Where VCs think AI startups can win, even with OpenAI in the game

Vanessa Larco, partner at Premise and former partner at NEA, thinks 2026 will finally be the year of consumer AI. 

Larco, who’s been investing in consumer and prosumer for years, thinks we’re about to see a shift in how consumers spend time online, with AI powering “concierge-like” services. The question is, will legacy consumer products like WebMD and TripAdvisor continue to exist as standalone apps, or will they just get absorbed into ChatGPT or Meta AI? And where can startups carve out an AI-powered niche for themselves?

Watch as TechCrunch’s ⁠Rebecca Bellan sat down with Larco on Equity to talk about why consumer is back, what OpenAI won’t kill, and where the real opportunities are hiding.

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