For the first time since 2024, StrictlyVC is returning to New York City. And we provide the startup, VC, and dealmaking communities at large with the kind of access they've come to expect from private events.
For years, StrictlyVC has hosted a series of the most interesting evenings for VCs, founders and dealmakers, built around candid conversations you won't find anywhere else.
The newly announced New York event will take place on September 10th at Ideal Glass Studio in the West Village, and general admission tickets are now open for $180. You can register here.
Why New York and why now?
New York's startup engine isn't just moving forward. It's accelerating. More than 240 New York City startups raised a total of $1.13 billion in seed funding in the first half of 2026, according to a recent Tech:NYC report. This is up from $1.06 billion in the first half of 2025, with the average seed round rising from $5.4 million to $6.64 million. All told, New York startups raised a whopping $16 billion in the first half of this year. That's roughly on par with the $19.1 billion New York startups raised in all of 2025.
Its capital is spread across nearly every sector, from AI and healthcare to climate change, fintech, robotics and consumer technology. It was such a momentum that it was easy to decide to return to New York.
The speaker lineup so far is…
Once you've had time to settle in, meet new connections, and network in the sophisticated atmosphere of Ideal Glass Studios, we'll be joined by Craig Shapiro, Founder and Managing Partner of Collaborative Fund, and Connie Loizos, Editor-in-Chief of TechCrunch and Founder of StrictlyVC, to kick off the program.
Their session, “The Business of Belonging,” delves into why community has become one of the most valuable assets a company can build, and where investors are finding the greatest opportunity at the intersection of technology, fandom, and real-world connections.
From there, the conversation turns to reinvention. Tristan Walker, founder of Heirloom Craft, shares what he learned while building one of the most influential consumer startups of the past decade, why he's starting over at Heirloom, and how his approach to leadership and brand building has evolved in today's AI-driven environment.
Additional speakers and sessions will be announced as the agenda takes shape in the coming weeks. Stay up to date with new speaker announcements here. Some exciting additions are in the works.
A night made for the room, not just the stage
As always at StrictlyVC, the stages that host our programming are only part of the story. The conversations that started between TechCrunch reporters and the startup community will continue long after, in an environment built to provide access, focus, and proximity to the people who are actively shaping what happens next in New York City's venture, startup, and dealmaking scenes.
An environment where introductions turn into insights and insights turn into opportunities. Get your tickets now to secure your spot.
the company you join
On stage at StrictlyVC were OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, Signal president Meredith Whittaker, Haun Ventures founder and CEO Katie Haun, Replit CEO and co-founder Amjad Massad, and renowned VC Alfred Lin of Sequoia Capital. This is the caliber of speaker that StrictlyVC NYC is trying to bring back. For $180 you can be in the same room.
Register for StrictlyVC NYC today!
If you're a founder interested in joining StrictlyVC NYC to learn from colleagues and connect with investors, we've got an event for you! Founder Summit will be held in Boston on November 4th and will give you the opportunity to learn how to run successful pitch meetings, raise VC funding, manage finances, and hire growing teams along your startup's journey to success.
Learn more about what we have in store here and secure your spot for a full day of workshops and networking.
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