Mark your calendars: June 18 just became a can’t-miss event. We’re thrilled that Ali Partovi and Russell Kaplan will be joining us for what’s shaping up to be a fantastic night of ideas and conversation in the heart of Silicon Valley at our next StrictlyVC evening, taking place in Menlo Park.
Partovi, the longtime investor and former operator who’s making serious waves with Neo, will take the stage to discuss his ambitious mission that’s giving Y Combinator a run for its money. Neo isn’t just another platform and fund; it’s a systematic approach to identifying up-and-coming engineering and leadership talent before the rest of Silicon Valley even knows they exist. If anyone understands how to spot the next generation of tech titans, it’s Partovi.
Joining him will be Russell Kaplan, president of Cognition, the buzzy coding assistant company that was recently valued at $4 billion and that counts Neo among its first backers. This pairing offers a rare glimpse into the investor-founder dynamic in real time, especially as Cognition enjoys some of the ups and downs of earlier startups on an accelerated timeline. (Such is the life of today’s AI startups!)
They’ll be joined by Baiju Bhatt, the Robinhood co-founder who’s now channeling his fintech expertise into something entirely different as founder and CEO of Aetherflux — a move that clearly has investors excited. The San Carlos, California-based startup, which came out of stealth last October and aims to eventually launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that can collect and transmit solar energy directly to “ground stations,” closed on $50 million in Series A funding last month.
These conversations matter because they bridge the gap between big ideas and real-world impact, turning abstract concepts into actual companies and products. That’s exactly why StrictlyVC exists: to bring thought leaders into closer contact with the investors, founders, and news junkies who want to understand how tech is reshaping everything in real time.
More programming highlights are coming soon, but we wanted to share this news while extending our deep gratitude to Mayfield, the storied early-stage venture firm that’s co-hosting this evening with us. It’s their partnership that’s making this event possible.
The gathering takes place at The Quad in the center of Sand Hill Road, the perfect backdrop for a night of essential conversations, and plenty of networking — plus drinks and nibbles! (Because the best insights often happen in the spaces between the formal programming.) Stay tuned for more speaker announcements. This is shaping up to be an evening you won’t want to miss. Register here before your seat is taken.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
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October 27-29, 2025
