On Saturday June 21st, Muslim Tech Fest took over four floors of Novotel London West and filled it with something rarely seen in the UK tech scene: purpose, belonging, and power rooted in identity.
The space was transformed into more than a conference; it became a rallying ground for some of the most ambitious, talented and values-driven minds in the industry.
This year\’s Muslim Tech Fest welcomed over 1,500 attendees from 27 countries. Participants travelled from across the UK, the United States, Europe, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and beyond. A clear sign that the movement is resonating far beyond the UK\’s borders.
With 71 exhibitors spread across four full floors, the venue buzzed with ideas and exchange. The event brought together a dynamic mix of early-stage start-ups, student founders, and established businesses generating millions in revenue. This wasn\’t just a showcase, it was an ecosystem.
Muslim Tech Fest isn\’t just for founders. It brought together software engineers, designers, product managers, healthcare professionals and even artists who are all building with purpose and the room reflected the full range of Muslim excellence and talent shaping the future across industries.
Over 34 sponsors and 21 grassroots organisations made the event possible, with support extending beyond financial backing. Muslim Tech Fest was designed to remove barriers, offering scholarships to attendees who needed them, especially students, aspiring founders, and those underrepresented in the tech world. At its core, the event was about access and making sure everyone who deserved a seat in the room, got one.
The day featured 35 speakers, 2 stages, 14 roundtables, 5 workshops, and 45 fringe events covering everything from venture funding and ethical AI, to housing accessibility and the role of faith in leadership. Tech talent worth over £100 million was present under one roof. From Scotland to Malaysia, attendees came not just to be seen, but to build.
Conversations flowed from corridors to prayer rooms to panel stages, united by one question: how do we build what the world needs, without losing ourselves in the process?
In a tech industry often dominated by speed, hype, and disconnection, Muslim Tech Fest grounded itself in community, trust, and intention. Where other headlines focus on data breaches, AI bias, and billionaires spending profits on vanity space missions, this event offered a clear alternative. It showcased builders rooted in ethics. Creators thinking beyond algorithms. Leaders choosing justice over scale at any cost.
One of the day\’s most talked-about moments was the £30,000 live pitch competition, where brothers Hamza Mughal and Shehryar Mughal from Manchester took home the prize for their publishing-tech start-up, Running Paper. Their win was symbolic, showing that with the right platform and the right people watching, talent from any background can rise.
The spirit of collaboration extended far beyond the pitch. Pfida, the UK\’s leading Sharia-compliant home-buying solution, announced a strategic partnership with Moduliv, whose modular housing IP is valued in the millions. Their joint mission: tackle the housing crisis with ethical design and Muslim-led innovation.
Other major moments included Kestrl\’s announcement of its upcoming digital Islamic bank, sending waves of excitement through fintech circles and underlining just how rapidly this ecosystem is growing.
As co-founders Arfah Farooq and Zahid Mahmood said at the close of the event: \”This isn\’t about being invited to the table. We built our own. And we equipped others with tools to build their own.\”
And the movement isn\’t stopping. Technologists, founders and leaders from around the world are calling for the best edition of the event to land in their city. From San Francisco to Tokyo, Jakarta to Madinah and Toronto to Doha; the eclectic gathering of industry A-players will come to more cities soon under the Muslim Tech Fest banner.
Muslim Tech Fest is setting the standard for values-led innovation at scale. With sharp execution, global credibility, and a bold digital presence, it\’s fast becoming the trusted home for ethical, future-facing tech.
As we expand to new cities and audiences, the vision is clear: this isn\’t just an event, it\’s global infrastructure in the making. Strategic partners now have a rare chance to back something with real traction, cultural momentum, and limitless potential.
Muslim Tech Fest wasn\’t just a one-day event. It was a statement. A gathering of people who know that the future can be fairer, smarter, and more human if we build it together.
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