New York, we’re coming back.
On Thursday night, September 10, StrictlyVC, TechCrunch’s intimate evening event series, returns to Manhattan’s West Village for the first time in two years.
After events this year in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Athens, the series is bringing a heavyweight lineup to New York—covering venture capital, artificial intelligence, sports, craftsmanship, gaming and the changing economics of big-ticket investing.
And yes, this is the actual West Village: brownstones and cobblestones included.
Keith Rabois on venture capital, AI and OpenAI
The evening opens with venture capitalist Keith Rabois, who recently moved from Silicon Valley to the East Coast.
Rabois is known for having strong views about how startups should be built and funded. Among the topics on the table: whether founders are raising too much money simply because investors are willing to provide it.
He’ll also discuss some of the biggest AI bets in venture, including Khosla Ventures’ $50 million investment in OpenAI in 2019, when the company’s eventual business model was far from obvious.
And there’s a timely question: Is OpenAI facing more pressure than its competitors—and what does Rabois think happens next?
Craig Shapiro and Jason Levien on sports as an investment
Next comes a conversation that sits at the intersection of venture capital, sports and culture.
Craig Shapiro’s Collaborative Fund is co-hosting the event, and Shapiro will join Jason Levien, CEO of D.C. United, for a discussion about sports organizations as investment opportunities.
The conversation will explore how professional sports increasingly blend fandom, business, media, commerce and community—and why investors are paying closer attention.
Tristan Walker and Brynn Putnam on building beyond screens
The night then turns toward an increasingly important question: What happens when technology makes life more connected, but people feel less connected?
Tristan Walker, founder of Walker & Company Brands and creator of Bevel, sold the company to Procter & Gamble in 2018. His latest venture, Heirloom Craft, is focused on rebuilding American fine-craft manufacturing by training artisans and strengthening the supply chains behind them.
He’ll be joined by Brynn Putnam, founder of Mirror, the connected-fitness company acquired by Lululemon for $500 million.
Putnam’s new company, Board, is taking a different approach to technology. It combines physical games with AI-powered creation tools, with the goal of getting people interacting in the real world rather than spending even more time behind screens.
Deven Parekh on investing when capital is everywhere
The final conversation features Deven Parekh, who has helped lead New York investment giant Insight Partners for more than 25 years.
Insight tends to operate quietly, making Parekh’s appearance a particularly interesting opportunity to hear how one of the industry’s major firms is thinking about today’s investment environment.
The question at the heart of the conversation:
When capital is increasingly abundant—and enormous funds can deploy billions—how does an investment firm still create an edge?
Parekh will discuss how Insight competes in a market where traditional distinctions between asset classes are becoming harder to maintain, while the potential rewards for backing companies at massive scale have never been more attractive.
More than the conversations
The evening won’t be all fireside chats.
Guests can expect drinks, hors d’oeuvres and plenty of networking before and after the programming, with TechCrunch writers including Connie Loizos and Rebecca Bellan joining the event alongside guests from across the media and technology worlds.
Collaborative Fund is co-hosting the evening, helping bring the series back to New York after a two-year break.
September 10. West Village. One night. Five conversations spanning the future of technology, money, sports and culture.
We’ll see you there.