The funding shift
AI startups are taking in a huge amount of seed funding, squeezing availability for earlier‑stage companies. As TechCrunch notes, this dynamic making things harder for anyone looking for funding even at a pre‑seed stage.
Pre‑seed founders face higher expectations
Investors are allocating larger rounds to AI ventures, so pre‑seed founders are often held to seed‑stage expectations. The new bar forces founders to articulate clear narratives and demonstrable conviction even before a product exists.
Disrupt 2026’s dedicated session
At this year’s TechCrunch Disrupt, organizers are offering a session titled “No product? No problem. This Disrupt 2026 session shows how to get pre‑seed funding with conviction, storytelling.” The event is explicitly aimed at helping pre‑seed founders who are currently facing seed‑stage standards.
Session focus
Using conviction to strengthen a pre‑seed pitch.
Applying storytelling to convey value when the product is still in development.
What readers should watch next
Founders seeking early‑stage capital should plan to attend or review the Disrupt 2026 session. Emphasizing conviction and storytelling offers a concrete way to stand out in a market where AI seed rounds dominate investor attention.
“AI startups are taking in a huge amount of seed funding, and in the process making things harder for anyone looking for funding even at a pre‑seed stage.” – TechCrunch
Source
TechCrunch, “No product? No problem. This Disrupt 2026 session shows how to get pre‑seed funding with conviction, storytelling,” 17 July 2026.