Beyond the Hype:
A Founder’s Playbook for AI & Capital in 2025

You are invited to a private event in SF featuring Bret Waters from Stanford, AJ Thomas from Good Trouble Ventures, JP Persico from shuckerVC, and Tanya E. Montméan of starLinkVentures.

As we approach 2026, startup founders are facing two major shifts: the explosive growth of AI and a rapidly changing capital landscape. This is your chance to hear directly from venture capitalists and startup experts about navigating these shifts.

The evening will begin with a 30-minute talk by Bret Waters, who will share key trends every founder needs to know. He’ll tackle how to prepare for 2026, offering actionable insights on succeeding amidst these macro changes.

Following Bret’s talk, we’ll feature an exclusive fireside chat with top investors. This candid conversation will move “From Seed to Scale” and dive deep into what’s driving capital into AI. They’ll unpack what investors are really looking for in early versus growth-stage AI startups, the metrics that matter most, and how to position your company for a successful raise.

Register now.

Space is limited for this private event. Clicking below will take you to Luma for registration, and after registering you will receive an email with the SF location.

Register.

The panel will explore:

  • What investors look for in early vs. growth-stage AI startups.
  • Balancing revenue, traction, team, and tech.
  • Emerging trends and red flags in today’s pitch decks.

Panelists:

  • Jean-Philippe ‘JP’ Persico – shuckerVC (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Mentor at swissnex, Advisor/Mentor at TechStars)
  • Tanya E. Montméan – starLinkVentures (Ex-investment banker, 2x Founder, VC ecosystem expert & Startup advisor)
  • AJ Thomas – Good Trouble Ventures (Founder, VC, Ex-Global Head of People Products at Google X, Award-winning author, musician, and pilot)

Speaker: Bret Waters – Ex-Founder/CEO of 3 tech startups, teaches Entrepreneurship at Stanford, coaches startup CEO’s at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and author of The Launch Path.

Register for Event