Key facts
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will host a panel on securing pre-seed funding without a minimum viable product.
- The session aims to guide founders in the current funding climate, which is increasingly competitive due to AI startups.
- Speakers include Sandhya Venkatachalam (Axiom Partners), Puneet Agarwal (True Ventures), and Austin Clements (Slauson & Co.).
- The event is scheduled for October 13-15, 2026, in San Francisco.
The upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 conference will feature a panel discussion aimed at helping founders secure pre-seed funding, even without a developed product. This session, titled "Winning Pre-Seed Without a Product," addresses the increasing difficulty for early-stage startups to gain traction in a funding landscape heavily influenced by AI companies.
The panel will explore strategies for founders who have a strong concept but have not yet built a minimum viable product (MVP). The discussion is part of the broader programming at the Builders Stage, which covers essential startup topics such as fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and operational decisions.
Speakers include Sandhya Venkatachalam, founder and managing partner of Axiom Partners, an early-stage venture fund focused on AI. Venkatachalam previously held roles at Khosla Ventures and Social Capital, where she invested in companies like Groq and GalileoAI. Puneet Agarwal, a managing partner at True Ventures since 2008, will share insights on venture capital perspectives, particularly concerning the AI era's impact on enterprise infrastructure. Austin Clements, managing partner at Slauson & Co., will bring his focus on economic inclusion and diversity, highlighting his work with accelerators and initiatives like PledgeLA. Slauson & Co. has invested in Glīd, a past winner of Startup Battlefield at Disrupt.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is scheduled to take place in San Francisco at Moscone West from October 13-15, 2026. The event aims to foster community, learning, and celebration within the startup ecosystem for founders, investors, and other industry professionals.