Where innovation knows no boundaries

Hello 24six9 fam!

Phew, this month has been quite a ride. We’re thrilled to see the 24six9 community growing, going so far and wide, and we have no plans to stop anytime soon! Dare we say, this month saw the most attendees, which resulted in more chapters opening up and more and more people spreading the 24six9 message. Don’t worry ,we’ll be sharing some juicy news about that soon. For now, let’s put our nostalgia hats on and go through some highlights for the month of October.

24six9’s Deep tech darling makes a return!

We kicked off the month with another edition of “Deep tech Disputes”, hosted by our very own Hood Khizer. As always, Hood kept it controversial, sharing the “Chinese Room” argument with the crowd and igniting a debate on whether or not a digital processing machine can intelligently become perfect at syntax, or if it can possess an understanding of semantics. The thought experiment had many tongues wagging, and we had an excellent time debating the nuances of AI adapting to its environment versus replicating human intelligence. It was a stimulating discussion that left us pondering the future of technology. More sessions of Deep tech Disputes are sure to follow, especially centered around AI use cases and its potential.

A daring game of Roulette, 24six9 style!

Next up, we had the most fun-filled evening of the lot with a brand new 24six9 meet-up, “Pitch Roulette”. The rules were simple, a spinning wheel filled with prompts would determine what each group of participants would be working on. All they had to do was create a unique and engaging infomercial about their product, and suffice it to say, everyone ran with it in the best way possible. From Bamboo Toothbrushes to curating a Bathroom Experience, it was a wild meet-up with some of the most creative pitches we’ve ever seen. We left it up to the crowd’s uproarious applause to decide a winner, so it got competitive.

Creating a culture of innovation with Lars Kolind

The next 24six9 meetup was legendary, held in collaboration with Leadership School as we hosted the extraordinary Professor Lars Kolind. The billionaire serial entrepreneur held the crowds attention like none other, sharing insights into how he built entire empires by shifting focus on people rather than numbers. Prof. Lars was an absolute joy to host, joined by his team that included Samvel Movsisyan and James Maughan. We were joined by the UAE Oxford and Cambridge Alumni network for this one, and everyone managed to get a question in. Prof. Lars shared some of the most unconventional lessons learnt from his stints at global organizations (LEGO, Oticon, Radiometer to name a few), his passionate pursuit of being a lifelong scout, and truths about creative leadership. It was a full house that hung on to every word, truly a sight to behold. Thanks for dropping by, Prof. Lars!

Back to Networking Basics with Bingo!

We bid adieu to October with a round of Networking Bingo, hosting so many new additions to the 24six9 community. The game of Networking split the crowd into two groups, with prompts on a sheet to cover. The ones to cross the most things off their Networking Bingo sheet won a stint on the stage to plug their business, so it was exciting to witness the 24six9 members hustle as fast as they could. One of the most heartening parts of this meetup was how many new members we hosted. We hope you all had an amazing time, keep an eye out for more exciting games and activities happening throughout the bustling month of November!

And Happy Halloween!

Upcoming Events in Nov:

Save the date for 24six9’s upcoming community events!

Join the 24six9 Dubai Community

Connect with fellow 24six9 community members on our social media. Engage in tech-infused discussions, share your ideas and insights, find the best resources and mentors to collaborate with, and stay updated on the latest industry news. Follow us on Instagram and Linkedin to be part of the thriving network that is 24six9.

We look forward to bringing you the most exciting and meaningful events, opportunities, and connections, designed to help you thrive.

Have an excellent rest of the month!

Team 24six9