AI funding hits $110B in 2024. Competition heats up for 2025. Early-stage startups face an influx of cash but more pressure to prove themselves.
At TechCrunch Sessions: AI, investors Jill Chase (CapitalG), Kanu Gulati (Khosla Ventures), and Sara Ittelson (Accel) laid out what matters now for seed to Series C AI startups.
The bottom line: forget nailing the perfect pitch. Build trust. Survive hype cycles. Brace for copycats as soon as you nail product-market fit. 
Key takeaways from the Equity podcast episode:
- VCs want real relationships, not flawless slides.
- Going up against big players means staying sharp and fast.
- Speed and consumer focus still win, even in B2B AI.
- Agents and automation are already changing startup strategies.
Equity drops new episodes Wednesdays and Fridays. Catch the full discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and follow @EquityPod on X and Threads.
Jill Chase stated:
Forget the perfect pitch.
Focus on building trust.
Survive hype cycles.
Be ready for copycats right after you find product-market fit.
Kanu Gulati added:
Speed and consumer focus win, even in B2B AI.
Agents and automation are already reshaping startup playbooks.
Sara Ittelson emphasized:
Relationships matter more than slides.
Competing with incumbents means being sharper and quicker.
