Feminine entrepreneur ‘completely humiliated’ after London Tech Week refuses her entry for bringing child

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra A feminine entrepreneur was left feeling “completely humiliated” after she was refused entry to London Tech Week as a result of she was along with her 18-month-old daughter.

Davina Schonle had travelled for 3 hours to get to the occasion at Olympia, the place she deliberate to fulfill potential suppliers for her new start-up AI firm.

However on arrival on Monday, she mentioned officers prevented her from getting into along with her daughter, Isabella, who was in a pram.

The incident on the occasion, which was addressed by Sir Keir Starmer on the identical day, has been broadly condemned at a time when the tech business tries to shake off its male-dominated tag.

A latest report by Tech Nation confirmed that simply 26 per cent of individuals within the UK tech business have been ladies, with extra technical roles seeing an excellent wider gender hole.

Writing on LinkedIn, Ms Schonle, aged 40, mentioned: “I hate that I’m having to jot down this, however at this time I used to be refused entry at London Tech Week… as a result of I had my child with me.

“It’s a three-hour drive a method for me to come back to London. At this stage, I restrict what number of hours I'm away from my child lady. That is about new environments for her as a lot as it's about me. I ought to be capable to construct my firm along with her by my aspect.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/11/9/00/SEI254905503-(1).jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/11/9/00/SEI254905503-(1).jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/11/9/00/SEI254905503-(1).jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="A humanoid robot is displayed by Meta Loop start-up during the first day of London Tech Week, which is set to attract more than 45,000 visitors" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

A humanoid robotic is displayed by Meta Loop start-up throughout the first day of London Tech Week, which is about to draw greater than 45,000 guests (EPA) “As somebody captivated with innovation, tech and the way forward for work, I used to be excited to attend, join, have conferences and contribute. In at this time’s age, shouldn’t we be extra inclusive?

“This second was greater than inconvenient. It was a transparent reminder that, as a tech business, we nonetheless have work to do in the case of inclusion past buzzwords.

“Dad and mom are a part of this ecosystem. Caregivers are innovators, founders, traders, and leaders. If main occasions like London Tech Week can’t make area for, what message does that ship about who belongs in tech? I don’t essentially imply make it kid-inclusive occasion usually, or do I? Doesn’t our future belong to the youngsters?”

Ms Schonle later advised The Instances she had been left feeling “completely humiliated” and “indignant” by the incident.

As founder and chief govt of Humanvantage AI, which is creating a conversational role-play company coaching platform utilizing AI know-how, she had reportedly organized three conferences with exhibitors.

In response to her LinkedIn put up, Rebecca Taylor, an professional in cyber threats and human intelligence who gave a TED speak final 12 months, mentioned she was “so sorry”, and signalled her assist for the mom.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/10/18/33/London-Tech-Week-reception-ohynpval.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/10/18/33/London-Tech-Week-reception-ohynpval.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/06/10/18/33/London-Tech-Week-reception-ohynpval.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Sir Keir Starmer addressed the event on Monday, pledging to persuade the public that AI can improve millions of lives" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Sir Keir Starmer addressed the occasion on Monday, pledging to steer the general public that AI can enhance hundreds of thousands of lives (PA) She wrote: “I truthfully do not know what to say. The 'juggle' is actual, and in case you're doing all of your finest to make life occur and be a part of the dialog, different people and communities needs to be empowering you to try this. Right here in case you ever need to speak.”

Janthea Brigden, ambassador for Kids at Occasions, wrote: “It feels so humiliating, doesn’t? Like you're a ‘non particular person’!”

London Tech Week is predicted to draw greater than 45,000 folks from internationally.

On Monday, in an tackle on the occasion, Sir Keir vowed to steer a “sceptical” public that AI can enhance hundreds of thousands of lives and remodel the way in which enterprise works.

In a press release concerning the incident, London Tech Week mentioned: “We’re conscious that one in every of our attendees wasn’t allowed to enter with their youngster yesterday. As a enterprise occasion, the surroundings hasn’t been designed to include the actual wants, amenities and safeguards that under-16s require.

“We wish everybody within the tech neighborhood to really feel welcome at London Tech Week. We’ve reached out on to the particular person concerned to debate what occurred and use this expertise to tell how we strategy this at LTW sooner or later.”