The venture capital landscape is increasingly dominated by well-funded artificial intelligence startups, leaving founders at earlier stages struggling to attract investment even while building their businesses. To address this challenge, TechCrunch's Disrupt 2026 conference will host a panel discussion examining how pre-seed entrepreneurs can secure funding and investor confidence without a finished product to demonstrate, particularly relevant in an era where artificial intelligence has accelerated product development timelines.

The panel brings together three experienced investors representing different segments of the venture ecosystem. Sandhya Venkatachalam oversees a newly established $52 million fund specializing in AI-driven solutions and has backed multiple companies through successful acquisitions and major exits. Puneet Agarwal represents True Ventures, a longstanding investor in early-stage companies navigating the transformation of enterprise infrastructure in the AI era. Austin Clements brings a contrasting perspective through his focus on economic inclusion and diversity within the startup community, having founded an accelerator dedicated to expanding entrepreneurial opportunity.