Built to Last? A Live Podcast Recording on AI, Startups and the Data Behind the Hype

The AI narrative keeps shifting faster than anyone anticipated. SaaS was dead, then AI valuations soared, now the app layer is proving harder to defend than people thought. The IPO market is stalled, private capital is piling up, and nobody agrees on what comes next. But what does the data actually show? During Seattle Tech Week, PitchBook and Madrona are bringing the Founded & Funded podcast to a live Seattle audience for a frank, data-driven conversation on the questions founders and investors are actually asking right now. PitchBook EVP of Research & Market Intelligence Nizar Tarhuni joins Madrona Partner Sabrina Albert to dig into AI durability, where value has really landed across market cycles, and what's sitting in the private markets pipeline waiting to go public. Come with your questions. Leave with a clearer read on where the market is headed. Networking and happy hour to follow. Date & Time: Tuesday, July 28 | 3:00 – 6:00 PM Location: PitchBook Seattle Office · 3:00: Doors Open · 3:45: Live podcast recording and Q&A · 4:30-6:00: Happy Hour & Networking Speakers Nizar Tarhuni — Executive Vice President of Research and Market Intelligence at PitchBook Nizar leads the firm’s global Institutional Research and News organizations. He oversees a team of more than 140 analysts and journalists worldwide delivering on investment strategy, fund performance, industry, and credit research, alongside a daily news product tailored to private market investors and advisors. Sabrina Albert (Wu) — Partner, Madrona Sabrina focuses on early-stage investments from Seed through Series C, with a particular interest in intelligent applications, enterprise software, and agentic systems. She co-authors the biweekly newsletter Aspiring for Intelligence, covering the future of AI in enterprise.