StrictlyVC to host an evening on AI and sports investment in New York
The StrictlyVC evening event series will return to the West Village in New York on September 10 after a two-year hiatus. As TechCrunch reports, the program includes discussions on artificial intelligence, venture investment, sports as a business, and community-focused projects.
Investment and artificial intelligence
The first guest of the evening will be Keith Rabois, who recently moved from Silicon Valley to the eastern United States. He is expected to discuss approaches to venture investing, including founders who raise more capital than they need. The program will also cover Khosla Ventures' early $50 million investment in OpenAI in 2019, when the company had no clear business model, as well as claims that OpenAI now faces greater difficulties than its competitors.
Rabois has backed fintech company Ramp four times. He has also invested repeatedly in State Affairs, a company that uses AI and local journalists to track state legislature news and policy data across all 50 U.S. states.
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Sports, crafts and games
Craig Shapiro of Collaborative Fund and D.C. United CEO Jason Levien will discuss sports organizations as business investment targets, as well as the connection between sports, fans, commerce and local communities. Collaborative Fund is a co-organizer of the event.
Tristan Walker and Brynn Putnam are also listed on the program. Walker, who sold Walker & Company Brands, the maker of Bevel, to Procter & Gamble in 2018, is now developing Heirloom Craft. The startup focuses on bringing the production of high-quality artisanal goods back to the United States, training a new generation of craftspeople, and restoring supply chains.
Putnam sold connected fitness startup Mirror to Lululemon for $500 million three years after its launch. Her new company, Board, combines physical play with AI-based creation tools. The program will conclude with a conversation with Deven Parekh, who has been one of the leaders of investment firm Insight Partners for more than 25 years. He is expected to discuss competition among large funds in an environment where the boundaries between asset classes are becoming less noticeable.
