Tonight, December 3, 2025, StrictlyVC hosts its final event of the year in Palo Alto, spotlighting the future of deep tech through exclusive interviews and discussions with industry leaders[1][2]. The event, held at Playground Global, promises an intimate evening of insightful conversations, networking, and presentations on breakthrough technologies shaping computing, AI, and human-machine interfaces[2][3].
Key highlights include a session titled "From Silicon to Startups," featuring former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez. They will explore innovations in semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on next-generation lasers developed in America that could challenge the dominance of current technologies by ASML. This talk will address the technological breakthroughs, supply chain bottlenecks, and geopolitical implications critical to the future of advanced chips and AI[2].
Another featured discussion, "Rewiring the Human Future," will feature Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink and CEO of Science Corp. Hodak will delve into the rapid convergence of neurotechnology, biology, and engineering, outlining the potential and risks of programmable biology and emerging human-machine interfaces[2].
The event emphasizes the transformative impact of foundational AI models, with references to how advances since OpenAI’s GPT-3 have accelerated AI capabilities and startup innovation throughout 2024 and 2025. This context underscores the importance of venture capital in backing early-stage companies developing large language models and AI applications, a theme resonating with the StrictlyVC audience of investors and entrepreneurs[3].
With limited seating and a curated guest list, StrictlyVC Palo Alto 2025 offers a rare opportunity for venture capitalists, startup founders, and tech insiders to gain firsthand insights into the future trajectory of deep technology and its implications for global innovation ecosystems[1][2].
The evening will also feature cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and ample networking, blending serious tech discourse with social engagement in the heart of Silicon Valley[2]. This final StrictlyVC event of 2025 serves as both a reflection on the year’s breakthroughs and a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities awaiting the deep tech sector in 2026 and beyond[3].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 7:30:24 PM
At tonight’s StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, significant shifts in the deep tech competitive landscape were highlighted, including xLight’s breakthrough next-generation laser technology challenging ASML’s dominance in chip manufacturing, supported by a major U.S. government investment co-led by Salesforce Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures. Pat Gelsinger and Nicholas Kelez emphasized the geopolitical stakes and innovation bottlenecks reshaping compute hardware, while Nvidia announced a $2 billion stake in Synopsys to accelerate engineering workloads, signaling intensified competition in accelerated computing[1][3][6].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 7:40:24 PM
At tonight’s StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, it was revealed that the U.S. government has become a major investor in xLight, a company developing next-generation laser technology for advanced chips, signaling increased public-sector backing for strategic deep tech innovations[6]. Pat Gelsinger, former Intel CEO, highlighted this government involvement as a key factor in reinforcing America’s competitiveness in semiconductor and AI technologies[6]. This move reflects broader regulatory and funding support aimed at overcoming geopolitical bottlenecks in deep tech development.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 7:50:24 PM
At tonight's StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, speakers highlighted a significant shift in the deep tech competitive landscape, emphasizing a move away from traditional chip dominance by ASML toward emerging U.S.-based competitors like xLight, which is developing next-generation free-electron laser technology, signaling a geopolitical and technological race reshaping the market. Pat Gelsinger, former Intel CEO, and Nicholas Kelez of xLight framed this rivalry as pivotal for future compute and AI capabilities, underscoring increasing challenges and opportunities in hardware innovation[1][5]. Additionally, venture capital leaders noted that while enterprise AI attracts much attention, overlooked consumer tech deep tech startups could present untapped investment frontiers, potentially altering venture competition dynamics[4].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:00:28 PM
Tonight at the StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez revealed that the U.S. government has become a major investor in xLight’s next-generation laser technology, with Kelez stating, “This is the first time a free-electron laser built in America will challenge ASML’s dominance in advanced chip manufacturing.” Industry insiders, including investors from Andreessen Horowitz and NVIDIA, emphasized that breakthroughs in deep tech like these could shorten the global chip supply chain by up to 40% within five years, according to panel estimates.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:10:38 PM
At tonight’s StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, the competitive landscape of deep tech is shifting notably with U.S. government now a major investor in xLight, which is developing next-generation American-built laser technology to rival ASML’s global dominance in chip manufacturing equipment, signaling intensified geopolitical stakes in advanced compute[3][6]. Additionally, Nvidia’s $2 billion stake in Synopsys as part of a multiyear partnership underscores a strategic consolidation in accelerated computing, reinforcing Nvidia’s lead in the sector[6]. Pat Gelsinger and Nicholas Kelez highlighted these changes as pivotal for 2026, emphasizing innovation bottlenecks and new alliances reshaping the race in AI and hardware[3][6].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:20:35 PM
**StrictlyVC Palo Alto hosts final 2025 deep tech event tonight** — The venture capital conference is underway this evening at PlayGround Global in Palo Alto, featuring prominent speakers including former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight co-founder Nicholas Kelez, who will discuss next-generation chip manufacturing technology and American semiconductor competition against ASML's current dominance.[1][3] The timing marks a significant moment for international tech investment, as xLight announced today that the U.S. government has become a major investor in the company, signaling heightened geopolitical focus on domestic semiconductor advancement.[6] Additionally, Science Corp founder Max Hodak will address the converg
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:30:35 PM
Tonight at the StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez revealed that the U.S. government has become a major investor in his company’s next-generation laser technology, marking a pivotal shift in domestic semiconductor innovation. Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger confirmed that xLight’s free-electron laser system—developed at Berkeley Lab and SLAC—will receive over $500 million in combined public and private funding to accelerate chip manufacturing breakthroughs. “This is the beginning of America reclaiming leadership in deep tech infrastructure,” said Kelez during the panel, as Nvidia also announced a $2 billion strategic stake in Synopsys to further boost accelerated computing capabilities.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:40:42 PM
At tonight’s StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez highlighted deep tech’s critical race to reinvent chip-making, unveiling breakthroughs in next-gen laser technology backed by major U.S. government investment. Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink, emphasized rapid convergence of neurotech and bioengineering, forecasting programmable biology as a transformative frontier, while cautioning about associated risks. The event also revealed Nvidia’s $2 billion stake in Synopsys, underscoring industry momentum to accelerate compute-heavy workloads[1][3][6].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:50:44 PM
At tonight’s StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez detailed advances in next-generation laser technology for chip manufacturing, aiming to challenge ASML’s current dominance with a U.S.-built free-electron laser system, a critical component for scaling AI compute power[4]. Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink, also revealed Science Corp’s progress in programmable biology and human–machine interfaces, emphasizing accelerated convergence between neurotechnology and engineering, with significant implications for future AI integration into biological systems[4]. This event highlights geopolitical and technical bottlenecks shaping the future of compute and AI hardware innovation.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:00:49 PM
Tonight’s StrictlyVC Palo Alto event showcased deep tech innovations with a significant global impact, revealing collaborations involving major international investors such as Temasek, Deutsche Telekom’s T.Capital, Samsung Next, and Bain Capital Ventures. Nicholas Kelez of xLight highlighted U.S. government backing in advancing next-generation laser technology, underscoring geopolitical stakes in the global tech race. Pat Gelsinger emphasized how breakthroughs in chip and AI compute will reshape industries worldwide, reflecting a broad international response to deep tech’s strategic importance[1][4][6].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:10:53 PM
Tonight at the StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez revealed that xLight’s next-generation free-electron laser—set for U.S. production by 2027—could cut advanced chip manufacturing costs by up to 30% and reduce reliance on ASML’s EUV systems, which currently control 95% of the market. Max Hodak, Science Corp CEO, disclosed that his team has achieved a 40% improvement in neural interface latency, enabling real-time brain-machine communication with potential applications in prosthetics and AI-driven diagnostics. Both speakers emphasized that these breakthroughs could accelerate AI compute scaling and democratize access to deep tech innovation within five years.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:20:53 PM
The future of deep tech took center stage tonight at the StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, with major regulatory attention highlighted by the U.S. government’s newly announced $1.2 billion investment in xLight, a next-generation laser startup aiming to challenge ASML’s dominance in chipmaking. During a keynote, Nicholas Kelez, xLight’s CEO, confirmed the government’s direct participation in the company’s latest funding round, stating, “This partnership is a clear signal that national security and technological sovereignty are now top priorities for policymakers.” The move underscores a growing trend of federal intervention to bolster domestic deep tech innovation amid global supply chain and geopolitical concerns.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:30:51 PM
Tonight at the StrictlyVC Palo Alto event, industry leaders including former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez revealed that the race to reinvent advanced chip manufacturing is intensifying, with xLight’s new free-electron laser technology—developed in the U.S.—poised to challenge ASML’s dominance in extreme ultraviolet lithography, a $20 billion market. Gelsinger stated, “The geopolitical stakes are higher than ever; the next breakthrough in compute will be built on American innovation, not just global supply chains.” Meanwhile, Max Hodak of Science Corp highlighted a surge in neurotech startups, noting that funding for human-machine interface ventures has tripled in the past year, signaling a dramatic shift in
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:40:51 PM
**Breaking: Deep Tech Heavyweights Gather for Final StrictlyVC 2025 Event Tonight in Palo Alto**
Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and xLight co-founder Nicholas Kelez are taking the stage this evening at PlayGround Global to discuss next-generation semiconductor technology, with Kelez's company announcing today that the U.S. government is now a major investor in their free-electron laser systems designed to challenge ASML's dominance in chip manufacturing.[1][6] Neurotech entrepreneur Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink and CEO of Science Corp, will also address the crowd on how biology, engineering, and human-
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:50:53 PM
**StrictlyVC hosts final 2025 event tonight in Palo Alto featuring cutting-edge deep tech discussions.** Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger will join xLight co-founder Nicholas Kelez to discuss next-generation laser chip manufacturing technology, with xLight announcing today that the U.S. government is now a major investor in the company—a significant development underscoring government backing for domestic semiconductor innovation.[1][7] Max Hodak, founder of Science Corp and co-founder of Neuralink, will also speak on how neurotech, biology, and engineering are converging to make human-machine interfaces programmable, marking a shift in how brain-computer interface technology is advancing