In just a couple weeks, StrictlyVC San Francisco brings leaders from TDK Ventures, Replit, and more together

The first StrictlyVC of the year will be coming to San Francisco before you know it! There are still a few tickets available to join us and our stacked speaker lineup April 30, at the Sentro Filipino Cultural Center. On top of the mixing and mingling with the community StrictlyVC is known for, this upcoming event in the heart of SF will be of particular note for AI innovators and founders looking for the latest insights into obtaining funding. Who’s taking the stage You can get a ticket right now, but for those who haven’t been to a StrictlyVC event in the past and already clicked that link, let’s dive into what’s particularly exciting about this one … TDK Ventures president Nicolas Sauvage will kick things off after you get your requisite beverages and networking in, as he makes the case for corporate VCs in a conversation with TechCrunch editor-in-chief Connie Loizos. Sauvage, who leads TDK Ventures’ $500 million effort to invest in early-stage startups, will explain what makes corporate VCs operate differently and what founders should know about what catches his eye in an investment. Image Credits:Nicolas Sauvage / TDK Ventures And founders on the fence should take note: Sauvage has steered TDK into backing 52 startups and three unicorns — Groq, Ascend Elements, and Silicon Box — during his tenure. TDK will also be hosting and sponsoring this StrictlyVC event, so attendees will get ample opportunity to learn from and get some potential face time with their team. Then we’ll move to a conversation with Campbell Brown, former CNN host and head of news at Meta who has since made the pivot toward the startup scene as she looks to make AI platforms more trustworthy while more and more people turn to them for advice and information. She’s now the co-founder and CEO of Forum AI, and in the thick of the conversation over how to vet, verify, and sustain the veracity of information provided by LLMs. Image Credits:Forum AI And those who are similarly a part of the AI revolution will be excited to hear that Amjad Masad, co-founder and CEO of Replit, is also taking to the stage to share his firsthand experience helping lead a revolution in how software is constructed. The rise of vibe coding has changed the ways many have worked, especially in the Bay Area, and that’s also brought in some potent competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI. Anyone looking for a peek into the future of programming is going to need to join us and stick around for Masad’s talk. As if that all wasn’t exciting enough, we still have one more speaker to announce, so you’ll be getting even more insights and expertise leading into the concluding round of networking and connection-making that defines the real proving point of StrictlyVC. Some of the greatest minds and most well-connected members of the startup community join us for these events, and you can be a part of it by registering, so get your ticket today! Techcrunch event Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $410. Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $410. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW Topics AI, Fundraising, Replit, Startups, StrictlyVC, TDK Ventures, Venture TechCrunch Events View Bio April 30 San Francisco, CA StrictlyVC kicks off the year in SF. Get in the room for unfiltered fireside chats with industry leaders, insider VC insights, and high-value connections that actually move the needle. Tickets are limited. REGISTER NOW Most Popular Stanford report highlights growing disconnect between AI insiders and everyone else Sarah Perez Sam Altman responds to ‘incendiary’ New Yorker article after attack on his home Anthony Ha Anthropic temporarily banned OpenClaw’s creator from accessing Claude Julie Bort France to ditch Windows for Linux to reduce reliance on US tech Zack Whittaker YouTube Premium and YouTube Music are getting more expensive Aisha Malik This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit.’ Tim Fernholz Developer of VeraCrypt encryption software says Windows users may face boot-up issues after Microsoft locked his account Zack Whittaker