The 8 Percent Think Tanks are the heart and soul of our event. We will be presenting eight Think Tanks across the two days of the festival. Each of these will consist of 4-5 panelists, all leaders and experts in their field, who will be given a question about their industry to solve. All of the questions revolve around how entrepreneurs can change the world by coming up with new, creative business models to solve problems currently faced in each industry.

Our confirmed Think Tank topics include:

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Can’t Stop the Music

Industry: Music

Are record labels still relevant in 2016? And if not – who is going to pay the bills, manage the money, organise the tours, do the taxes? What elements do creatives miss about being their own label? What is the best way for musicians to have a career but also to be independent and not beholden to an outdated business model?

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I Wouldn’t Steal a Car… But I’d Download One

Industry: Film

With the much heralded “democratisation” of content distribution, Gen Y and Gen Z don’t consider downloading films from torrent sites as piracy, but rather view content as being inherently free. In the face of changing attitudes, how can film makers build models that allow them to be creative, be seen – AND get paid?

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Babes, Box Gaps and Bacon

Industry: Health

In the age of the celebrity health bloggers and self-proclaimed fitness experts, how can consumers know what advice to follow? And how can health experts differentiate themselves in a crowded and noisy marketplace?

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Another Brick in the Wall

Industry: Education

Is the Industrial Age schooling system broken? Is it even possible to fix an ingrained institution, or are parents and mature age students better off at looking at alternate schooling and education methods?

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A Robot Stole My Job

Industry: The Future of Work

Estimates say that in the next 10-15 years, anywhere from 30%-40% of jobs will be completely replaced by automation – not only blue collar jobs, but also white collar jobs, with some experts claiming AI could replace surgeons and financial analysts. Some of the jobs people are training for right now, won’t exist within the next decade. Where is the job market heading? What does the future market look like? What should people be focusing on now to avoid being out of work in the next 10 years?

The Social Side of Enterprise

Industry: Social Enterprise

The trend towards social enterprise – businesses that do good as well as make money – is becoming increasingly stronger. But is social enterprise a cynical marketing technique, or a real force for good? How can the notions of making money and doing good exist side-by-side?

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In Ethical Fashion

Industry: Fashion

With fast fashion ruling clothing retail like never before, the uncomfortable question that should be on everyone’s lips is: how do brands make clothes so fast, so cheaply? The answer lies in third world labour, with often underage workers being overworked and underpaid. How can fashion brands meet the demands of their first world customers, and meet ethical standards of manufacturing at the same time?