## What Top VCs Demand from AI Founders: Insights from McNeill, Lee, and Jang at Disrupt 2025
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, a standing-room-only session peeled back the curtain on what truly captures the attention of leading venture capitalists in the exploding AI landscape. Industry titans Jon McNeill (Insight Partners), Aileen Lee (Cowboy Ventures), and Steve Jang (Kindred Ventures) shared their unfiltered perspectives, offering invaluable guidance for aspiring AI founders.
Jon McNeill emphasized a rigorous focus on commercial viability and scalable distribution. “It’s not enough to build brilliant tech; you must demonstrate a clear path to enterprise adoption and a defensible go-to-market strategy,” McNeill asserted, highlighting the need for robust business models and a deep understanding of customer pain points. He urged founders to think about revenue generation from day one.
Aileen Lee, known for identifying early-stage gems, stressed the importance of fundamental problem-solving and an exceptional founding team. “The ‘why’ behind your AI solution is paramount,” Lee stated. “Are you solving a genuine, deeply felt problem for a significant market, and do you have the unique insights and grit in your team to execute it?” She encouraged founders to prioritize product-market fit over pure technological novelty.
Steve Jang brought a focus on unique data insights and the potential for enduring platform effects. “We’re looking for founders who not only leverage AI but can create a proprietary data moat,” Jang explained. “How does your AI generate a flywheel that makes your product inherently better and more defensible over time? Think about network effects and a truly differentiated user experience.”
The panel collectively underscored that while technological innovation is a given, VCs are increasingly scrutinizing the complete picture: a founder’s deep understanding of their market, their ability to build and scale a resilient business, and a clear vision for long-term, ethical impact. For AI founders, the message from these investment heavyweights is clear: build a great product, but build an even greater company.