TechCrunch All Stage Agenda
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July 15th
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.