TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC series is returning to New York on Thursday, September 10, 2026, after a two-year absence, with a lineup that spans venture capital, sports ownership, and AI-era startups. The evening event, held in the West Village, will feature fireside chats with Keith Rabois, Craig Shapiro, Jason Levien, Tristan Walker, Brynn Putnam, and Deven Parekh.
Rabois, who recently relocated East from Silicon Valley, is expected to share his views on founders who over-raise capital and his perspective on Khosla Ventures’ early $50 million investment in OpenAI in 2019, when the company had no clear business model. Rabois has backed Ramp four times and invested in State Affairs, a startup using AI and local journalists to track statehouse-level news across all 50 states.
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The event will also feature a conversation between Craig Shapiro of Collaborative Fund and Jason Levien, CEO of D.C. United, on sports organizations as business investments and the growing intersection of sports, fandom, and community. Collaborative Fund is co-hosting the evening with TechCrunch.
Founders Building for an AI-Shaped World
Two founders who sold their previous companies for significant sums will discuss building for a world where AI does more but also takes something away. Tristan Walker, who sold Walker & Company Brands to Procter & Gamble in 2018, is now focused on Heirloom Craft, a startup aimed at reshoring American fine craftsmanship by training a new generation of artisans and rebuilding supply chains. Brynn Putnam, who sold Mirror to Lululemon for $500 million, has launched Board, a game company blending physical play with AI-powered creation tools as an antidote to tech-fueled isolation.
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Insight Partners’ Deven Parekh on the Changing Investment Field
Deven Parekh, who has co-run Insight Partners for more than 25 years, will discuss how the firm is addressing a field where asset classes are blurring and capital has become commoditized. Insight Partners, a New York-based powerhouse, rarely does press, making this a notable appearance. Parekh is expected to address how the firm competes when the potential returns on massive investments have never been bigger.
The event will include drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and networking before and after the fireside chats, with TechCrunch writers including Connie Loizos and Rebecca Bellan in attendance.
Tickets and additional details are available on the TechCrunch events page. The event is part of a broader return to in-person gatherings for the tech and venture community, following a year that saw StrictlyVC events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Athens.
Editor’s note: This article is based on an event announcement from TechCrunch. Prices and availability for tickets may change; please check the official event page for the most current information.
