TechCrunch All Stage Speakers
The best in scaling are taking the spotlight on the Foundation and Scale Stages—presenting, tackling Q&As, and sharing the strategies that drive real growth.
More speakers are being added, so check back often for the latest updates!
Founding & Managing Partner Asymmetric Capital Partners
Partner boldstart ventures
Chief Innovation Officer Prepare 4 VC
Partner Sapphire Ventures
Partner Underscore VC
Founder & Managing Partner Precursor Ventures
Partner CapitalG
CEO Prepare 4 VC
Co-CEO and Co-Founder Stash
Partner NEA
Partner Glasswing Ventures
CEO and Co-Founder DVx Ventures
EVP of Marketing Strategy and Communications Insight Partners
Associate Professor Harvard Medical School
Partner Index Ventures
Rob Biederman is the Managing Partner of Asymmetric Capital Partners. Before founding Asymmetric, Rob co-founded and spent eight years as co-CEO of Catalant Technologies, the market leader in helping companies access and deploy talent—from employees to 70,000+ elite independent consultants and 1,000 boutique firms. He now serves as Chairman of Catalant and is the co-author of Reimagining Work, a book that outlines a new model for how global companies engage talent. Rob began his career as a private equity investor at Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital, where he focused on healthcare and high-tech. He advised public and private companies on growth strategy, M&A, and capital allocation. He is also an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, where he co-teaches the Scaling Technology Ventures course on growing disruptive internet companies. Rob holds an A.B., cum laude, in Economics and Finance from Princeton University, where he served as Student Body President and played JV basketball. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar.
Rob's Sessions
The 2025 VC Playbook: Where the Smart Money Is Going Next
In this session, Asymmetric Capital Partners’ Rob Biederman will unpack where venture capital is flowing in 2025—from emerging sectors to evolving deal dynamics. Learn what’s driving investment decisions this year and how founders can align with the new VC playbook.
Ellen Chisa is a partner at boldstart ventures, where she invests in enterprise startups at inception. Prior to boldstart, she was the cofounder of darklang, and held product leadership roles at Lola Travel and Kickstarter. She holds a B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Ellen's Sessions
How to Successfully Build at the Inception Stage
In this session Ellen Chisa, partner at boldstart ventures will walk through lessons on all the things to do (and not do) to learn as quickly as possible from the first days of your company. Topics will include picking the right amount of capital at inception, scoping experiments to learn as quickly as possible, and common early day pitfalls.
So You Think You Can Pitch?
Please join us for “So You Think You Can Pitch” where three promising early stage startups will have 4 minutes to wow a panel of judges, who will then provide feedback.
At a basic level, I’m a multi-dimensional thinker & holistic problem solver driven to make a humanity-positive impact in the world. My career path(s) & life experience(s) have provided me an ability to combine analytical prowess, social intelligence skills & intuition to connect with people in a variety of meaningful ways. My passion has pushed me towards advancing the way people + technology integrate to create prosperity for our next generation… My daughter’s generation. As a former professional beach volleyball player and Division 1 collegiate athlete I developed a love for the dynamics necessary to persevere & win with others. As a career professional, I’ve been fortunate to manage, train, coach, consult, advise & lead thousands of people across a range of startup, small business & corporate level organizations. During the last 15 years, my focus has been dedicated to working in + with growing organizations empowering a “”people + technology connectivity”” that cultivates opportunities for all of us to work, connect & progress like never before.
Christopher's Sessions
Breakthrough or Burnout: Why Founders Get Stuck (and How to Fix It)
Startups don’t fail because of bad ideas—they fail because founders get stuck. In this high-energy, interactive roundtable, Prepare 4 VC’s Jason Kraus and team dig into the real reasons startups stall: decision fatigue, lack of clarity, poor investor fit, or silent burnout. You’ll learn the core “Breakthrough” frameworks used by top founders to diagnose roadblocks, execute with confidence, and reconnect with your mission. Whether you’re fundraising, scaling, or still defining your path, this session will help you shift from survival mode to strategic action. No fluff. No buzzwords. Just practical tools and real talk to help you move forward with clarity and momentum.
Cathy is a Partner at Sapphire Ventures and is on the boards of Culture Amp, EliseAI, Gem, involve.ai, Medable, Paradox, SafeGraph, Sword Health, and UJET. She has experience investing at multiple stages, ranging from buyout to venture capital and has also sat on the other side of the table as a business operator. For her work, she has been recognized by the Venture Capital Journal as a Rising Star and by Silicon Valley Business Journal as a Woman of Influence. Prior to Sapphire, Cathy was an investor at AXA Venture Partners where she invested in enterprise software. She started her career at Blackstone and TA Associates and was an operator at Gusto, joining shortly after the Series B.
Cathy's Sessions
The New Rules of Growth-Stage Fundraising: How to Win at Raising a Series C & Beyond
After two years of decline, growth-stage fundraising is heating up again—driven largely by the surge of GenAI adoption. For most founders, breaking through the noise and securing top-tier investors is harder than ever. Cathy Gao, Partner at Sapphire Ventures, will share what it really takes to raise a successful Series C+ in today’s competitive environment. Whether you’re scaling a breakout AI company or navigating the new fundraising landscape, this session will give you the insights to sharpen your pitch and maximize your fundraising outcomes.
Chris Gardner is a partner at Underscore VC focusing on FinTech. Prior to joining the firm, he had spent the last 25 years as an operator in Product and Marketing roles resulting in 5 exits in a row. Most recently, he was the co-founder of Paydiant which was acquired by PayPal in 2015. He then led P2P, SMB, and retail payments teams at PayPal prior to joining Underscore in October 2020.
Chris's Sessions
MVP in the Age of AI: When to Bot and When to Not
In an era where AI tools are revolutionizing how founders build software and prototypes, understanding both the opportunities and limitations is crucial for success. Join us to discover how AI is turbocharging MVP (Minimum Viable Product) development and where some founders get it wrong by letting the robots do all the thinking. Learn the art of combining AI superpowers with irreplaceable human skills – Nobody wants marketing copy that sounds like it was written by a very enthusiastic toaster! This session is perfect for founders navigating the wild world of building products in the age of AI.
Charles Hudson is the Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm focused on investing in the first institutional round of investment for the most promising software and hardware companies. Prior to founding Precursor Ventures, Charles was a Partner at SoftTech VC. In this role, he focused on identifying investment opportunities in mobile infrastructure, mobile applications, and marketplaces. In addition to his investment activities, he supports SoftTech portfolio companies on business and corporate development matters. He was also the CoFounder and CEO of Bionic Panda Games, an Android-focused mobile games startup based in San Francisco, CA. Prior to joining SoftTech VC and co-founding Bionic Panda Games, Charles Hudson was the VP of Business Development for Serious Business until the company was acquired by Zynga in February 2010. Prior to Serious Business, he was the Sr. Director for Business Development at Gaia Interactive, an online hangout and virtual world for teens. Prior to Gaia, Charles worked in New Business Development at Google and focused on new partnership opportunities for early stage products in the advertising, mobile, and ecommerce markets. Prior to joining Google, he was a Product Manager for IronPort Systems, a leading provider of antispam hardware appliances that was acquired by Cisco Systems for $830 million in 2007.
Charles's Sessions
All the Ways You Don’t Realize VCs Are Evaluating Your Company at Pre-Seed
This is an important topic, especially for pre-seed founders, because much of company evaluation is about the founder and the idea – there isn’t a lot of data to work with yet! One key point to highlight is that your choice of co-founder is critical. If it seems like you’re not the best match, many VCs will use that as a proxy for your ability to hire strong talent. Additionally, there are numerous traps that founders fall into that indicate to VCs they’ve not learned how to run a fundraising process, so it’s essential to do your homework in advance.
Mo Jomaa
Partner, CapitalGMo Jomaa helps lead enterprise software investing at Alphabet’s independent growth fund, CapitalG, where he focuses on IT management software and data infrastructure and analytics. He played a leadership role in the firm’s investments in Databricks, Armis, Collibra, Cribl, Grafana, and NinjaOne. Prior to joining CapitalG in 2018, Mo helped lead enterprise software IPO and M&A transactions at Morgan Stanley. Mo graduated from UC Berkeley and holds a degree in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business. Having grown up in Southern California, Mo is a loyal Los Angeles Lakers fan and religiously watches almost every single game. In his free time, Mo loves to play basketball, cook, golf, and cycle.
Mo's Sessions
What to think about now if you want to IPO someday
From market considerations to unit economics, sales and marketing strategies, and executive hiring, it’s never too early to think critically about how to build a business with the potential for an eventual public debut. Gain insights from Mo Jomaa, a partner at Alphabet’s independent growth fund, CapitalG, and investor in Databricks, Armis, Cribl, Grafana and more, to learn what kinds of metrics growth-stage investors look for and how those metrics translate into eventual public market readiness. Discover actionable advice, whether an IPO is a year or a decade away.
Jason Kraus is a serial entrepreneur, startup strategist, and the founder of Prepare 4 VC, a founder-first startup platform built to accelerate execution, growth, and fundraising readiness. Jason’s entrepreneurial journey began in college, launching his first business and sparking a lifelong passion for how startups are built—and scaled. Through Prepare 4 VC, Jason has worked with thousands of early-stage entrepreneurs around the world, guiding them through the challenges of product-market fit, investor positioning, and market validation. He also co-founded Equity Venture Partners and is a partner at the EQx Fund, helping startups gain access to alternative funding pathways. Jason leads community-driven innovation as Chapter Director for Startup Grind Boston, Program Director for Boston New Technology, and the force behind the Startup Oasis Network and Startup Weekend Boston. He is the architect of the Breakthrough Program, a 10-week founder development experience focused on overcoming execution barriers and building investment-ready ventures. Featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Boston Voyager, All Business Media, and more, Jason is known for turning entrepreneurial vision into traction. His book Venture Forward draws on lessons from seasoned founders to inspire the next generation of startup leaders. At his core, Jason is driven by a single mission: to make entrepreneurship less isolating and more empowering—for everyone bold enough to pursue it.
Jason's Sessions
Breakthrough or Burnout: Why Founders Get Stuck (and How to Fix It)
Startups don’t fail because of bad ideas—they fail because founders get stuck. In this high-energy, interactive roundtable, Prepare 4 VC’s Jason Kraus and team dig into the real reasons startups stall: decision fatigue, lack of clarity, poor investor fit, or silent burnout. You’ll learn the core “Breakthrough” frameworks used by top founders to diagnose roadblocks, execute with confidence, and reconnect with your mission. Whether you’re fundraising, scaling, or still defining your path, this session will help you shift from survival mode to strategic action. No fluff. No buzzwords. Just practical tools and real talk to help you move forward with clarity and momentum.
Brandon Krieg is Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Stash, the pioneering fintech company that he and Ed Robinson founded in 2015 with the belief that all Americans deserve the advice, tools, and opportunity to invest in themselves, starting with just $5. Most recently, Brandon led the launch of StashWorks as well as Stash’s AI Money Coach. Brandon also serves as CEO of Stash Capital, the company’s broker-dealer. Prior to Stash he co-founded Edge Trade, one of the first and largest agency trade execution and software firms (later acquired by Knight Capital Group), and served as Head of Electronic Execution at Macquarie Securities Group.
Brandon's Sessions
How Tech is Leveling The Playing Field So Anyone Can Be an Investor, Not Just the Wealthy
Brandon Krieg is the co-founder and CEO of Stash, a personal finance platform built on the belief that anyone, not just the wealthy, should have the tools to invest and build long-term wealth. With 1.3 million paying subscribers and $4.3 billion in assets under management, Stash is proving that smart investing can be simple, accessible, and built for financial stability, not speculation. Brandon will dive into how Stash is helping millions of everyday Americans form lasting money habits, the role of AI in financial coaching, and why fintech needs to focus on long-term impact over quick wins. Expect a conversation about real financial progress for real people, and how technology and access can truly change the way we build wealth.
Tiffany Luck joined NEA in 2023 as a Partner on the technology team focused on early-stage AI, APIs and B2B SaaS. She serves on the Board of Directors of Twelve Labs, a leader in multimodal AI for video understanding, and works closely with several other NEA portfolio companies. Previously, Tiffany was a Partner at GGV Capital and started her career in marketing and business development, with roles at Forbes, Lot18 and Amazon. She also worked on Morgan Stanley’s Technology Investment Banking team. Tiffany received a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tiffany's Sessions
Crafting the Perfect VC Pitch: Luck Meets Strategy
Join Tiffany Luck from NEA as she unveils the art of pitching to venture capitalists. In this dynamic session, you’ll learn how to effectively convey your passion and vision, streamline your presentation to spotlight the elements that excite investors, and avoid common pitfalls that derail pitches. Tiffany will share insider tips on what VCs truly value, empowering you to tell your story with clarity and impact. Walk away with actionable strategies to captivate investors and secure the funding you need to propel your startup forward.
Kleida Martiro is a Partner at Glasswing Ventures with deep domain expertise in data science, entrepreneurship, and product management. She has led investments in and serves as Board Director for Glasswing portfolio companies Retrocausal and Kusari. She also holds Board Observer roles for Labviva, Black Kite, Inrupt, Allure Security, Lambent, ChaosSearch, and Telmai. As the former Head of Data Science at SocialFlow (acquired by Piano), Kleida led the machine learning efforts for the software platform, including its proprietary AI-powered content classifier for automating editorial content categorization. Prior to SocialFlow, Kleida served on the Strategy and Analysis team at Digitas, a part of Publicis Groupe, where she contributed to the data science and strategic initiatives for Bank of America. Kleida serves on the All Raise Committee, an organization committed to amplifying the success of women in the tech and venture ecosystems. She actively engages in public speaking and mentoring activities for college students, aiming to inspire and guide the next generation in these fields. Kleida has been listed among Business Insider’s “41 Most Important VCs in Boston,” honored as a 2024 Women in AI Rising Star by VentureBeat, a 2023 Rising Star by The Venture Capital Journal, a Boston Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Leader, and is a Boston Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree. Kleida graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in Economics, Mathematics, and Spanish and holds an MBA with honors from the Kellogg School of Management.
Kleida's Sessions
Winning Capital in a Competitive Market: How to Fund Your AI-Native Startup
This roundtable discussion explores the distinct challenges AI-native startups face when pitching to investors who might still use traditional SaaS metrics and frameworks, and how to find next round of investors that “get it.”
So You Think You Can Pitch?
Please join us for “So You Think You Can Pitch” where three promising early stage startups will have 4 minutes to wow a panel of judges, who will then provide feedback.
Jon currently holds an advisory partner position at Goodwater Capital, and is a board member for General Motors, Asurion, CrossFit, Stash, and Lululemon. During his tenure on the board of Lululemon, the company underwent a turnaround, resulting in a quintupling of its stock value. After graduating from Northwestern University, Jon began his career at Bain & Company.
Jon's Sessions
The Operator’s Playbook for Building and Scaling Sustainable Companies
Most startups chase product-market fit but ignore a scalable go-to-market strategy, leading to premature scaling and failure. Jon McNeill, former president of Tesla, COO of Lyft and CEO and co-founder of hatch platform DVx Partners, suggests breaking the traditional VC mold by validating both before accelerating growth. The next wave of disruptive companies should be operator-driven and built for profitability and impact from day one. Jon will share successful cases where this method is already transforming transportation, electrification, and AI.
Nikki Parker is Executive Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Communications at Insight Partners, where she is responsible for articulating and amplifying the firm’s leadership position in the industry and the value it brings to its portfolio of software and technology companies. She has extensive experience implementing integrated communications & marketing programs and running strategy for businesses at every stage of their lifecycle, from startup to IPO. Nikki previously served as Senior Vice President at PR firm 5W, leading the agency’s consumer tech, B2B, enterprise, and crisis communications practices. She began her career in innovation solutions driving go-to-market strategy, which she applied to roles across high-growth technology companies in the consumer, cybersecurity, AI, SaaS, and marketplace sectors, leading global growth, marketing, communications, and investor relations.
Nikki's Sessions
From Fundraising to IPO: How to Build a PR & Marketing Engine That Drives Growth
PR and marketing are more than just press releases—they’re powerful tools for attracting investors, customers, and top talent. Nikki Parker, EVP of Marketing & Communications at global software investor Insight Partners, has led hundreds of funding announcements, guided a dozen IPOs, and helped founders and CEOs build impactful brands that drive business. In this session, she’ll break down the must-have PR and marketing strategies for startups at every stage of growth, including how to craft compelling narratives, position your company for future growth and fundraising, and build a brand that stands out in a crowded market. Whether you’re raising your first round or scaling toward an IPO, this session will equip you with actionable tactics to drive awareness, credibility, and business success.
David H. Rosmarin, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Founder of the Center for Anxiety. As a clinical psychologist, researcher, educator, author, and keynote speaker, he helps individuals and organizations thrive by transforming anxiety into a catalyst for growth. His work has been featured in Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and TED.com. Learn more at www.dhrosmarin.com.
David H.'s Sessions
Thriving with Anxiety: How Startup Founders Can Turn Fear, Pressure, and Self-Doubt into Their Greatest Advantage
Anxiety is often seen as the enemy of startup success—but what if it’s actually a hidden asset? In this roundtable, Dr. David H. Rosmarin, Harvard Medical School psychologist and author of Thriving with Anxiety, will guide founders through practical tools to transform fear, pressure, and self-doubt into clarity, focus, and drive. Learn how to work with anxiety—not against it—to make sharper decisions, lead with authenticity, and avoid burnout. Expect an open, stigma-free conversation with actionable takeaways you can apply immediately to your startup journey.
Jahanvi is a B2B investor focusing on cybersecurity, enterprise software, and fintech, from seed to pre-IPO stages. She is particularly excited to work with founders that display an immense amount of grit. Grit is the differentiating factor, that intangible essence, that sets high achievers apart; it’s the blend of passion, perseverance, and stamina to turn dreams into reality. Prior to Index, Jahanvi worked at Stripes, a growth equity firm in New York where she invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and application SaaS companies. Before that, she began her career in private equity at Aquiline Capital Partners. She holds a B.S. in Finance and Business Analytics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jahanvi's Sessions
The TAM Myth: How the Best Startups Reshape Markets
This session will dive into critical elements of assessing Total Addressable Market (TAM). Jahanvi Sardana, partner at Index Ventures, will explore how the best startups don’t just size markets – they create them. Through case studies from high-growth companies like Datadog, Adyen, Wiz, Shopify, and Airbnb she will examine how they identified emerging trends, removed friction, and expanded their TAM beyond initial expectations. A must-attend for founders looking to build companies that define the future of their industries.