"Despite all the fears about Brexit, year-on-year investment was up 7%, and the number of companies being backed rose by 22%."

"It is especially critical for companies to move past the bias that keep them looking within their own walls for new ideas."

Optimism may be tempered by uncertainty but opportunity is plentiful

Big consumer packaged goods companies need to step up M&A activity to stay relevant in the face of competition from smaller, younger brands

Ben Lee, managing director of funds at CircleUp, a US-based investment platform that connects early-stage consumer brands with investors, spoke to features editor Nicole Idar Lee

John Haugen, vice-president and general manager of 301 Inc, the brand elevator and corporate venturing arm set up by consumer foods manufacturer General Mills in 2015, spoke to reporter Kaloyan Andonov