Overview

• Davina Schonle was turned away from London Tech Week with her eight-month-old daughter, and another mother was barred with an 18-month-old, forcing cancellations of prearranged startup meetings.
• Organizers said the event was not designed to accommodate children under 16 due to insurance and safety requirements.
• The incident has drawn attention to persistent gender imbalance in UK tech, where women hold fewer than a third of roles.
• Organizers have reached out to Schonle to discuss the incident and consider changes to child admission policies.
• Observers note that the Olympia venue already offers nursing rooms and changing facilities, highlighting a mismatch with the exclusion policy.