StrictlyVC returns to New York with a focus on AI's next phase

Thursday, September 10, marks a homecoming for TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC series, which will land in New York’s West Village after a two-year absence. The boutique evening event—known for its intimate fireside chats—brings together a lineup of investors and founders who are actively shaping the conversation around AI, sports ownership, and the changing economics of venture capital.

Keith Rabois on overcapitalization

Kicking off the night, Keith Rabois, who recently moved East from Silicon Valley, will share his views on founders raising more money than they actually need, just because they can. Rabois has been an early and repeat backer of Ramp, having invested four times, and has also backed State Affairs, a company that uses AI and local journalists to track statehouse-level news and policy data across all 50 states.

The conversation will also touch on Khosla Ventures’ early bet on OpenAI—a $50 million check in 2019, when the company had no clear business model—and what Rabois makes of the narrative that OpenAI is currently facing more headwinds than its rivals.

Sports as business, with Craig Shapiro and Jason Levien

Following Rabois, the event will host a conversation with Craig Shapiro, whose firm Collaborative Fund is co-hosting the evening, and Jason Levien, CEO of D.C. United. They will discuss sports organizations as business investments, and the increasingly tangled intersection of sports, fandom, commerce, and community.

Tristan Walker on craftsmanship and AI's cost

On the theme of community, Tristan Walker—who sold his previous company, Walker & Company Brands (maker of Bevel), to Procter & Gamble in 2018—will talk about his new startup, Heirloom Craft. The company focuses on reshoring American fine craftsmanship, training a new generation of artisans and rebuilding the supply chains behind them. Walker will be joined by Brynn Putnam, who sold her connected-fitness startup Mirror to Lululemon for $500 million just three years after launch. Putnam’s new venture, Board, blends physical play with AI-powered creation tools, positioned as an antidote to the isolation tech has fueled.

Deven Parekh on Insight's strategy

Closing the evening, Deven Parekh, who has co-run New York powerhouse Insight Partners for more than 25 years, will discuss how the firm is navigating a landscape where asset classes have blurred and some of the biggest funds have grown exponentially larger. The conversation will explore how Insight competes in a world where capital itself is a commodity, yet the potential returns on massive investments have never been bigger.

Networking and details

The event includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and networking before and after the fireside chats, with TechCrunch writers like Connie Loizos and Rebecca Bellan in attendance. Ticketing and further details are available on the TechCrunch events page.

Note: This is an event announcement from TechCrunch; the description of the evening's programming is based on their published agenda.