> Markdown version of [/videos/100616-what-ai-startups-are-vcs-actually-funding-in-2026?t=1162](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100616-what-ai-startups-are-vcs-actually-funding-in-2026?t=1162). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # What AI Startups Are VCs Actually Funding in 2026 Technical novelty is no longer a defensible moat for AI startups. To secure funding in 2026, founders must master aggressive distribution. Discover exactly what VCs demand beyond the code. - **Speakers:** [Mariane Bekker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@mariane-bekker), [Eric Bahn](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@eric-bahn), [Jeremiah Owyang](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@jeremiah-owyang), [Suman Natarajan](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@suman-natarajan) - **Event:** World Congress 2026 North America - **Published:** September 25, 2026 - **Duration:** 31:08 - **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100616-what-ai-startups-are-vcs-actually-funding-in-2026 - **Thumbnail URL:** https://customer-goifxnzhrq3d0d54.cloudflarestream.com/4434c2bb5f7eebe259ba9deac4f412f9/thumbnails/thumbnail.jpg?time=178224ms ## Access Playback and chapters for this video are available with a Free account. ## Related Moments - [Evaluating venture capital value and AI sustainability](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100104-from-saas-to-space-the-defensible-value-vcs-are-looking-for) (from "From SaaS to Space: The Defensible Value VCs Are Looking For") - **Thumbnail URL:** https://customer-goifxnzhrq3d0d54.cloudflarestream.com/1fdd17656da49ae4900a6a141afa1340/thumbnails/thumbnail.jpg?time=325350ms - [Autonomous agents and unusual startup pivots](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2144-developers-communities-in-san-francisco-wearedevelopers-live-from-corgi-cafe) (from "Developers Communities in San Francisco - WeAreDevelopers LIVE from Corgi Cafe") - **Thumbnail URL:** https://customer-goifxnzhrq3d0d54.cloudflarestream.com/93ad7c226ac352800568891ed3be3408/thumbnails/thumbnail.jpg?time=260031ms - [Evolving venture capital strategies amid artificial intelligence democratization](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100049-beyond-the-wrapper-technical-bets-that-vcs-back) (from "Beyond the Wrapper: Technical Bets That VCs Back") - **Thumbnail URL:** https://customer-goifxnzhrq3d0d54.cloudflarestream.com/1a8aae4baffdbedc6f5005da1b7ee115/thumbnails/thumbnail.jpg?time=92480ms - [Navigating the hype and realistic expectations of artificial intelligence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1614-ai-augmented-devops-with-platform-engineering) (from "AI-Augmented DevOps with Platform Engineering") - **Thumbnail URL:** https://customer-goifxnzhrq3d0d54.cloudflarestream.com/e870f7c68d6056f611361085c898d8df/thumbnails/thumbnail.jpg?time=131805ms - [Navigating investor pressure for AI in product development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1129-should-we-build-generative-ai-into-our-existing-software) (from "Should we build Generative AI into our existing software?") - **Thumbnail URL:** https://customer-goifxnzhrq3d0d54.cloudflarestream.com/755148c4cb52eb507258146397d341f4/thumbnails/thumbnail.jpg?time=125665ms - [Balancing buy-side and sell-side perspectives in artificial intelligence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100588-from-boardroom-to-build-pipeline-what-ai-governance-actually-looks-like-in-practice) (from "From Boardroom to Build Pipeline: What AI Governance Actually Looks Like in Practice") - **Thumbnail URL:** https://customer-goifxnzhrq3d0d54.cloudflarestream.com/f07d0006b0e17b70466808ac02a4ae2d/thumbnails/thumbnail.jpg?time=123635ms ## Related Articles - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [Stephan Gillich - Bringing AI Everywhere](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/489-stephan-gillich-bringing-ai-everywhere) - [Graph and AI Trends 2026: Why Is AI Running but Not Yet Delivering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/680-graph-and-ai-trends-2026-why-is-ai-running-but-not-yet-delivering) - [What is Agentic Programming and Why Should Developers Care?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/625-what-is-agentic-programming-and-why-should-developers-care) ## Related Jobs - [AI Software Engineer (Germany)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/48317-ai-software-engineer-germany) at **Sunhat** - [Principal Product Manager, Agentic Evals](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/48537-principal-product-manager-agentic-evals) at **Expedia** - [Principal AI Forward Deployed Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/48531-principal-ai-forward-deployed-engineer) at **Expedia** - [Director, AI & Data Solution Architect](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3530576-director-ai-data-solution-architect) at **PwC** - [Director, AI & Data Solution Architect](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/4436005-director-ai-data-solution-architect) at **PwC** - [Director, AI & Data Solution Architect](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3535786-director-ai-data-solution-architect) at **PwC**