How AI Is Reshaping Startups | VC Panel + Startup Pitch Competition

VC Unfiltered

In this special episode of VC Unfiltered, recorded live at Lightning Round IV, we kick things off with a high-powered panel discussion on the future of artificial intelligence and its growing impact on the startup ecosystem.
Experts from 2045 Ventures, Steamwork Ventures, Eviden, and TCA LA dive into where AI is disrupting industries like healthcare, enterprise, and climate tech—and where its limitations still lie.
Following the panel, four standout startups pitch live for a chance at a prize from Pegasus Angel Accelerator. You'll hear from Playmaker, automating sports sponsorships; Knowledge, redefining human-first sales with real-time data; Cracked Gaming, bringing high-stakes competition to everyday gamers; and Rex, a bold AI-driven alternative to traditional ad agencies.
Whether you're a founder, investor, or AI enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on what’s next in venture capital and the future of innovation.
0:36 Welcome and Event Introduction by Taissa Maleh
1:28 AI Wrappers and Defensibility in Startups
2:40 Moving Beyond LLM Wrappers and Building Moats
4:08 Vertical AI Agents and Future of SaaS
6:00 High-Impact AI Opportunities Across Industries
7:27 AI as Utility: From Digital Twins to Edge AI and Infrastructure
9:26 Challenges with Unstructured Data and Use Case-Driven AI
11:14 Data Source Diligence and Privacy Concerns in Healthcare
12:33 Industries AI May Struggle to Disrupt
17:10 Most Exciting Industries for AI Transformation
18:59 When Will AGI and Quantum Become Real?
22:41 Emerging Protocols Like MCP and A2A
23:43 The Role of AI in Education and Ethical Use
25:21 AI’s Role in Early Education and Customized Learning
26:28 Responsible Use and the Rise of AI Literacy
27:36 Human Learning vs. Machine Learning in Education
28:57 Critical Thinking in the Age of AI and Misinformation
29:38 Will AI Replace Human Decision-Making?
30:22 Social Behavior and the Limits of Predictive AI
31:25 Closing Remarks Before Pitch Competition
32:51 Startup Pitch 1: Hannah Sorkin from Playmaker
39:01 Startup Pitch 2: Chris Anzalone from Knowledge
45:15 Startup Pitch 3: Andy Worrell from Cracked Gaming
51:08 Startup Pitch 4: Sean Gilfillan from Rex
57:27 Judges’ Feedback and Reflections
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