"This year, there's an energy I haven't seen in a long time," said Gwyneth Borden, founder and CEO of Remynt, a fintech startup. "There's a lot of optimism and exuberance. The promise of what AI can do in transforming people's lives is very exciting."
"It's no longer buzzwords, said Shu. "Before, products were more talk, but now you can feel how strong it's going to be. There's probably never been a better time to be a founder than right now."
Andreessen Horowitz launched SF Tech Week in 2022 when the city felt empty. OpenAI's valuation leapt from $157 billion to about $500 billion, fueling mainstream interest in AI. Investors and founders returned to in-person events, with AI as the dominant theme across panels and meetups. Founders reported renewed optimism and tangible product progress rather than mere buzzwords. Venture firms hosted networking gatherings, and startups raised significant capital. San Francisco has regained prominence as a central hub for tech activity and investor enthusiasm as AI accelerates funding and startup formation across sectors.
Read at Business Insider
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