would pay back. Today, a small team with the right models, APIs and tools can ship features that once needed a full R&D department.
The hard part is no longer access. It’s knowing where to spend. Our first session is a fireside chat that will help you:
- Decide what to build and what to buy, so your engineering time goes where it matters
- Understand what AI really costs to run, before the bill surprises you
- Separate lasting opportunities from hype, and skip the trends that don’t serve your customers
- Get answers to your own questions, by bringing the AI or product decision you’re stuck on to the open Q&A
Meet the speakers
Anurag Jain, Founder, Digital Back Office & Dataflow
Anurag has spent 25 years in systems engineering, including more than seven years at UBS building data platforms. Through Digital Back Office, he helps startups and scale-ups turn data into decisions and AI ideas into measurable results. He brings the engineering view: what is worth building, and what is not.
Richard Simon, CTO, T-Systems International
Richard has more than 30 years in IT, with over 15 focused on cloud computing, across companies including IBM, SUSE, Mirantis and VMware. He co-hosts The Cloud Therapists and speaks regularly at London tech events. He brings the infrastructure view: what AI really costs in production, and when managed services beat building your own.
Join us
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Venue: The Brew, Eagle House, 163 City Road, London EC1V 1NR (near Old Street station)
The evening starts with drinks, food and networking, followed by the fireside chat, an open Q&A and more time to meet other founders.
Places are limited. If you’re an early-stage founder who wants to spend smarter on AI, register on Luma today.
Know a founder who should be in the room? Send this their way.
Frequently asked questions
What is Founders & AI?
Founders & AI is a monthly in-person event series in London that helps early-stage UK startup founders make better decisions about AI and technology.
Who should attend?
Pre-seed and seed founders in the UK who are building a product, especially those deciding how to use AI, what to build in-house and what to buy.
Is it free?
Yes. Founders & AI is free to attend, with food and drinks provided. Registration is by approval and places are limited.
Where is it held?
At The Brew, Eagle House, 163 City Road, London EC1V 1NR, near Old Street station in Shoreditch.
When is the first session?
Thursday 29 October 2026, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
Who is speaking?
Anurag Jain, Founder of Digital Back Office & Dataflow, and Richard Simon, CTO of T-Systems International.
How do I register?
Register on Luma at luma.com/v3blfyij.
