Unlock the Future of Deep Tech at StrictlyVC Palo Alto
▼ Summary
– The final StrictlyVC event of 2025 in Palo Alto will feature innovators working on important, cutting-edge technologies before they become mainstream.
– Featured speaker Nicholas Kelez is applying particle accelerator physics to build next-generation, American-made semiconductor manufacturing machines, challenging a current Dutch monopoly.
– Mina Fahmi’s company Sandbar has created the Stream Ring, a device that converts whispered thoughts into text, backed by experienced operator Toni Schneider.
– Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink and founder of Science Corp, is developing biohybrid brain-computer interfaces using stem cells to help paralyzed people control devices with their thoughts.
– Venture capitalists Chi-Hua Chien and Elizabeth Weil will argue that Silicon Valley is misallocating capital by over-investing in enterprise AI, despite their history of successful early investments in major tech companies.
Tomorrow evening in Palo Alto, a gathering at PlayGround Global will offer a rare glimpse into the next wave of technological breakthroughs. This final StrictlyVC event of the year assembles a remarkable group of founders and investors working at the absolute frontier of deep technology, providing insights long before these innovations hit the mainstream.
The StrictlyVC series, presented by TechCrunch, has built a reputation for intimate conversations with the architects of the future. From discussions with Steve Case in Washington D.C. to a talk with Greece’s prime minister in Athens, the core mission remains: to connect a curated audience with the minds developing technologies that will redefine entire industries. A memorable moment from 2019 saw Sam Altman tell the audience that OpenAI’s monetization plan was to “build AGI, then ask it how to make money.” The crowd laughed, but he was entirely serious.
Leading the presentations is Nicholas Kelez, a physicist with two decades at the Department of Energy. He is now confronting a critical bottleneck in semiconductor manufacturing. Today’s most advanced chips rely on colossal, laser-based machines costing hundreds of millions of dollars, technology currently monopolized by a single Dutch company. Kelez’s American startup is leveraging particle accelerator science to build the next generation of this essential equipment, a move with profound implications for global tech sovereignty and intense competition.
Attendees will also hear from Mina Fahmi, co-founder of Sandbar. His team, which includes former Meta researchers, has developed the Stream Ring. This device captures subvocalizations, the whispered thoughts you don’t outwardly speak, and translates them into text. It’s not a social gadget but a tool designed to extend cognitive capability. The venture is backed by Toni Schneider of True Ventures, an early architect of WordPress, whose portfolio includes landmark hardware companies like Fitbit and Ring.
Another featured speaker is Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink and founder of Science Corp. His work has already restored vision to dozens through retinal implants. His current focus is on pioneering “biohybrid” brain-computer interfaces. This involves seeding chips with stem cells that integrate with neural tissue, aiming to allow individuals with paralysis to control devices through thought alone. Hodak believes this is just the beginning, forecasting that the world of 2035 will be almost unrecognizable compared to today.
The investor perspective will be provided by Chi-Hua Chien of Goodwater Capital and Elizabeth Weil of Scribble Ventures. Both have exceptional track records of identifying giants early, with investments in companies like Spotify, TikTok, Slack, and Coinbase. They argue that while capital floods into enterprise AI, Silicon Valley is broadly misreading the current moment, and they plan to detail their contrarian thesis.
The evening is hosted at PlayGround Global with general partner Pat Gelsinger, the former Intel CEO. It promises an engaging mix of candid conversation, networking, and hospitality. Given the strictly limited seating for these exclusive events, those seeking direct access to these insights and connections are encouraged to secure a spot promptly.
(Source: TechCrunch)
