TL;DR
- Kleida Martiro, partner at Glasswing Ventures, will lead a breakout session at TechCrunch All Stage on July 15 in Boston.
- The session, titled “Winning Capital in a Competitive Market,” aims to help AI-native startup founders align their growth vision with forward-thinking investors.
- Martiro is a leading AI-focused VC with a background in data science, formerly Head of Machine Learning at SocialFlow.
- Founders will gain insights into navigating modern fundraising, moving beyond SaaS-era metrics, and pitching long-term AI value.
- Event tickets are available for founders, operators, and investors interested in the future of AI entrepreneurship.
The Funding Landscape for AI Startups Is Evolving
As artificial intelligence continues reshaping how we build and scale technology, early-stage AI startups are finding that traditional venture capital expectations often lag behind their innovation. That’s exactly the issue Kleida Martiro, a partner at Glasswing Ventures, will tackle during her highly anticipated session at TechCrunch All Stage this July.
In her Foundation Stage talk titled “Winning Capital in a Competitive Market: How to Fund Your AI-Native Startup,” Martiro plans to confront a growing mismatch: AI-native startups are innovating fast, while some investors still evaluate them using outdated SaaS frameworks.
“AI founders need investors who understand that early traction may look different than conventional growth curves,” Martiro emphasized in past interviews.
For founders navigating the AI-first startup journey, this breakout will deliver critical fundraising guidance, actionable tips, and investor-alignment strategies — all within a peer-driven, VC-informed format.
Who Is Kleida Martiro?
Kleida Martiro brings a rare blend of technical depth and investment acumen. Before joining Glasswing Ventures, Martiro led machine learning initiatives as the Head of Data Science at SocialFlow, where she worked on building scalable AI systems.
Since transitioning into venture capital, she has served on multiple AI startup boards and has been recognized as a Business Insider “Top VC in Boston” and a VentureBeat “Women in AI Rising Star”.
“Her experience on both sides of the table — as a data scientist and an investor — gives her unmatched insight into what AI founders actually need from VCs,” noted TechCrunch.
Martiro at a Glance
| Detail | Info | Source |
| Title | Partner, Glasswing Ventures | Glasswing VC |
| Past Role | Head of Data Science, SocialFlow | SocialFlow |
| TechCrunch Session | “Winning Capital in a Competitive Market” | TechCrunch Events |
| Recognition | 41 Most Important VCs in Boston (Business Insider), Women in AI Rising Star (VentureBeat) | VentureBeat / BI |
| Event Date | July 15, 2025 | TechCrunch All Stage |
| Target Audience | Early-stage AI founders, operators, and investors | TechCrunch |
What to Expect at the Session
Founders attending Martiro’s breakout will walk away with a tactical playbook for framing their AI startup’s narrative in a way that resonates with next-gen capital partners.
Topics to be covered include:
- Rethinking traction: How early wins in AI differ from SaaS MRR.
- AI-native metrics: What signals matter to informed investors.
- Filtering for the right VCs: Avoiding partners who don’t “get” your tech.
- Capital strategy: When to raise, from whom, and at what stage.
Attendees will also have access to live Q&A, making the session not just educational but interactive and founder-specific.
AI Funding Is Heating Up — So Is the Competition
Martiro’s appearance at TechCrunch All Stage comes at a pivotal time in the startup ecosystem. According to PitchBook, over $25 billion has been invested into AI and machine learning startups globally in the first half of 2025, with no signs of slowing down.
Yet, as more startups flood the market, so does the competition for early capital. Founders must now communicate not only their technical roadmap, but also a clear vision of long-term value creation — all while facing skepticism from VCs who may be new to AI infrastructure.
“Raising money in AI today isn’t just about traction. It’s about how well your vision aligns with future data-driven ecosystems,” Martiro has said.
Her guidance is expected to help startup teams cut through noise, find investor fit, and build lasting relationships with backers who understand the AI frontier.
Why This Session Matters for Founders
The TechCrunch Foundation Stage is known for hands-on advice, especially for pre-seed to Series A founders. Martiro’s talk lands directly in that sweet spot, helping founders answer the question:
How do I raise capital when the product is complex, and traditional metrics don’t capture our value yet?
This is especially relevant for:
- AI infrastructure companies
- Agent-based platform startups
- Foundation model tooling teams
- Applied AI companies in fintech, healthtech, or robotics
Whether you’re preparing for a first fundraise or a follow-up round, Martiro will help demystify the current investor mindset and share how to tailor your pitch to the right LPs.
Event Details: TechCrunch All Stage
- 📍 Boston, Massachusetts
- 📅 July 15, 2025
- 🎤 Session: “Winning Capital in a Competitive Market: How to Fund Your AI-Native Startup”
- 🧠 Speaker: Kleida Martiro, Partner at Glasswing Ventures
- 🪑 Format: Breakout session with Q&A
Register here to secure your seat at TechCrunch All Stage 2025.
