Benchmark Partners will host a panel discussion at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, bringing together its five general partners to explore the future of venture capital.

The session, titled 'What We Believe Now,' will focus on where the next generation of startups will emerge and how founders should rethink their assumptions.

This marks the first time the entire current Benchmark partnership has appeared together on the Disrupt Stage in San Francisco.

According to the OECD, AI companies captured 61% of global venture capital investment in 2025, totaling $258.7 billion out of $427.1 billion invested overall.

However, this capital was not evenly distributed, with deals over $100 million representing 73% of total AI investment value.

This creates a challenging environment for founders, as there is significant interest in technology businesses but also intense competition for a limited number of potential category leaders.

The panel includes Jack Altman, who joined Benchmark after founding Lattice and building Alt Capital, which raised $425 million. Peter Fenton has a long track record with investments in consumer and enterprise companies, including AI startups like Sierra and Sema4.ai.

Chetan Puttagunta focuses on enterprise software with investments in MongoDB and MuleSoft, while Everett Randle has experience across stages and categories, including investments in Anthropic and SpaceX. Eric Vishria, who was a startup CEO before becoming an investor, focuses on infrastructure and enterprise software with investments in Amplitude and Cerebras Systems.

"By the third slide, I had changed my mind," said Eric Vishria, reflecting on his initial hesitation to invest in Cerebras Systems in 2016.

Vishria noted that Benchmark co-led the company’s $25 million Series A, which later went public with Benchmark holding a 9.5% stake at the IPO. This example illustrates how venture investing often requires adapting to new opportunities that may not initially align with existing theses.

The discussion will also address how founders can better understand investor perspectives and challenge their own assumptions. Benchmark’s panel aims to highlight how experienced investors update their assumptions and decide where to place their conviction.

The session will take place at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, which returns to San Francisco’s Moscone West from October 13–15, bringing together over 10,000 founders, investors, and innovators.

Source: techcrunch