Chris Gardner of Underscore VC Leads AI Session at TechCrunch All Stage Conference
Boston, MA – April 4, 2025
Chris Gardner, a prominent investing partner at Underscore VC, is set to take center stage at TechCrunch’s All Stage conference on July 15, 2025, at Boston’s SoWa Power Station. The seasoned fintech entrepreneur and venture capitalist will lead a breakout session titled “MVP in the Age of AI: When to Bot and When to Not,” aimed at equipping startup founders with actionable insights on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance their minimum viable products (MVPs). Gardner’s session promises to be a highlight of the event, which is designed for founders at all funding stages and expects over 1,200 attendees.
Gardner, known for his hands-on approach to building companies, brings a wealth of experience to the table. A Boston native, he co-founded Paydiant, a mobile payments platform acquired by PayPal in 2015 for $280 million, and later led key product initiatives at PayPal, including P2P and PayPal Here. His career spans nearly three decades across fintech, speech recognition, and e-billing, with a track record of five successful exits, including ExtendMedia (acquired by Cisco) and m-Qube (acquired by Verisign). Now at Underscore VC, a Boston-based firm focused on pre-seed and seed-stage B2B software startups, Gardner channels his expertise into mentoring founders and identifying high-potential ventures.
The session will explore how AI can accelerate MVP development—a critical phase for early-stage startups—while offering practical guidance on when to integrate AI tools and when to hold back. “Expect to learn a lot about using AI for minimum viable products,” teased a TechCrunch announcement, hinting at Gardner’s knack for blending strategic vision with operational know-how. His perspective is shaped by years of scaling startups and navigating acquisitions, making him uniquely positioned to address the intersection of AI and entrepreneurship.
TechCrunch All Stage, billed as a “big event for founders of startups at all stages of funding,” will feature a powerhouse lineup alongside Gardner, including experts like Jahanvi Sardana of Index Ventures on total addressable market assessment and sessions on growth-stage fundraising. Gardner’s participation underscores Boston’s growing reputation as an innovation hub, a theme he’s likely to touch on given Underscore VC’s deep ties to the local ecosystem. The firm’s community-led model, which connects founders with a network of advisors and operators, has fueled investments in companies like Slang.ai and Hi Marley, both of which have seen significant traction.
Attendees can still snag discounted Founder and Investor Passes, saving over $200, though the limited-time offer is nearing its end. Posts on X reflect the buzz, with one user noting, “Chris Gardner at All Stage talking AI for MVPs—can’t miss this if you’re a founder in Boston.” Gardner’s session, blending his founder-first philosophy with cutting-edge AI insights, is poised to be a must-attend for those looking to supercharge their startups in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.
As the countdown to July 15 begins, Gardner’s appearance reaffirms Underscore VC’s commitment to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs—and signals that AI’s role in startup success is only growing.
By Staff Writer, Tech Innovation Daily