San Francisco served as the backdrop for a pivotal gathering of startup founders and investors from October 13 to 15, 2026. TechCrunch put on a great event that brought out some of the biggest players in the VC circuit. Among those in attendance were founder-turned-investor Jyoti Bansal, Medha Agarwal of Defy, and Jennifer Neundorfer of January Ventures. Here’s what these industry leaders had to say about developing a successful pitch deck. They each touched on the unique advantages and opportunities that startups possess in today’s competitive landscape.
Jyoti Bansal founded and sold several companies before becoming an investor. He highlights the necessity of possessing domain expertise and a competitive strategy as table stakes. Innovation alone is not enough, he stressed. Investors are demanding more. Or, that they’re just looking for a good lay of the market land. “There has to be something unique about you,” he stated, underscoring the necessity for founders to present their distinct value proposition.
These conversations focused on the make-or-break basics that every founder needs to include in their pitch deck. Bansal counselled entrepreneurs to put a strong emphasis on perfecting their product, while still proving the path to a big market. He posed critical questions that every founder should answer: “Why would you win? If the problem is interesting, there will be 20 other companies trying to solve it, so why would you win and what’s your opportunity?”
Finally, Medha Agarwal highlighted the need to plug into existing founder networks. She emphasized that these relationships can offer unmatched guidance and resources that better positions a startup for success. Building these relationships deepen and refine your industry focus and business model. They serve as the open doors for new, mutually beneficial partnerships and investment opportunities.
Jennifer Neundorfer, of UpMetrics, echoed these sentiments, noting that being in tune with networks of founders can open doors to fruitful partnerships. She emphasized the power of collaboration in the startup ecosystem. Through the process of sharing knowledge and experiences, everyone involved has an opportunity to learn and develop together.
Beyond talking about solutions, the event allowed for honest and constructive conversations between participants which encouraged a shared spirit of learning and collaboration. TechCrunch’s senior venture capital and startup reporter Dominic-Madori Davis did a fantastic job moderating those sessions. He helmed discussions that motivated and educated hopeful entrepreneurs.