Innovate

The Corporate & Startup Innovation Track
Sink Or Swim?

Sink Or Swim?

Embrace the dynamic interplay between corporates and startups because, in today's ever-changing business landscape, innovation isn't a choice; it's a necessity for survival and growth.

This theme underscores the need for established corporates and agile startups to unite, learn from each other, and chart a bold path towards the future.

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Where is innovation taking us?

Wind in your Sail

Today’s challenging market can be an unwanted anchor for ambitious startups attempting to scale. In our Innovate track, you'll glean practical tips from startup trailblazers to help you cultivate a self-sustaining business, master growth hacking, and adeptly navigate M&As.

Surfing Disruption

If startups are speedboats, then corporates are cruise liners. Learn how these two different types of organizations are navigating the wave of disruption. Now more than ever it is important to distinguish the hype from the trends that are shaking up industries through emerging technologies.

Work Reimagined

The world of work is changing, and businesses must adapt to keep pace. Join us to explore how you can modernize your internal culture to drive agile, inclusive leadership, utilise cutting-edge technologies to transform your company workflow, and bridge the digital skills gap.

F*ck up Fridays

Success stories offer valuable lessons, but we don’t talk enough about failure. In tech news today we’re seeing a massacre of unicorns due to unsustainable blitzscaling and a disregard for long-term resilience. Join us to learn how you can avoid their mistakes, navigate external pressures and prioritise sustainable business models for future success.

Who is this theme for?

Who is this theme for?

Our thought-provoking sessions are designed for the entrepreneurs who are scaling their businesses and the corporate captains who are navigating digital transformation.

Innovate talks

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  • Angels in Disguise: Why your best friend is an in-house VC

    When is an angel investor not an angel investor? When it's an in-house VC. In this session we'll explore radical new approaches to the founder/investor relationship, questioning how you can get better returns on your investments and help founders succeed. Should investors collaborate with one another rather than competing for ownership? Should owning stakes of the company even matter? And how can VCs boost startup success by helping set up employee stock ownership plans and assisting with term sheet negotiations? In this conversation we'll weigh up stake-driven multifunds against relationship-driven microfunds, and question what the best way is to truly support founders during those early stages of startup growth.

  • Speedboats vs. Cruiseliners: Integrating Agile Startups and Innovative Corporates

    Embarking on a corporate innovation program can offer a valuable boost for startup founders navigating the challenges of today's uncertain business landscape. These programs can furnish mentorship and financial backing, facilitating rapid scaling while mitigating risks and lowering costs. Nonetheless, the divergent processes and internal cultures of corporates and startups present well-known challenges. In this session, we'll delve into crucial considerations for startups contemplating engagement with large corporates, examining how to navigate the transformation in workflow and partnerships, and weighing the potential drawbacks against the promised advantages.

  • Out Here Thriving: What Makes a Pioneering Founder

    It's one thing to build a company, and another to raise funding. In today's uncertain market, founders must showcase resilience and adaptability to convince investors of their value. In this panel discussion, we quiz our investors on what they look out for in the current climate, what bias might be at play when reviewing founders, and the complex nature of investor-founder relationships. Join us to gain valuable perspectives on navigating venture capital dynamics and positioning your business for success in an ever-evolving landscape.

  • Crises Catalysts: How to Drive Innovation and Create Impact in Adversity

    Reface, launched during a pandemic, has developed four new products since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and remained committed to bringing even more GenAI tech into consumer experiences despite the extreme circumstances. In this session, Anton, co-CEO at Reface, will share practical insights on how to innovate and drive impact during crises and delve into the personal and professional characteristics that empower individuals to thrive under pressure. Anton’s experience highlights how navigating a business in tough times is not just about economic adaptability but also about fostering changes through innovation.

  • Unstoppable AI: How the Next-Gen is Reshaping Business

    Join Sophia Velastegui, CPO at Aptiv, in an illuminating session delving into the profound depths of AI's multimodality. With a career spanning data convergence at tech giants like Apple and Nest, Sophia unveils the intricate tapestry of integrating text, sound, and image data into AI frameworks. Discover the complexities of multimodal AI, exploring diverse techniques and models that enable machines to sense, hear, and see the nuanced landscapes of the human world. Sophia will unravel the intricate interplay of data sources, techniques, and AI models, painting a compelling picture of the future of AI's interaction with our multifaceted reality.

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