After a busy day of keynotes, startup pitches, and ground-breaking AI announcements at VivaTech 2026, the real magic happens when the screens go dark and the peer-to-peer conversations begin.

On Thursday, June 18, we hosted the Novable Connect: Innovation Leaders Apéro in Paris, just an 11-minute walk from the bustling halls of Porte de Versailles. The concept was simple yet powerful: a private, exclusive evening for corporate innovators, venture leaders, and open innovation practitioners to wind down, reflect, and speak honestly about the real challenges they face every single day.

No presentations. No panels. No sales pitches. Just a trusted group of peers sharing real experiences.

The Core Themes: What’s Actually Happening in Innovation?

While the trade show floor was filled with buzzwords, our casual gathering over drinks was a space for candid discussion. Here are the key themes that dominated the evening:

1. The Burning Question: Return on Investment (ROI)

The question on every innovation manager's mind right now is: "How do I produce and demonstrate clear return on investment?" In a landscape where budgets face scrutiny, innovation programs must survive rigorous evaluations. Leaders discussed moving beyond superficial "innovation theater" and establishing solid metrics that prove real business value.

2. Reshaping Teams in the AI Era

We are seeing a massive shift in how AI is reshaping the structures and workflows of innovation teams. Participants exchanged insights on how they are integrating AI tools internally to work smarter, scout technologies faster, and deliver value.

3. Open Innovation & Scaling Beyond Pilots

Collaboration between corporates and startups is still full of friction. From venture clienting to corporate venture capital (CVC), the room discussed what is actually working, what isn't, and how to scale successful pilots into full-scale organizational implementations.

A Gathering of Global Peers

We were thrilled to welcome a diverse and talented group of innovators from leading global organizations, including:

• Orange
• PwC
• SNCF
• Engie
• Orano
• Yumana
• P&G

We were also joined by a few of our Japanese friends Hitachi and Fujitsu who traveled from afar, bringing an incredibly valuable international perspective on how they tackle innovation challenges within different cultures and settings.

Video Wrap-Up: Olivier Beaujean & Manuel Hellendorff Reflect on the Event

Watch the quick wrap-up video below, where Novable’s own Olivier Beaujean and Manuel Hellendorff share their main takeaways from the evening and explain why the "Novable Connect" concept is so essential for the innovation ecosystem:

Duration: ~2 minutes

Video Summary:

• Manuel Hellendorff highlights how refreshing it is to have an informal space to wind down after a major trade show:
  

‍"You're not there to hear another pitch. You just want to talk between peers." He stresses that Novable Connect is not about promoting Novable, but about facilitating organic connections for the "innovation tribe" to process emerging trends together.

• Olivier Beaujean reflects on the overwhelming positive feedback and the value of these raw, unpitched exchanges. He notes how the central discussion about ROI shows that innovation managers are deeply eager to share practical tips, tricks, and best practices. Olivier expresses his strong commitment to making Novable Connect a recurring, permanent home for these exclusive community moments.

Looking Ahead to Next Year

If there's one thing this gathering proved, it's that the best insights often happen after the conference ends.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us, shared their honest experiences, and made the evening so memorable. We are already looking forward to welcoming you back.

See you next year in Paris!