No product? No problem. This 2026 breakout session shows how to get pre-seed funding with confidence, storytelling

You’re not the only one: AI startups are taking huge amounts of seed funding, and in the process making things difficult for anyone looking for funding or in the pre-seed stage. We’ve covered the trend in detail, and at this year’s TechCrunch Disrupt event, we want to help pre-seed founders who are now stuck with the expectations of the seed stage.

With AI making viable small product development faster than ever, is there hope for an inventor with a compelling idea, but nothing tangible to show for it? That’s what our panel on “Winning Pre-Seeds Without Product” will want to answer.

It’s also one of the many sessions you can expect on our popular Builders Stage at Disrupt 2026. This is where our live chats and social media take place, covering everything from getting your hands dirty with operational decisions, fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and other valuable lessons.

And you can be a part of it all by getting your ticket to attend Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco at Moscone West, October 13-15, at the best prices you’ll find for the rest of the year.

For this particular session, we have gathered a number of speakers to offer their knowledge on this complex and important topic.

Sandhya Venkatachalam: Founder, managing partner, Axiom Partners

Venkatachalam both know a thing or two about successful exits, and what investors want when they dive into companies that end up succeeding by acquiring their own. His current role is overseeing the newly launched Axiom Partners, a startup fund, focused on connecting innovators and top AI practitioners to help capture AI leading to real-world improvements.

Previously, he worked as a practitioner at Khosla Ventures and Social Capital, where he was an early investor in Groq, and led investments in GalileoAI, ForethoughtAI, and FirefliesAI, all of which have been acquired or reached unicorn status.

Puneet Agarwal: Managing Partner, True Ventures

True Ventures has been a pillar of the startup community, focusing on growth companies since 2005. And Agarwal has worked there for almost that entire time, starting in 2008 and now transitioning to a managing partner focused primarily on the transformation of business infrastructure and applications during the AI ​​era.

If you’re looking for expert advice on what VCs are looking for, Agarwal is here to provide it. True Ventures is not just a fund; it reaches across 12 funds, with partnerships ranging from more than 500 companies and 1,050 founders to more than 60 acquisitions and seven IPOs.

Austin Clements: Managing Partner, Slauson & Co.

Slauson & Co. it’s not on the scale of True Ventures, but their mission, and Clements’ work within it, will be especially noteworthy to the founders in the crowd. They are focused on economic inclusion and small business development, and Clements began to accelerate within the company to develop this work.

His mission to expand the founder community through inclusive efforts is echoed in his work as founding chair of PledgeLA, in partnership with the Annenberg Foundation and the LA mayor’s office, to further promote the importance of diversity in the tech community.

And regular readers can see one of the companies Slauson & Co. invested in: Startup Battlefield 2026 victor Glīd!

Learn from the experts, embrace the excitement of Disrupt 2026

It’s just the beginning of our exciting 2026 release schedule as we prepare for our October 13 debut in San Francisco.

And let that Battlefield highlight be a reminder that Disruption isn’t just about important details and sessions — it needs to celebrate the community, learn from its successes and practices, and equip yourself for the next step of your journey. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or play any number of other key roles in the startup ecosystem, now’s the time to get your ticket to Disrupt 2026!