At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Medha Agarwal, Jyoti Bansal, and Jennifer Neundorfer discuss what makes a pitch land

For entrepreneurs and visionaries, securing investment is often the pivotal moment that transforms a promising idea into a thriving reality. Yet, in the competitive landscape of startup funding, only a select few pitches truly resonate with investors. At the highly anticipated TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, set to take place from October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, an exclusive panel featuring leading venture capitalists and seasoned operators will demystify the art of the perfect pitch.

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear directly from Medha Agarwal, General Partner at defy.vc; Jyoti Bansal, CEO and Co-founder of Harness; and Jennifer Neundorfer, Co-founder and Managing Partner at January Ventures. These industry stalwarts will share invaluable insights into what captures their attention, what signals turn them away, and the subtle cues founders often overlook. This candid discussion promises to reveal insider strategies designed to help founders build trust, stand out from the crowd, and successfully secure the right funding for their ventures. For innovators in the rapidly evolving AI tools sector, mastering the art of the pitch is paramount, making these insights particularly relevant.

The event is poised to gather over 10,000 startup, tech, and venture capital leaders, offering unparalleled networking and learning opportunities. High-impact discussions like this panel are a cornerstone of the Disrupt 2025 experience.

Championing Founders Through Every Challenge

Medha Agarwal, a General Partner at defy.vc, dedicates her efforts to supporting exceptional entrepreneurs from their earliest stages through hyper-growth. Drawing from her own experiences building startups and partnering with founders, Agarwal deeply understands the highs and lows inherent in company-building. She emphasizes the critical need for trusted partners who can provide support, whether for major strategic decisions or minor daily challenges. Before joining Defy, Agarwal spent seven years as a partner at Redpoint Ventures, where she specialized in early-stage fintech, vertical SaaS, marketplaces, and healthcare, collaborating with companies such as Whatnot, Tend, Proper Finance, LiveKit, and Anvyl.

Software Innovation for a Better World

Jyoti Bansal, a serial entrepreneur, is a fervent believer in software’s transformative power. In 2017, he co-founded Harness, a company dedicated to automating and simplifying software delivery processes, where he serves as CEO. The following year, 2018, saw him co-found Traceable, a leading API security platform, and the venture capital firm Unusual Ventures. Bansal’s entrepreneurial journey includes founding AppDynamics in 2008, an application intelligence company that was acquired by Cisco for $3.7 billion in 2017. His significant contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including Forbes’ “Best Cloud Computing CEO to Work For” and Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year™ for Northern California.”

Operator-Turned-Investor Empowering B2B Innovation

Jennifer Neundorfer brings a decade of experience investing in early-stage startups, having transitioned from an operational role. As the Managing Partner of January Ventures, a pre-seed-focused venture capital firm, she invests in B2B startups leveraging software to revolutionize traditional industries. Neundorfer established January Ventures with the mission to diversify venture capital networks and invest in ambitious founders regardless of their background, connections, or initial access. Prior to January Ventures, she co-founded Flashstarts, a startup accelerator focused on software startups outside of Silicon Valley.

Unlock Savings Today, Uncover Insights at the Event

The comprehensive Disrupt 2025 agenda is now live, providing a detailed look at the nearly complete lineup for the Builders and Going Public Stages. Attendees are encouraged to regularly check back for updates, as more sessions will be added to the AI, Space, and Disrupt Stages, along with exciting roundtables and breakouts. Aspiring founders and industry leaders are encouraged to secure their attendance early to take advantage of significant savings. Register now and save up to $675 before ticket prices increase.