2025 VC Playbook: Fundraising, emerging trends & what VC's are excited about

Kylie Robison (Senior AI Reporter at WIRED), Alex Konrad (Founder at Upstarts Media), Charles Rollet (Senior Reporter at TechCrunch) and Emilie Cole have a discussion focussed on the future of AI from the perspective of venture capitalists, highlighting the transformative impact of AI on various industries, particularly in software development and consumer markets. The panelists share insights on how AI is reshaping workflows, increasing efficiency, and altering organizational structures, with some companies reducing their engineering teams significantly due to AI's capabilities. They discuss the potential for AI to create new investment opportunities, emphasizing the importance of defensible products and the evolving consumer landscape. The conversation also touches on the changing dynamics of hiring and talent evaluation in an AI-driven environment, as well as the potential for AI to enhance consumer experiences and shopping behaviors. Overall, the panelists express optimism about the opportunities AI presents for innovation and investment.

This was filmed at our annual flagship Startup Grind Conference in Silicon Valley. Next year’s event will take place April 29-30, 2026. Visit https://www.startupgrind.tech and https://www.startupgrind.com for more info.

This video was brought to you by Google Cloud. Get up to $350k in credits here: https://cloud.google.com/startup/apply?utm_campaign=FY21-Q1-global-demandgen-website-cs-startup_program_mc&utm_content=Startup+Grind+Inc&utm_source=CJ&utm_medium=affiliate&refparam=CJ-16937432-101320511&hl=en

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