At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, a panel of investors and a startup founder tackled a central question facing the startup ecosystem: whether companies can still build breakout businesses without AI at their core, or if every pitch must involve AI to attract capital.
The panelists—Mark Crane from General Catalyst, Shan Shan from Baillie Gifford, and ALSO founder Chris Yu—argued for a return to startup fundamentals: efficient growth, customer retention, and revenue quality over buzzword-driven narratives.
The discussion reflects broader tension in between the AI gold rush and the reality that profitable, durable businesses often come down to execution and unit economics, not technology trend-chasing.
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