17/04/2024 - The inaugural investment summit will feature a curated selection of innovative startup ventures and aims to facilitate groundbreaking collaborations

Cannes Next, the innovative platform shaping the future of entertainment and innovation at the Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes (14-22 May), alongside Sprockit - The Global Open Innovation Platform, is launching an exclusive investment and deal-making platform called Next Tech on the Beach. This new initiative is poised to transform the realm of investments, mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within the content, technology and corporate sectors.

Set for the morning of 16 May at 9:00, at the Plage des Palmes venue within the Marché du Film, Next Tech on the Beach will assure an assembly of deal-makers, investors, M&A executives, startups and innovators. This exclusive summit, accessible by invitation only, presents participants with an initial glimpse into a carefully selected array of innovation catalysts and investment prospects, crafted to ignite and streamline groundbreaking collaborations.

The event's agenda will feature an engaging line-up, including a focus on six carefully selected startup ventures and stimulating discussions on the current financing and deal-making environment within the technology and content sectors. It will shine a spotlight on innovation catalysts, such as Reality Defender, a cybersecurity company specialising in detecting AI-generated fraud and misinformation; and Deeptune, an AI-driven dubbing platform designed to revolutionise content localisation for greater speed and cost-effectiveness.

Highlighting the significance of the summit, Sten Saluveer, head of Cannes Next, stated: “Over the years, Cannes Next has evolved into a platform where significant industry deals between leading corporations and innovative creators have materialised. The growing interest and participation from investors and corporate entities, who are passionate about the future of entertainment and technology, prompted our partnership with Sprockit. We are proud to introduce Next Tech on the Beach as a dedicated platform to bridge the worlds of creative vision and technological innovation, driving success across the industry.”

Harry Glazer, CEO of Sprockit, added: “For over ten years, Sprockit has been at the epicentre of innovation in entertainment, media and technology. The industry has repeatedly sought our collaboration to discover and forge partnerships with best-in-class global startups to solve their most critical challenges and [facilitate] opportunities. When the possibility arose to partner with Cannes Next during the largest and most prestigious film festival and market in the world, we knew the combination was a perfect match for exploring and navigating the future of innovation in the industry.”

Enrolment for participation in Next Tech on the Beach is currently available exclusively to a limited group of investors, corporate entities and startups. Those interested are urged to submit their attendance requests by 22 April, here. Requests will be carefully assessed individually, guaranteeing a curated audience of industry frontrunners and innovators.