Tackling the Goliath: How AI Is Reshaping Venture Capital
Co-hosted with the Massachusetts AI Coalition, we invite you to a no-holds-barred discussion on the impact of AI on venture capital.
For the first time in the industry's history, venture capital is confronting a technology that is both its biggest investment opportunity and a force capable of fundamentally changing how venture itself operates. From sourcing and diligence to portfolio support and fund management, AI is rewriting the rules in real time. This panel turns the lens toward the firms themselves and how VCs are rewiring their internal processes, workflows, and decision-making from the inside out.
Join leading investors and operators as they separate signal from noise and tackle the question on everyone's mind: Is AI simply the next great investment wave or is it transforming venture capital itself?
Agenda
8:30 AM: Arrival & networking over breakfast
9:00 AM: Panel discussion
9:45 AM: Closing networking
Panelists:
Kent Bennet, Partner @ Bessemer Venture
Kent Bennett is a partner in Bessemer’s Boston office focusing on B2B application software and consumer “earthquakes.” Before his career in venture capital, Kent was a creative executive for an entertainment production company, where he developed and sold original material including a network television pilot and a feature film. He began his career with Bain & Co., where he worked on projects in industries spanning IT, retail, consumer products, healthcare, and biotech.
Giuseppe Stuto, Founder & Managing Partner @ Offscript VC
Giuseppe is a first-generation Italian-American entrepreneur raised in a blue-collar immigrant household that taught him hustle and resilience early. He co-founded Fam, the first live group FaceTime app for iMessage, scaled it to 7 million users, and exited to DraftKings. He then served as COO at Pison Technologies, one of the earliest deep-tech AI companies building neural interface infrastructure. He went on to co-found 186 Ventures, a $37M seed fund where he made 29 investments and built one of the most active founder networks in the Northeast. He founded Offscript to back the founders the world writes off. Offscript writes first checks into nontraditional builders across AI, deep tech, and hardware-software systems to create step-function revenue breakthroughs in industries ready for disruption.
Steve Bay, VP of Cybersecurity @ CoreTelligent
Steve is the Vice President of Cybersecurity at CoreTelligent, with deep expertise in information security, cyber threat intelligence, compliance, and risk. He is also the author of the newly released AI Acceptable Use Policy for VC Firms. An experienced security executive, Steve previously served as CISO at NuVasive, led the Threat Reconnaissance Unit at Security On-Demand, and built security programs for Fortune 500 companies as a Senior Lead Technologist at Booz Allen, with deep experience across financial services, retail, and healthcare.
David Beisel, Partner @ NextView Ventures
David Beisel is a co-founder and Partner at NextView Ventures. He has been focused on early stage Internet startups his entire career, both as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. As an investor in the digital media space, David was also previously a Vice President at Venrock. Prior to becoming a venture capitalist, David co-founded Sombasa Media, an e-mail marketing company best known for its flagship product BargainDog. Sombasa was successfully acquired by About.com (now Dotdash Meredith, an IAC company) where David served as Vice President of Marketing. David holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an AB in Economics, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University.
Hope Hopkins, Executive Director @ NEVCA (Moderator)
Hope Hopkins is the Executive Director of the New England Venture Capital Association, where she works to strengthen and grow New England's venture ecosystem. With leadership experience spanning venture capital, technology innovation, economic development, and national security, she has held roles at MITRE, MassChallenge, and the Blue Venture Forum, helping innovators, startups, and investors turn breakthrough ideas into impact.
Breakfast Co-Host
Massachusetts AI Coalition: The AI revolution is transforming every industry. Massachusetts has an opportunity to lead this transformation in our areas of strength, from healthcare and education to robotics, life sciences, clean energy, defense and beyond. No other region rallies together the way we do in Boston. Our mission is to empower our community of founders, operators, students, researchers, investors, and supporters to come together IRL to educate, connect, and build the future. Learn more about the coalition here.
Breakfast Sponsor
Comerica Bank (division of Fifth Third Bank): With over 30 years of experience dedicated to growth businesses, Comerica Bank's Technology and Life Sciences Division is one of the nation’s leading techology banking practices. Comerica’s specialized coverage provides comprehensive banking and credit solutions to sponsor-backed companies at any stage of their life cycle. Veteran bankers leverage their extensive industry experience, deep relationships with sponsors, and high-touch customer service, to unlock growth across the full spectrum of business maturity. Learn more here.
By registering for this event you grant the NEVCA permission to photograph and use my other media such as film and quotations, on promotional material and content.
About the Host:
The New England Venture Capital Association (NEVCA) is the representative body of New England’s VC community. Our mandate is simple and urgent: strengthen, connect, and advocate for the region’s venture ecosystem so New England remains a leading place to build and scale high‑impact companies.
Professional Advisors:
Benchmark Strategies, CBIZ, Cooley, Coretelligent, Hughes Marino, Silicon Valley Bank
Aspen HR, Citrin Cooperman, Scratch Marketing & Media, Trident Trust
Alliant, Banc of California, Comerica Bank, Customers Bank, Deloitte, Embedded Counsel, IDA Ireland, Invest in Türkiye, Nutter, The Open Accelerator