All five general partners of Benchmark, a prominent Silicon Valley venture firm, are scheduled to appear together for the first time on the Disrupt Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco. Jack Altman, Peter Fenton, Chetan Puttagunta, Everett Randle, and Eric Vishria will participate in a session titled “What We Believe Now,” focusing on the future direction of venture capital and emerging startup opportunities.
Benchmark recently adapted its investment strategy by raising approximately $2 billion. This includes a $750 million flagship fund and its inaugural $1.25 billion growth fund. The firm is known for its concentrated early-stage investing approach.
The venture market has seen rapid changes, particularly with the rise of AI. According to the OECD, AI companies secured 61% of global venture capital investment in 2025, amounting to $258.7 billion out of a total $427.1 billion. However, this capital was not evenly distributed, with deals over $100 million representing about 73% of the total AI investment value.
The session aims to explore where the next generation of startups will originate, assumptions founders should reconsider, and overlooked opportunities. The partners will also discuss challenges such as the potential overcrowding of the AI application layer and what makes a company investable in a fast-paced environment.