For the first time since 2024, StrictlyVC returns to New York City and we’ll be providing the kind of access you’d expect from a secret event to the entire startup, VC and dealmaking community.

For years, StrictlyVC has hosted a series of some of the most interesting nights a VC, founder or dealmaker can spend, centered around candid conversations you can’t get anywhere else.

Our newly announced New York event will take place on September 10 at Ideal Glass Studios in the West Village, with general admission tickets now open for $180. You can register here.

Why New York, why now

New York’s startup engine is not only advancing; It is accelerating. In the first half of 2026, more than 240 New York City startups raised a combined $1.13 billion in seed funding, according to a recent Tech:NYC report. This is up from $1.06 billion in H1 2025, with average seed rounds increasing from $5.4 million to $6.64 million. Overall, New York startups raised a whopping $16 billion in the first half of this year, nearly matching the $19.1 billion New York startups raised throughout 2025.

That capital is spread across nearly every sector, from artificial intelligence and healthcare to climate, fintech, robotics and consumer technology. It’s the kind of drive that made returning to New York an easy decision.

Our list of speakers so far…

After you’ve had time to settle in, meet new connections, and network amidst the stylish vibes of Ideal Glass Studios, we’ll begin our programming with Craig Shapiro, founder and managing partner of Collaborative Fund, along with TechCrunch editor-in-chief and StrictlyVC founder Connie Loizos.

His session, “The Business of Belonging,” delves into why community has become one of the most valuable assets a company can build and where investors find the greatest opportunities at the intersection of technology, fandom, and connection to the real world.

From there, the conversation turns to reinvention. Tristan Walker, founder of Heirloom Craft, will discuss what he learned from building one of the most influential consumer startups of the last decade, why he’s starting over with Heirloom, and how his approach to leadership and brand building has evolved in today’s AI-driven landscape.

Additional speakers and sessions will be announced as the agenda takes shape in the coming weeks. Stay up to date on new speaker announcements here, because we have some exciting additions in the works!

An evening designed for the room, not just for the stage.

As always with StrictlyVC, the stage that hosts our programming is only part of the story. The conversations that begin between TechCrunch reporters and the startup community continue long after in an environment built for access, focus, and proximity to the people who are actively shaping what comes next for New York’s venture, startup, and deal scene.

It is an environment where presentations become insights and insights become opportunities. Secure your spot by purchasing a ticket now.

The company you will join

StrictlyVC stages have welcomed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, Signal President Meredith Whittaker, Haun Ventures Founder and CEO Katie Haun, Replit CEO and Co-Founder Amjad Masad, and famed VC Alfred Lin of Sequoia Capital, among many others. It’s the caliber of speaker that StrictlyVC NYC brings back, and for $180, you can be in the room with them.

Sign up to StrictlyVC NYC today!

If you’re a founder interested in attending StrictlyVC NYC to learn from your peers and connect with investors, we have an event for you! Founder Summit will be held in Boston on November 4, giving you the opportunity to learn how to run pitch meetings, raise venture capital funding, manage finances, and recruit your growing team along your journey to startup success.

Find out more about what we have in store and book your place among our full day of workshops and networking here.