In an industry where most people reinvent themselves before they've finished their breakfast scones, TechCrunch's StrictlyVC event series has become something of a rarity: a classic. This evening provides an opportunity to step back from the cycle of vague headlines and hype and sit down with the people who are actually driving change and understand what's really going on behind the scenes. These are designed from the beginning as cocktail parties with killer content. We always want it to be an intimate gathering where conversation flows freely and speakers can let their guard down in a way that large, formal conferences may never be able to do.
2025 StrictlyVC Complete Recap
Looking back, 2025 was a truly obscure year of both insight and surprising connections. I can't believe now how many inspiring conversations we've been able to facilitate, from heads of state to startup founders, from cryptocurrency evangelists to defense technology pioneers. And each night brought its own energy and revelation.
It all started in San Francisco
We started last year at the Presidio in San Francisco with an unforgettable evening co-hosted by Kirsten Green of Forerunner Ventures. Green himself, an early investor in Chime, Oura, and countless other household brands, spoke of his excitement about the white space emerging at the intersection of AI and consumer technology. But she was just the beginning. We spoke to Mach Industries' Ethan Thornton about the wild adventure of starting a defense technology startup in your 20s, with all the failures that come with that realm. Karshi's Tarek Mansour captivated the audience with his hilarious rant about why regulators don't keep him up at night despite being the CEO of one of the industry's hottest prediction markets. Flexport's Ryan Petersen had a lot to say about President Trump's tariff plans. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also stopped by.
Next stop: Athens to talk about the power of AI, government, and the offline economy
From there, we took the series worldwide. In Athens, I sat down with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss how AI is transforming Greece and the hidden benefits of a country where offline business remains deeply rooted.
London's honest view on regulation and the future of fintech
In London, Accel's leading VC Sonali de Ricker opened up about Europe's over-regulation problem, while TS Anil of fast-growing fintech Monzo answered questions about an initial public offering (this was before he came under fire for a disagreement over the timing of an initial public offering).
Returning home with momentum of orbit and cryptocurrency
Returning to America, the momentum only increased. At Menlo Park, we welcomed Russell Kaplan, president of Cognition, and his famous first investor, Ari Partovi. We spoke with Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt about deep insights into space solar power, and cryptographer Katie Horn made the case for why the digitization of real-world assets is inevitable.
StrictlyVC meets TechCrunch Disrupt
The TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco hosted a mini-StrictlyVC event within the event, where serial entrepreneur-turned-VC Kevin Hartz reflected on the rise of teenage founders and a killer panel of LPs analyzed aging portfolios.
tech crunch event
San Francisco | October 13-15, 2026
palo alto finale
The year ended in Palo Alto in early December. There, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger spoke about government and religion, we got an inside look at one of the hottest startups in AI manufacturing, and Neuralink co-founder Max Hodak offered a glimpse into the breathtaking ambition driving his current company, Science Corporation.
From the first conversation to future insights
But these are just some of the highlights of 2025. The StrictlyVC series has featured many great voices over the years, including former FTC Chair Lina Khan, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, Signal's Meredith Whitaker, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Sequoia Capital's Alfred Lin, and renowned founder Marc Lore.
What excites us most about 2026 is knowing that there are many more activists and change-makers looking for exactly this kind of space. It's a place where they can speak up, share what's really on their mind, and connect with a curious and sophisticated audience who really wants to hear it.
Join the StrictlyVC 2026 waiting list to ensure the lowest ticket prices and first access to the latest updates on major events.
Want to do more than attend the StrictlyVC 2026 event?
By the way, none of this would be possible without our wonderful partners. Kirsten Greene introduced us to the Presidio. Mayfield's team delivered a stunning glass-enclosed space in the heart of Sand Hill Road. And Playground Global provided us with a playful and spacious home to round out the year.
These companies aren't just hosting, they're embracing the spirit of the night just like the rest of us.
As we embark on a new adventure, if your company is interested in partnering with us for next year's StrictlyVC event series, please contact us here. We're really looking forward to seeing where these chats take us next.
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