Product vs Promise: Exploring the complex tension between real and imaginary in the age of investment hype.

Fifty years ago, the path from idea to global company was simple: build, sell, scale. Today, social reach alone can attract millions before a product ships, but has anything really changed? This event traces the historical swing between production-led and promise-led investment, from the Bank of England to the Industrial Revolution, and unpacks what it means for funding deep tech and AI today. Through talks and a concluding panel, hear from inventors, influencers and investors on what it really takes to secure funding now. It’s an essential session for entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders at any stage of the funding journey.