On Wednesday evening, within the sleek and forward-looking halls of PlayGround Global in Palo Alto, an assembly of extraordinarily talented minds will convene to disclose a vision of the technological frontier that most people cannot yet comprehend. These individuals are crafting innovations so advanced that their true significance will likely become apparent only years from now. The gathering marks the grand finale of the 2025 StrictlyVC event series, an occasion renowned for its uncommonly impressive roster of speakers and the almost unbelievable breadth of expertise represented on stage.
This series, operating under the patronage of TechCrunch, has been a global phenomenon—an itinerant nexus for groundbreaking ideas. Over the years, its venues have become stages for conversations that often precede major paradigm shifts. Steve Case once hosted in Washington, D.C., renting out an entire theater to exchange ideas about entrepreneurship and innovation. In Athens, the dialogue extended to conversations with Greece’s prime minister, where international perspectives merged with Silicon Valley insights. Kirsten Green of Forerunner Ventures opened the Presidio in San Francisco to the series, blending the serene natural beauty of the Bay Area with the fierce intellectual curiosity of the startup world. Though the settings have varied—some stately, others intimate—the mission has always remained unshaken: to bring together individuals pioneering transformative technologies before their significance becomes universally recognized.
Among the many storied moments in StrictlyVC’s history, one memory stands above the rest. In 2019, Sam Altman—then already a towering figure in technology and now synonymous with OpenAI—shared perhaps the most audacious business plan ever voiced: OpenAI’s monetization strategy, he quipped, was to “build AGI, then ask it how to make money.” The audience erupted in laughter, interpreting it as a clever jest. Yet, with time, it became unmistakably clear that Altman’s remark had been anything but a joke.
This year’s event introduces a lineup no less visionary. One of the headlining figures is Nicholas Kelez, a particle accelerator physicist who spent two decades at the U.S. Department of Energy pushing the boundaries of what could even be engineered. His current mission tackles a challenge at the heart of modern computing: the staggering complexity and cost of semiconductor manufacturing. Every leading-edge microchip today depends on machines priced around $400 million—massive instruments that employ extraordinarily precise lasers, technology presently mastered by just one company based in the Netherlands. The irony, or perhaps the tragedy to some, is that this technology originated in the United States before it was sold overseas. Now, Kelez is determined to bring that crown jewel of manufacturing back home, using principles derived from particle accelerator science to construct a next-generation system on American soil. It may sound esoteric, even arcane, but the implications are enormous—potentially reshaping global supply chains and technological sovereignty.
Equally captivating is Mina Fahmi, whose work elegantly marries neuroscience and digital communication. Alongside cofounder Kirak Hong, he has created a “ring” device that can transform one’s faintly whispered thoughts into on-screen text—a technology straddling the boundary between human cognition and machine interpretation. For skeptics who might dismiss this as a futuristic gimmick, it’s worth noting that both founders have spent years immersed in similar research at Meta, following the acquisition of their earlier startup. Their company, Sandbar, has emerged from stealth mode under the guidance and investment of Toni Schneider, the seasoned operator who shepherded WordPress to a billion visitors and now acts as a partner at True Ventures. Schneider’s investment record reads like an anthology of hardware innovation: Peloton, Ring, and Fitbit all passed through his firm’s early support. The Stream Ring, as Fahmi calls it, is not designed to act as a digital companion but rather as an extension of human intellect—a tool that externalizes silent thought into communicable data. Intriguingly, the project hints at a future in which wearable technology merges seamlessly with cognitive processes.
The stage will also feature Max Hodak, founder of Science Corp and formerly the cofounder of Neuralink. Hodak is a rare figure at the intersection of biology and electrical engineering—a technologist whose work literally restores sight to the blind. Through the use of retinal implants, he has already helped dozens of visually impaired individuals regain their ability to perceive light and form. Now, his ambitions expand even further into the frontier of neural interfaces. He is developing what he describes as “biohybrid” brain-computer connections—devices that incorporate living stem cells into microchips so that the hardware itself can integrate into neural tissue. In essence, he is building bridges between the organic and the digital, enabling paralyzed individuals to manipulate external devices through pure thought. As breathtaking as that sounds, Hodak emphasizes that it’s merely the beginning. His outlook on the next decade and beyond envisions a world radically unlike the present—one where the boundaries between human capability and artificial augmentation all but dissolve. According to him, the year 2035 will not just look different; it will function differently at a fundamental level.
Completing this illustrious speaker lineup are Chi-Hua Chien and Elizabeth Weil, two venture capitalists whose portfolios read like a roll call of modern tech’s greatest triumphs. Their early investments in startups such as Twitter, Spotify, TikTok, Slack, SpaceX, Figma, and Coinbase demonstrate a consistent ability to spot world-changing innovations long before public awareness catches up. Chien, who leads Goodwater Capital, holds the contrarian belief that Silicon Valley is entirely misinterpreting the current artificial intelligence boom. While countless investors rush toward enterprise AI applications, he argues the most consequential opportunities lie elsewhere, particularly in understated corners of the consumer market. Weil, founder of Scribble Ventures and formerly of Andreessen Horowitz and Twitter, has cultivated a vast and enviable network across the tech ecosystem. With over one hundred angel investments and a first fund already achieving fourfold returns, her influence and prescience have become the stuff of entrepreneurial legend. Both will share why they believe the next wave of transformative consumer technologies is hiding in plain sight, yet overlooked by almost everyone.
The upcoming TechCrunch event in San Francisco, scheduled for October 13–15, 2026, promises to maintain this same spirit of visionary dialogue. PlayGround Global will host alongside Pat Gelsinger—its general partner and celebrated former CEO of Intel—who lends both gravitas and perspective to the proceedings. Attendees can anticipate not only drinks and gourmet cuisine but also a sense of shared curiosity and intellectual revelry. Space is limited, ensuring the experience remains intimate and dialogue-rich, so prompt registration is strongly encouraged for those wishing to attend. Finally, organizations interested in aligning their brands with the thought leadership and forward momentum of the StrictlyVC series in 2026 are warmly invited to reach out and explore partnership opportunities.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/26/the-future-will-be-explained-to-you-in-palo-alto/
