Venture capital firm Benchmark will bring its five general partners together for a rare joint appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where they will discuss the technologies, business models and founders that could define the next wave of high-growth companies.
Jack Altman, Peter Fenton, Chetan Puttagunta, Everett Randle and Eric Vishria are set to take part in the "What We Believe Now" session in San Francisco. The conversation will explore where emerging startup opportunities may be forming, which assumptions founders should revisit and how investors identify durable potential in rapidly shifting markets.
AI investment and the search for lasting value
Artificial intelligence remains central to the venture landscape. OECD figures show that AI companies attracted 61% of global venture investment in 2025, with the largest funding rounds accounting for much of that activity. For founders, this has made speed of execution more accessible while raising the importance of differentiation.
The Benchmark partners are expected to examine where defensibility may emerge in this environment: from proprietary data and infrastructure to distribution, product design and customer trust. The discussion will also consider whether overlooked sectors beyond crowded AI application categories could create the next major technology businesses.
A changing approach to growth
Benchmark recently expanded its investment strategy with about $2 billion across a $750 million flagship fund and its first $1.25 billion growth fund. The move signals an effort to support companies through more stages of development while retaining the firm's early-stage focus.
Each partner brings a distinct perspective. Altman previously founded workplace software company Lattice; Fenton has supported companies across consumer and enterprise technology; Puttagunta focuses on enterprise software; Randle invests across sectors and stages; and Vishria has experience in infrastructure software and startup leadership.
The session is also likely to highlight the value of revising established assumptions. Vishria's early engagement with AI chip company Cerebras Systems illustrates how ambitious ideas can initially sit outside familiar investment patterns before demonstrating their broader potential.
Disrupt 2026 will take place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13 to 15, convening founders, investors, operators and technology builders. The Benchmark discussion offers a window into how experienced investors assess innovation at a moment when new categories are forming quickly.
As capital increasingly follows technological conviction, these perspectives may help founders focus on building companies with long-term relevance rather than simply following the most visible trends.
