The first StrictlyVC event of 2026 will be held in San Francisco on 30 April, featuring a speaker lineup focused on artificial intelligence and venture capital insights. The event, to be hosted at the Sentro Filipino Cultural Center, is organised by TechCrunch and sponsored by TDK Ventures.
Tickets for the exclusive gathering are still available but selling quickly. The event promises high-value networking opportunities with leading figures from the Bay Area's startup and investment community.
Corporate Venture Capital in Focus
The programme will open with a conversation featuring Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures. He will discuss the role of corporate venture capital with TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Connie Loizos. Sauvage leads TDK's $500 million fund dedicated to early-stage startups and has overseen investments in 52 companies, including three unicorns: Groq, Ascend Elements, and Silicon Box.
"Attendees will get ample opportunity to learn from and get some potential face time with their team," the announcement stated, highlighting the access offered by the event's sponsor.
AI Trust and Software Development
Another key speaker is Campbell Brown, former CNN host and Meta's head of news, now co-founder and CEO of Forum AI. Her talk will address the critical challenge of making AI platforms more trustworthy as public reliance on them grows.
The event will also feature Amjad Masad, co-founder and CEO of Replit, who will share insights on the revolution in software development driven by AI-assisted "vibe coding." His perspective comes amid increasing competition from firms like Anthropic and OpenAI.
Networking and Further Announcements
The agenda concludes with a final, yet-to-be-announced speaker, followed by a networking session described as "the real proving point of StrictlyVC." The organisers emphasise the event's role in fostering connections that "actually move the needle" for innovators and founders.
StrictlyVC events are known for gathering "some of the greatest minds and most well-connected members of the startup community," according to the promotional material. The San Francisco edition specifically targets AI innovators seeking the latest funding insights.