No product? No problem. This Disrupt 2026 session shows how to get pre-seed funding with conviction, storytelling
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, a panel will discuss how pre-seed founders can secure funding without a product. The session will feature experts from Axiom Partners, True Ventures, and Slauson & Co., who will share their insights on what investors look for in pre-seed compan…
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Pre-seed founders can secure funding without a product by showcasing their conviction and storytelling skills. A panel at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature experts from Axiom Partners, True Ventures, and Slauson & Co., who will share their insights on what investors look for in pre-seed companies.
Imagine you have a great idea for a startup, but you don't have a product yet. You want to convince investors to give you money to make your product. The experts at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will share their secrets on how to do this. They will talk about how to show your passion and tell a good story to get investors excited about your idea.
Analysis
Winning Pre-Seed Without a Product: A Panel Discussion at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
The startup ecosystem is witnessing a surge in AI-driven seed funding, making it challenging for pre-seed founders to secure funding. However, a panel discussion at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 aims to change this narrative. The session, titled 'Winning Pre-Seed Without a Product,' will feature experts from Axiom Partners, True Ventures, and Slauson & Co., who will share their insights on what investors look for in pre-seed companies.
Sandhya Venkatachalam, founder and managing partner of Axiom Partners, has a proven track record of investing in successful AI startups. Her current role involves overseeing the newly launched Axiom Partners, which focuses on connecting founders to top-class AI practitioners to fuel AI-driven improvements. Previously, she worked as a GP at Khosla Ventures and Social Capital, where she was the first investor in Groq, and also led investments into GalileoAI, ForethoughtAI, and FirefliesAI, which have all either been acquired or reached unicorn status.
Puneet Agarwal, managing partner of True Ventures, has been a mainstay of the startup community, with a focus on early-stage companies that stretches back to 2005. He has worked at True Ventures for nearly a decade, starting in 2008 and now evolving into a managing partner who's especially focused on the transformation of enterprise infrastructure and applications amid the AI era. True Ventures isn't just a fund; it stretches across 12 funds, with partnerships stretching from more than 500 companies and 1,050 founders to more than 60 acquisitions and seven IPOs.
Austin Clements, managing partner of Slauson & Co., is particularly focused on economic inclusion and small business empowerment. He started an accelerator within the firm to hone in on this mission even further. His work to broaden the founder community through inclusive efforts is echoed in his work as the founding chair of PledgeLA, which in partnership with the Annenberg Foundation and LA mayor's office, further promotes the importance of diversity within the tech community. And frequent readers may recognize one of the companies Slauson & Co. has invested in: Startup Battlefield 2026 victor Glīd!
The panel discussion will provide valuable insights on how pre-seed founders can secure funding without a product. By showcasing conviction and storytelling skills, founders can attract investors and secure the funding they need to take their startups to the next level. The session will be a must-attend for anyone looking to learn from the experts and gain a deeper understanding of what investors look for in pre-seed companies.
Key points
- Pre-seed founders can secure funding without a product by showcasing conviction and storytelling skills.
- A panel discussion at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature experts from Axiom Partners, True Ventures, and Slauson & Co.
- The session will provide valuable insights on what investors look for in pre-seed companies.
- Pre-seed founders can attract investors by telling a good story and showing their passion for their idea.
- The panel discussion will be a must-attend for anyone looking to learn from the experts and gain a deeper understanding of what investors look for in pre-seed companies.
The panel discussion at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will provide valuable insights on how pre-seed founders can secure funding without a product. By showcasing conviction and storytelling skills, founders can attract investors and secure the funding they need to take their startups to the next level. This session will be a game-changer for pre-seed founders who are struggling to secure funding.
However, the panel discussion may also highlight the challenges that pre-seed founders face in securing funding without a product. The experts may discuss the difficulties of convincing investors to take a risk on a startup with no product, and the potential downsides of relying on conviction and storytelling skills alone.
