On 4 November 2025 at 8 Bishopsgate, we brought together some bright minds in venture capital and deep tech for an evening of insight, networking and experimentation. Co-hosted with Discovery Park Ventures, the Innovate and Invest event explored a big question:
Do incubators, venture builders and venture studios truly de-risk investment in deep tech?
Spoiler alert: the conversation was as dynamic as the crowd.
The centrepiece of the evening was a lively discussion chaired by Renos Savva (Head of Innovation and Venture Development at Discovery Park) and featuring four leading voices from the venture capital world, each bringing unique experience from venture studios, builders and accelerators:
- Gyen Ming Angel – Prosemino
- Raghd Rostom – Syncona
- Kerstin Papenfuss – Deep Science Ventures
- Matt McCann – Zinc VC (also leads the BioCapital Network and Science Entrepreneur Club)
The conversation flowed across key themes including the inception of start-ups, bridging the funding gap and sector-specific challenges. While funding challenges were acknowledged, the tone was upbeat and forward-looking. The UK remains a fantastic environment for early-stage deep tech innovation; a sentiment echoed across the panel.
We would like to thank those who attended, it was a fantastic night of ideas, investment, and innovation, with new connections made and fresh perspectives shared.
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