Investor & Founder Night at USC: Startups, VC & Careers in the AI Era
What do investors actually invest in? And how do you become one?
AI is reshaping the tech industry. New companies launch every week, capital is moving fast, and new roles keep opening up. Some of us want to build a company. Some want to join a VC firm and help find the next breakout startup. Others want to join a fast-growing startup and learn on the front lines.
Whichever path you’re on, join USC for an evening with four investors and founders from venture capital, startup accelerators, academia, and the startup world. We’ll talk about how investors evaluate opportunities, and how the next generation can break into the startup and VC ecosystem.
🚀 For aspiring founders
Which sectors are investors most excited about in 2026, from AI agents, vertical AI, and SaaS to aerospace and energy?
What makes an early-stage founder fundable before there’s revenue or a finished product?
As a student, what’s the first step: finding real demand, first users, and co-founders?
How does lab research become a real startup?
💼 For those exploring VC & tech careers
How do you break into VC without prior investing experience?
What skills do investment firms actually look for, and how can students start building research and investment judgment?
Startup, Big Tech, or VC: how does each path shape your early career?
How can you connect with founders and investors and find internships while still in school?
🎤 Speakers
David Mandel, Managing Partner, Emerging Ventures Capital
Invests in seed-stage B2B tech startups
Mayank Kejriwal, Co-Founder & CEO, GRAIL · Research Associate Professor, USC
Chase Dalton, Investor, Techstars
Focus: Aerospace, AI, Energy Tech
Sophie Ye, Investor, Golden X · Founder, DNA Future
🕒 Agenda
6:30 – 7:00 · Welcome & speaker introductions
7:00 – 7:50 · Founder & Investor Panel: investment thinking, AI opportunities, and building startups
7:50 – 8:15 · Audience Q&A: startups, investing, and careers
8:15 – 8:30 · Networking with speakers and fellow attendees
🎟 Free to attend · Limited seats
Please RSVP to reserve your spot. Open to students, researchers, founders, and anyone curious about startups and venture capital.
Hosted by USC CSSA, DNA Future (https://dnafuture.co/), and 18VC(https://www.18-vc.com/)