Conference programme

Join us for an engaging fireside chat featuring distinguished speakers from the US and Europe as they delve into strategies for positioning Europe in the global market. The discussion will explore the current innovation landscape, identify key challenges and propose actionable solutions to bridge the gap between Europe and other leading markets such as the US. Our panellists will share insights on leveraging Europe's unique strengths, fostering cross-regional collaboration and driving sustainable growth in the tech sector. 

Europe’s world-class research institutions are a wellspring of DeepTech innovation, yet the path from scientific discovery to scalable venture remains fraught with structural and financial hurdles. As the US and Asia continue to dominate DeepTech investment, Europe faces a pivotal moment. With new EU funding instruments, evolving regulatory frameworks, and a growing appetite for mission-driven innovation, can Europe close the gap? This panel will compare regional investment dynamics, exit environments, and geopolitical influences, offering a candid assessment of Europe’s position in the global DeepTech race—and what it will take to lead. 

As startups grow and transform, founders face a myriad of challenges and opportunities. Our panellists will delve into the evolving role of founders, highlighting the highs and lows of their entrepreneurial journey. Key topics will include strategies to protect the founders’ position whilst ensuring their motivation as the company and the cap table evolve during the journey. Gain valuable insights from experienced founders and industry experts on navigating the complexities of startup growth while maintaining founder motivation and equity. 

Startups are playing an increasingly important role in defence innovation, but two major challenges remain:
1. Classified vs unclassified collaboration – the defence sector operates within strict classified environments, while startups typically work in unclassified settings. How can startups still contribute to national security innovation?2. Access to investment and procurement – the European Investment Bank (EIB) and venture capital firms are allocating capital to defence tech, but deals are not materialising at the expected scale. Which barriers are preventing funding from flowing into startups, and how can they navigate procurement?

This panel will explore practical strategies for defence startups to bridge these gaps and scale successfully.
 

Let the lawyers have their say! This interactive session will focus on current trends in the market and their impact on deal terms in growth capital transaction documents, also setting the scene of what growth capital is and how it differs from venture capital.

This interactive session will begin with a panel exploring artificial intelligence (AI) and European startups, and particularly how to navigate innovation and regulation. Following this, delegates will participate in roundtable sessions on AI's impact on various sectors, practical applications, industry-specific opportunities, and ethical and regulatory challenges.

The panel will explore the growing popularity of secondary transactions in the venture capital market, highlighting how secondary transactions – traditionally reserved for late-stage companies – are now increasingly being used by early-stage startups to provide liquidity for investors and founders. We will discuss the benefits of secondaries, such as shorter time horizons and lower risk profiles for investors, market trends and the impact on the European venture-backed tech scene. 

In the fast-paced world of startups, legal professionals play a crucial role in guiding companies through complex legal landscapes. This panel discussion will explore the significance of establishing a robust ethical code for startup lawyers. We will touch upon key ethical considerations, such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, competence and fair fees. The session will also highlight the benefits of ethical conduct in fostering a fair and impartial legal system, ensuring long-term success and maintaining the integrity of the legal profession.