Amid a record surge in new AI-powered businesses, a new GTM summit brings unscripted problem-solving to San Francisco Tech Week with proven operators and investors
MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Artificial intelligence has fundamentally altered the startup lifecycle. The rapid rise of "vibe coding," where developers build software primarily by describing tasks to an AI, fueled a record 5.9 million new U.S. business formations last year. But while AI has made launching a company easier, earning attention, trust and traction has become significantly harder. Buyers are drowning in automated market noise, rendering traditional go-to-market (GTM) playbooks obsolete.
To help software companies scale in the competitive age of AI, Equity Angels and Skillsheet are hosting GTM Unplugged on October 7, 2026 during SF Tech Week in partnership with the Wells Fargo Innovation Center in Menlo Park. The summit brings proven operators and investors together to provide real-time, tactical solutions for enterprise growth.
"Founders need real solutions to build pipelines and build defensible revenue engines in this rapidly evolving startup environment," said Katherine Winston, Founder of Equity Angels. "That's why we created a program centered on real-time problem-solving."
The interactive program includes:
- Live GTM Troubleshooting: Court Lorenzini (Founding CEO of DocuSign, Founder and CEO of FounderNexus) and active venture capitalists will pull founders into the "hot seat" to workshop GTM bottlenecks live on stage.
- Winning in the AI Slop: A panel featuring operators including Natalia Iragorri Espinosa, a GTM and business strategy leader whose work has included Microsoft and Walmart, explores how companies can earn attention and trust when buyers are increasingly fatigued by automated sales.
- Fund the Brand: Laurel Mintz (General Partner of Fabric VC) breaks down how to evaluate customer acquisition costs through a VC lens to build a lasting competitive moat.
"In the AI era, building community is a moat for early-stage founders," said Aniket Naravanekar, Co-founder and CEO of Skillsheet. "Skillsheet is designed to find the real signal in their pipeline and reach the right audiences."
To extend the work beyond the summit, Equity Angels is also launching a six-week GTM Accelerator for software founders with early market traction. The program will help founders pressure-test their market, sharpen their positioning and build a practical go-to-market plan for an AI-shaped buying environment. Founders can review the curriculum and apply at http://gtm2026.equity-angels.com/ no later than September 30, 2026.
"Wells Fargo's Technology Commercial Banking is glad to support this kind of collaborative networking for founders. Events like GTM Unplugged reflect the type of engagement we value as companies work to scale," added Armello Rodriguez, Vice President of Technology Commercial Banking at Wells Fargo.
For GTM Unplugged details, visit https://gtm.equity-angels.com/.
About Equity Angels
Equity Angels is an entrepreneur support organization dedicated to fostering fair access to innovation. Its mission is to advance equity and inclusion within the tech ecosystem through accelerator programs, executive placement, and growth resources. Visit www.equity-angels.com.
Media Contact
Tai Jordan, Equity Angels, 1 3109221544, [email protected], https://www.equity-angels.com/
SOURCE Equity Angels
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