Three heavyweight investors are about to spill the secrets behind winning startup pitches. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Medha Agarwal from Defy.vc, Harness CEO Jyoti Bansal (who sold AppDynamics for $3.7 billion), and January Ventures' Jennifer Neundorfer will break down exactly what captures their attention - and what kills a deal before it starts.
The startup funding game just got a cheat sheet. When investors sift through hundreds of pitches weekly, only a handful break through the noise - and now three seasoned pros are ready to reveal exactly why. The pressure is mounting for founders as venture funding tightens across sectors, making pitch perfection more critical than ever. At the upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference, a powerhouse panel will dissect what separates winning presentations from the reject pile. The timing couldn't be better, as startups face their most challenging fundraising environment in years. Defy.vc General Partner Medha Agarwal brings heavyweight credentials to the discussion, having backed founders from day zero through hypergrowth during her tenure at Redpoint Ventures. Her portfolio spans fintech, SaaS, marketplaces, and healthcare - sectors where precise positioning can make or break a deal. She's witnessed both spectacular wins and painful misses, giving her unique insight into the subtle differences that matter. Joining her is Harness CEO and co-founder Jyoti Bansal, whose track record speaks for itself. After building AppDynamics into a $3.7 billion exit, Bansal has since co-founded Traceable and Unusual Ventures, giving him perspective from both sides of the table. His experience scaling enterprise software through multiple funding rounds offers founders a rare glimpse into how pitches evolve as companies mature. The third panelist, January Ventures co-founder and managing partner Jennifer Neundorfer, represents the new wave of early-stage investing. Her firm is reshaping venture networks while focusing on B2B software innovation, making her particularly attuned to what resonates with today's institutional investors. Combined, this trio has evaluated thousands of pitches and deployed hundreds of millions in capital. Their Builders Stage session promises to cut through generic advice and deliver actionable insights. They'll tackle the psychological triggers that build investor trust, the red flags that kill momentum, and those critical first 30 seconds when attention spans are shortest. The panel comes as founders face unprecedented competition for investor attention. Recent PitchBook data shows deal volumes down significantly from peak levels, while quality bars continue rising. What worked in 2021's frothy market won't cut it today. Early bird pricing for runs through September 26, offering savings up to $668 before rates increase. The three-day conference runs October 27-29 at San Francisco's Moscone West, expecting over 10,000 founders, investors, and tech leaders. Beyond the pitch masterclass, attendees gain access to the full , networking opportunities, and Startup Battlefield competitions. For founders preparing their next funding round, this panel offers direct access to the decision-makers who control the purse strings. The insights shared could be the difference between another rejection email and a term sheet that changes everything.
