In an industry that reinvents itself before most people finish their breakfast, TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC events series has become something rare: a constant. These evenings offer a chance to step back from the blur of headlines and hype cycles. They are designed as intimate cocktail parties with serious content, where conversation flows freely and speakers can let their guard down in ways they cannot at larger, more formal conferences.
Looking back, 2025 was a blur of insights and amazing connections. We facilitated stimulating conversations with everyone from heads of state to startup founders, from crypto evangelists to defense tech pioneers. Each evening brought its own unique energy and revelations.
We kicked off the year in San Francisco’s Presidio, where Kirsten Green of Forerunner Ventures co-hosted an unforgettable night. Green, an early investor in brands like Chime and Oura, shared her excitement about the emerging opportunities at the intersection of AI and consumer tech. We also heard from Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries about the wild ride of building a defense tech startup in your twenties. Tarek Mansour of Kalshi captivated the room, explaining why regulators do not keep him up at night as CEO of a leading prediction market. Ryan Petersen of Flexport discussed potential tariff plans, and even San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie stopped by.
From there, we took the series global to Athens. We sat down with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss how AI is transforming Greece and the hidden advantages of a country still deeply rooted in offline businesses.
In London, powerhouse VC Sonali De Rycker of Accel opened up about Europe’s overregulation problem. TS Anil of the fast-growing fintech Monzo fielded questions about taking the company public, which was before reported disagreements over the timing of its offering.
Back stateside, the momentum continued. In Menlo Park, we hosted Cognition president Russell Kaplan alongside his first investor Ali Partovi. We talked with Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt about his deep dive into space-based solar power, and crypto investor Katie Haun made the case for why the digitization of real-world assets is inevitable.
At our TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco, we hosted a mini StrictlyVC event. Serial entrepreneur-turned-VC Kevin Hartz reflected on the rise of teen founders, and a panel of limited partners dissected the challenges of aging venture portfolios.
We closed out the year in early December in Palo Alto. Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger discussed the roles of government and religion in technology. We got an inside look at one of the buzziest new companies in AI manufacturing, and Neuralink co-founder Max Hodak gave a glimpse into the breathtaking ambition driving his current company, Science Corp.
These are just some of the highlights from 2025. The StrictlyVC series has been home to many incredible voices over the years, including former FTC chair Lina Khan, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, Meredith Whittaker of Signal, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Alfred Lin of Sequoia Capital, and famed founder Marc Lore, among many others.
What excites us most for 2026 is knowing there are so many more leaders looking for exactly this kind of space—a place to speak candidly, share what is really on their minds, and connect with a curious, sophisticated audience.
None of this would be possible without our incredible partners. Kirsten Green opened the Presidio to us. The team at Mayfield provided a stunning space on Sand Hill Road. And Playground Global gave us their playful home to cap off the year. These firms fully embrace the spirit of these evenings.