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Without further ado, here’s your first look at the Builders Stage agenda, withmore speakersand sessions to be announced as we get closer to the event.
WithShan Shan, Investment Manager, Baillie Gifford; andYuri Sagalov, Managing Director at General Catalyst
AI may dominate the world of venture, but many enduring companies won’t be those that sell AI models or agents. This session is for founders competing for attention in an AI-obsessed market. Panelists break down what actually matters now: efficient growth, retention, revenue quality, and disciplined execution, and why fundamentals, not hype, still build breakout businesses.
WithMichel Tricot, CEO and Co-founder, Airbyte;Rob Toews, Partner, Radical Ventures; andLinda Tong, CEO, Webflow
Nearly all AI founders have the same worry these days: What if OpenAI or Anthropic launches a product that competes with mine? Even strong products are at risk of becoming features of the larger players. This session explores where defensibility exists and what founders can do if they do face competition from rapidly evolving AI giants.
WithJas Khaira, Global Head, Blackstone N1
WithMatt Birnbaum, Founder, Wylder.co,Ioana Hreninciuc, Runware,Atli Thorkelsson, VP, Talent Network, Redpoint Ventures
The growth of AI startups has made hiring and retention more difficult for every tech company. From competing for AI talent to navigating secondary sales, founders are rethinking the human infrastructure of their startups. As incentives and employee expectations rapidly evolve, this session explores how companies are adapting compensation, culture, and team-building strategies to attract and retain top talent in a fundamentally changed market.
WithPuneet Agarwal, Managing Partner, True Ventures;Austin Clements, Managing Partner, Slauson and Co; andSandhya Venkatachalam, Founder and Managing Partner, Axiom Partners
Founders are increasingly expected to compete for capital before they even have a product. At the pre-seed stage, investors are betting on story, conviction, and founder-market fit. This session breaks down how to build credibility before revenue exists so investors will cut that first check.
WithRobby Stein, VP, Product, Google