AI Investors Panel: What Gets Funded (and Exited) Now | TechExits Podcast

What are investors actually looking for in the AI Era for tech companies right now?  In this special TechExits Podcast episode, we bring you the Investors Panel from Growth & Exit Strategies: Scaling & Selling in the AI Era, recorded live on November 6.  Leading venture, growth, and private equity investors share how AI is reshaping investment decisions, valuations, and exit strategies—and what founders should understand as they scale, raise capital, or prepare for M&A. The discussion covers: What gets funded in today's AI-driven market  How AI impacts diligence, scalability, and valuation  When founders should raise capital vs. prepare for exit  What investors believe founders consistently underestimate  Panelists: Brian Mac Mahon, Founder & Managing Partner | Expert DOJO Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, Partner | Butterfly Ventures Gabriela Smith, Co-Founder | LatAmplify Ventures  Steve Schlenker, Co-Founder & Managing Partner | DN Capital Tara Zahiri, Vice President | Mainsail Partners  Moderator: Nihat Arkan, Senior Vice President | Corum Group  00:00 – Introduction & panel overview 02:10 – Investor perspectives: what they fund and where 08:45 – How AI is changing investment theses 17:00 – Where AI actually creates value (data, efficiency, moats) 25:00 – Real AI investments: examples and lessons learned 42:00 – Generative AI, margins, and sustainable business models 55:00 – Exit timing, IPO vs M&A, and founder advice