Startup Day at Tech Weekend | Panels, Pitch Competition & Happy Hour | SF

A full day of AI-focused programming connecting founders, investors, and operators shaping the next wave of technology.

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM | VC Panel: Vertical AI — Where the Biggest Opportunities Are in 2026 VC

Panelists:

• Nicole Seah, Early Stage Investor at Costanoa Ventures. Investment Focus: Backing early stage founders (leading rounds at Seed + Series A) in AI Applications.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Lunch Break + Networking Complimentary lunch served with dietary options available.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | VC Panel: AMA Style (Ask Me Anything)

Panelists:

• Amrut Rajkarne, Vice President at Nexus Venture Partners. Investment Focus: Software, AI and Fintech. Moderator: Ivan Tan, Founder at Odyssea.ai.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | AI Pitch Competition

Judges:

• Henry Sheng, General Partner at Santa Clara Ventures. Investment Focus: Industry agnostic. We are an early-stage, high-growth ventures originating from R&D and accelerators at leading universities in the Jesuit Entrepreneurship Center Alliance (JECA).
• Vaish Srivathsan, Angel Investor at Vinn Labs. Investment Focus: AI / SaaS, deeptech (infra, robotics).

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Founder & Investor Mixer Celebrate the close of Tech Weekend with drinks and final networking sessions.

About Tech Weekend

This event is part of Tech Weekend January 23-24, 206

Tech Weekend is a 48-hour fundraising sprint by Founders Village where founders meet dozens of investors in back-to-back sessions.

Founders attend to meet VCs through:
• 1:1 VC Office Hours
• Pitch Competitions (Deep Tech & AI)
• VC Panels & Debates
• Founder–Investor Mixers

If you’re building in AI, Deep Tech, Health Tech, FinTech, Climate Tech, BioTech, Bio-Convergence, Well-Being Tech, NeuroTech, Quantum, Space Tech, Dual-Use Tech, Vertical Tooling, EdTech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, Marketplaces, Consumer AI, Robotics, Spatial Intelligence, Physical AI, scientifically intensive ventures, Renewable Energies, or any other frontier sector—Tech Weekend helps you meet the right investors faster.

Two days. A marathon of VC conversations. Fast, Structured and result oriented.
👉 To attend the full weekend: techweekend.org

Stay Connected

📲 Follow us on socials:
Website: Founders Village
LinkedIn: Founders Village on LinkedIn
Instagram: @founders.village
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Edge & Node House of Web3, 103 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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