In what is poised to be one of the most consequential tech gatherings of the year, PlayGround Global in Palo Alto will host the final StrictlyVC event of 2025 this Wednesday evening. The event, known for bringing together innovators working on breakthrough technologies long before they gain mainstream attention, has assembled an exceptional lineup of scientists, founders, and investors whose work is already shaping the world’s next era.

StrictlyVC, held globally under TechCrunch’s umbrella, has previously featured conversations ranging from Steve Case’s D.C. sessions to a sit-down with Greece’s prime minister in Athens. But the mission has remained constant: gather people silently building the future — and let them explain it before everyone else realizes its significance.

One of the event’s legendary moments came in 2019 when Sam Altman told the audience that OpenAI’s plan for making money was to “build AGI, then ask it how to make money.” Attendees laughed then. In hindsight, he meant every word.

This year’s lineup signals another leap into the extraordinary. Among the speakers is Nicholas Kelez, a particle accelerator physicist with two decades of experience at the U.S. Department of Energy. Kelez is now tackling one of the semiconductor industry’s biggest bottlenecks: the $400 million extreme ultraviolet lithography machines that currently only one Dutch company can produce. Ironically, the technology was originally American before being sold overseas. Kelez aims to bring next-generation chip manufacturing back to the U.S. using particle accelerator innovations.

Another highlight is Mina Fahmi, cofounder of Sandbar, who has developed a ring capable of capturing whispered thoughts and converting them into text. The device — built alongside Kirak Hong after their startup was acquired by Meta — is engineered not to act as a companion but as an extension of human cognition. Backed by renowned operator Toni Schneider of True Ventures, the device could mark a new era in human–machine communication.

Science Corp founder Max Hodak, featured previously on the cover of Time and known for cofounding Neuralink, will also take the stage. Hodak has already restored sight to blind patients using retinal implants, and he now focuses on “biohybrid” brain–computer interfaces — chips seeded with stem cells that integrate with brain tissue to allow paralyzed individuals to control devices purely by thought. Hodak believes the year 2035 will be “unrecognizably advanced” and plans to outline what that transformation will look like.

image source: google

Rounding out the event are Goodwater Capital’s Chi-Hua Chien and Scribble Ventures founder Elizabeth Weil — two investors with portfolios that include Twitter, Spotify, TikTok, Slack, SpaceX, Figma, and Coinbase. Chien argues that Silicon Valley is misdiagnosing the current AI wave by focusing too heavily on enterprise tools, while Weil’s early-stage track record includes over 100 angel investments and a debut fund already returning 4x. Both maintain that the most promising consumer-tech opportunities remain largely overlooked.

PlayGround Global, alongside general partner and former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, will host the gathering. Guests can expect an evening of insightful conversations, good food, drinks, and networking. Seating is limited, and early interest suggests spots will fill quickly.

For organizations interested in partnering with the series in 2026, inquiries are open.

Source: Techcrunch

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