Why the best tech talks of the year took place over cocktails on StrictlyVC

In an industry that is reinventing itself before most people have finished eating their breakfast cake, TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event series It has become something rare: constant. These evenings provide an opportunity to step back from the fog of headlines and hype cycles, to sit down with the people actually driving change, and understand what’s really happening behind the scenes. They were designed from the beginning as cocktail parties with great content – ​​we always wanted these gatherings to be intimate, where conversation flows freely, and speakers can let their guard down in ways they can’t at larger, more formal conferences.

Full StrictlyVC 2025 recap

Looking back, 2025 was truly a blur of both amazing visions and relationships. It’s now hard to believe how many stimulating conversations we’ve been able to facilitate – from heads of state to startup founders, from crypto evangelists to defense technology pioneers. Every evening brought its own energy and inspiration.

Where it started: San Francisco

We started last year at the Presidio in San Francisco, where Kirsten Green of Forerunner Ventures co-hosted an unforgettable night. Green herself — an early investor in Chime, Oura, and countless other home brands — shared her excitement about White space Emerging at the intersection of artificial intelligence and consumer technology. But it was just the beginning. We heard from Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries about the challenging journey of building a defense technology startup in your 20s, complete with everything you need mistakes That comes with the territory. Kalshi’s Tarek Mansour captivated the room, explaining in his delightfully cheerful way why the organizers are so imposing Don’t keep him awake at nighteven as CEO of the hottest prediction market in the industry. Flexport’s Ryan Petersen had a lot to say Trump’s tariff plans. Even San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lury I stopped.

Next stop: Athens on AI, government, and the power of offline economies

From there, we took the series global. In Athens, we sat down with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss how AI is transforming Greece – and the current situation. Hidden advantages For a country still deeply rooted in offline businesses.

London’s outspoken stance on regulation and the future of fintech

In London, VC Sonali De Rycker of Accel spoke about Europe The problem of over-regulationwhile TS Anil of fast-growing fintech company Monzo answered questions about Go public (This was before it was apparently Facility out Due to disagreements over the timing of its launch).

Return home with orbital momentum and cryptography

Back in the US, momentum was building. In Menlo Park, we hosted the president of Cognition Russell Kaplan Along with his famous first investor Ali Partovi. We spoke with the co-founder of Robinhood Baiju Bhatt About his deep dive into space solar energy, and Katie Hawn of cryptocurrencies Make the case And why the digitization of real-world assets has become inevitable.

StrictlyVC meets TechCrunch Disrupt

At our TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco — where we hosted a StrictlyVC mini-event within the event — serial entrepreneur-turned-VC Kevin Hartz reflected on the rise Teen foundersand a striatal plate of LPs was dissected Aging portfolios.

Final Palo Alto

Then we wrapped up the year in early December in Palo Alto, where we discussed former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger Government and religionWe took an inside look at one of the… The most exciting new companies In the field of artificial intelligence manufacturing, Max Hudak, co-founder of Neuralink, gave us a glimpse into… Breathtaking ambition He leads his current company, Science Corp.

From first conversations to future visions

However, these are just some of the highlights from 2025 StrictlyVC series It has been home to many great voices over the years – former Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Lina Khanco-CEO of Waymo Tekedra mawakana, Meredith Whitaker from the sign, Sam Altman OpenAI, Alfred Lin From Sequoia Capital, famous founder Marc Lore, and MAthe, a lot Others.

What makes us most excited for 2026 It’s knowing that there are so many influencers looking for exactly this kind of space — a place where they can speak openly, share what’s really on their minds, and connect with a curious, sophisticated audience that really wants to hear it.

Join StrictlyVC 2026 waitlist To secure first access to the lowest ticket prices and key event updates.

Want to do more than just attend StrictlyVC 2026 events?

By the way, none of this would be possible without our amazing partners. Kirsten Green opened the Presidio for us. The team is in Mayfield Providing a stunning glass lined space in the heart of Sand Hill Road. and Global stadium They gave us their spacious and welcoming home to end the year.

Not only do these companies host, but they embrace the spirit of these evenings as much as we do.

If your company is interested in partnering with us StrictlyVC series of events next year As we embark on new adventures, Please contact us here. We’re very excited to see where these chats take us next.