StrictlyVC sets New York event as local startup funding rises

StrictlyVC is returning to New York City on Sept. 10, TechCrunch said, putting a spotlight on a startup market that has drawn more capital in 2026. For everyday investors, that matters because private startup funding can point to where venture capital is placing early bets before companies ever reach public markets.

The event is scheduled for Ideal Glass Studios in the West Village, with general admission tickets priced at $180, according to TechCrunch. It will be the first StrictlyVC event in New York since 2024.

StrictlyVC is TechCrunch’s event series focused on venture capital, startups and dealmaking. Venture capital, or VC, is money invested in young private companies, usually in exchange for an ownership stake. These investments are risky, but they can shape future public-company pipelines, acquisition targets and competitive pressure across sectors such as artificial intelligence, health care, climate tech, fintech, robotics and consumer technology.

New York’s startup funding rebound is the backdrop

TechCrunch pointed to recent New York startup funding data as the reason for bringing the event back to the city. 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 Tech:NYC report cited by TechCrunch.

Seed funding is typically the first major outside funding round for a startup, often used to build products, hire early employees and prove market demand. Tech:NYC reported that the city’s seed funding total increased from $1.06 billion in the first half of 2025. Average seed rounds also rose, moving from $5.4 million to $6.64 million, according to the report.

Across all stages, New York startups raised $16 billion in the first half of 2026, according to AlleyWatch data cited by TechCrunch. That is close to the $19.1 billion raised by New York startups during all of 2025, according to the same account.

Those numbers suggest venture investors have been writing larger checks into New York companies this year. They do not guarantee future exits, initial public offerings or stock-market winners, but they help explain why founders and investors are paying closer attention to the city.

Who is on the agenda

TechCrunch said the program will include Craig Shapiro, founder and managing partner of Collaborative Fund, in conversation with TechCrunch editor-in-chief and StrictlyVC founder Connie Loizos. Their session, titled “The Business of Belonging,” will focus on community as a company asset and on opportunities tied to technology, fandom and real-world connection, according to TechCrunch.

Tristan Walker, founder of Heirloom Craft, is also scheduled to speak. TechCrunch said Walker will discuss lessons from building a consumer startup, his move into Heirloom and how his views on leadership and brand-building have changed in an AI-driven market.

TechCrunch said more speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks. Previous StrictlyVC stages have featured 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, according to TechCrunch.

TechCrunch also said its Founder Summit will take place in Boston on Nov. 4, with programming for founders on pitching, fundraising, finance and hiring.

This story draws on original reporting from TechCrunch.