StrictlyVC heads back to NYC on September 10

StrictlyVC is returning to New York City for the first time since 2024, with a new event set for September 10 at Ideal Glass Studios in the West Village. General admission tickets cost $180 and are on sale now.

The event arrives as New York’s startup market posts stronger funding numbers. According to a recent Tech:NYC report, more than 240 NYC startups raised a combined $1.13 billion in seed funding in H1 2026, up from $1.06 billion in H1 2025. Average seed rounds also increased, from $5.4 million to $6.64 million.

Across all stages, New York startups raised $16 billion in the first half of 2026, nearly matching the $19.1 billion raised across all of 2025. TechCrunch says that money is spread across sectors including AI, healthcare, climate, fintech, robotics, and consumer tech.

TechCrunch has announced two speakers so far. Craig Shapiro, founder and managing partner of Collaborative Fund, will join TechCrunch editor-in-chief and StrictlyVC founder Connie Loizos for a session titled “The Business of Belonging.” The discussion will focus on community as a business asset and where investors see opportunity across technology, fandom, and in-person connection.

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The second featured speaker is Tristan Walker, founder of Heirloom Craft, who will talk about lessons from building one of the past decade’s most influential consumer startups, why he is starting again with Heirloom, and how his thinking on leadership and brand-building has changed in today’s AI-driven market.

TechCrunch says more speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks. The outlet also points to past StrictlyVC guests including 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 Sequoia Capital’s Alfred Lin.