US investors to address AI headwinds and capital commoditization in New York

Prominent American venture capitalists and founders will convene in New York on September 10 for the first New York edition of the StrictlyVC technology series in two years. The evening series, organized by TechCrunch, follows recent editions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Athens. The gathering will focus on how investors are adapting to a maturing artificial intelligence market and shifting economic fundamentals.

Keith Rabois of Khosla Ventures is scheduled to address the current headwinds facing OpenAI. Rabois will also discuss his firm’s early 50 million dollar investment in the artificial intelligence company in 2019, alongside his views on founders raising excessive capital. He has backed the financial technology company Ramp four times and invested equally in State Affairs, which uses artificial intelligence and local journalists to track statehouse news and policy data.

The commoditization of capital will be a central theme for Deven Parekh, who has co-run the New York investment firm Insight Partners for over 25 years. He is expected to detail how his firm competes in a landscape where traditional asset classes are increasingly difficult to distinguish and massive investments carry unprecedented potential returns.

Beyond software, the event highlights a growing interest in physical supply chains and domestic manufacturing. Tristan Walker, who previously sold his consumer goods company to Procter & Gamble in 2018, is launching Heirloom Craft to reshore American fine craftsmanship and train a new generation of artisans.

Brynn Putnam is also looking to counter the isolation often associated with digital technology. The founder, who previously sold her connected-fitness startup Mirror to Lululemon for 500 million dollars, is introducing a new gaming company called Board that blends physical play with artificial intelligence creation tools.

The commercialization of community and fandom will also feature heavily in the discussions. Collaborative Fund’s Craig Shapiro and D.C. United chief executive Jason Levien will examine the intersection of sports organizations, commerce, and community as viable business investments.

These discussions reflect a broader transition in the technology sector as it moves past initial speculative booms. For European markets and investors, the strategies being tested in New York offer a clear indicator of how American capital is reallocating risk and seeking tangible value in a more constrained economic environment.