Agenda
October 1st
October 2nd
Welcome Remarks by Matthew Panzarino (TechCrunch)
Growth Marketing Teardown Workshop with Asher King-Abramson (Demand Curve)
Learn about the right ways and wrong ways to create great assets for paid channels, landing pages and more in this teardown workshop with Asher King-Abramson, a top growth marketer who works with dozens of YC companies (and many others).
Welcome Remarks by Mike Butcher (TechCrunch)
Reigniting the Space Race with Bob Smith (Blue Origin)
Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith intends to return the U.S. to crewed spaceflight, with a goal of doing so this year with its first suborbital trips. Hopefully, we can also get Smith to tell us the ticket price for a trip, once it begins taking on paying customers.
How to Build a Billion Dollar SaaS Company with Neeraj Agrawal (Battery Ventures), Jyoti Bansal (Harness) and Whitney Bouck (HelloSign)
Growing your SaaS company to a billion dollars in revenue is no easy task. It takes patience, perseverance and a strong team. Often it doesn’t happen until well after a company has gone public. We will talk to three people who have experience working with SaaS startups and understand the unique challenges they face getting to a billion dollars and beyond.
Creating the Means of Production with Joseph Gordon-Levitt (HitRecord)
For far too long, creators have been users of platforms rather than running those platforms. With HitRecord, Joseph Gordon-Levitt changed that. JGL has been head down and hands-on with HitRecord, and we’ll hear from him about how to put the power back in creators’ hands.
Could the U.S. Government Be Your Next Investor with Steve Isakowitz (The Aerospace Corporation) and Raj Shah (Arceo.ai)
No founder likes dilution, which is why the US government is becoming an increasingly popular source for early-stage, ambitious venture capital. Hear from VC leaders and founders who have navigated the process to discover your next source of non-dilutive capital.
Getting to IPO with Aaron Levie (Box) and Jennifer Tejada (PagerDuty)
PagerDuty CEO Jennifer Tejada led the company to a successful IPO earlier this year. She’ll join Box CEO Aaron Levie to talk about how these two companies charted their path to an IPO, the pros and cons of doing so, and life after ringing the bell on Wall Street.
The Evolution of Online Video with Neal Mohan (YouTube)
YouTube remains the most popular destination for online video, and the platform for the next generation of stars. At the same time, it faces challenges around its original content strategy, competition, hate speech, misinformation and more. Chief Product Officer Neal Mohan will join us to discuss where YouTube goes from here.
Returning Americans to the Moon with Lisa Callahan (Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has had roots in Silicon Valley going back decades. Today the aerospace giant has its hands in AI, autonomy, space exploration, and more. Vice President of Commercial Civil Space Lisa Callahan is laser-focused on one of the company’s biggest immediate challenges: Bringing the first American woman and the next American man to the surface of the Moon in Lockheed’s Orion crew capsule.
How to Make Your Media Strategy with Cindy Gallop (MakeLoveNotPorn) and Brooke Hammerling (Brew Media Relations)
How to Evaluate Talent and Make Decisions with Ray Dalio (Bridgewater)
Ray Dalio knows a thing or two about building successful startups. As founder of the firm, Bridgewater, he helped build it into one of the most successful investment companies ever, managing a whopping $150 billion in assets. Author of the bestseller Principles, Dalio will discuss the book and companion mobile app on how building a strong culture can lead to a flourishing startup.
Foursquare: Special Announcement
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Book Signing: Principles with Ray Dalio
Ray Dalio, the Founder and CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world will be signing copies of his #1 New York Times Bestseller, Principles. Pick up a copy and learn more on how building a strong culture can lead to a flourishing startup.
Startup Battlefield: Session 1
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
How to Take a Digital Brand Offline with Rich Fulop (Brooklinen), James Reinhart (thredUP), and Susan Tynan (Framebridge)
E-commerce has fundamentally changed the way we browse and buy physical goods. But even though online sales have taken a huge bite out of brick-and-mortar, it doesn’t mean that digital brands aren’t interested in the prospect of offline channels. Hear from three founders who have taken their own unique approach to launching a store.
The Next Generation of Wireless with Hans Vestberg (Verizon)
Hear us interview our boss’s boss’s boss about the promise (and potential perils) of deploying 5G wireless technology.
How to Hire at Breakneck Speed with Scott Cutler (StockX), Harjeet Taggar (TripleByte) and Liz Wessel (WayUp)
Nothing is better than striking product-market fit and suddenly finding a path to rapid, venture-scale growth. But as that growth accelerates, how do you create the conditions to rapidly find, attract, and hire the talent you need to reach unicorn status? Hear from some of the leading recruiters and services on how they have successfully scaled recruiting and avoided key pitfalls.
The Future of Action Cinema with Ang Lee and Will Smith
“Gemini Man” from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee has not one, but two characters played by Will Smith — assassin Henry Brogen, and a younger clone of Brogen who’s been sent to kill him. Lee and Smith will discuss the process of making the film, how they used CGI to create a younger version of the movie star and how they think the theatrical experience is changing. In addition, we’ll ask Smith for the latest on his VC firm Dreamers Fund
Winning Investors with Pete Flint (NFX), Brian Hirsch (Tribeca Venture Partners) and Patricia Nakache (Trinity Ventures)
'The Fourth Big Wave': Talking Crypto with Chris Dixon (Andreessen Horowitz)
If you care about understanding crypto and the ways it may well impact you sooner than you might imagine, you won’t want to miss this fireside chat with Andreessen Horowitz general partner Chris Dixon.
Brex: Special Announcement
Building Sticky Products with Cal Henderson (Slack) and Megan Quinn (Spark Capital)
Slack co-founder Cal Henderson and Spark Capital general partner Megan Quinn will discuss what it takes to create a billion-dollar business and, in Slack’s case, list on the New York Stock Exchange in one of 2019’s most highly-anticipated exits.
How to get into Y Combinator with Ali Rowghani and Michael Seibel (Y Combinator)
The seed-stage venture firm has come to form its own startup economy over the years, with its network of companies and founders interconnecting across the tech industry and beyond. Find out how Y Combinator works today, and how you can become a part of it, in this discussion with CEO of YC Continuity Ali Rowghani and CEO and partner Michael Seibel.
Serving Startups with Henrique Dubugras (Brex) and Michele Romanow (Clearbanc)
CEOs of two of the most fast-growing startups, Brex co-founder Henrique Dubugras and Clearbanc founder Michele Romanow, come together to unpack new solutions for startups looking to raise capital and scale — quick.
How to Build a Subscription Product with Alexandra Friedman (LOLA), Eurie Kim (Forerunner Ventures) and Sandra Oh Lin (KiwiCo)
The direct-to-consumer landscape has exploded in the past year but the keys to making a subscription product indispensable are still up in the air as few have discovered a path to success. This chat with LOLA’s Alexandra Friedman, Forerunner partner Eurie Kim and KiwiCo’s Sandra Oh Lin will address the constant struggles of getting a subscription service off the ground and retaining customers.
Beefing Up with Patrick Brown (Impossible Foods)
Protein replacement for human consumption is going to be an $85 billion industry by 2030, according to UBS. Impossible Foods’ Patrick Brown will discuss how to build a business around removing animals from humanity’s food chain.
Getting into Fintech with Henrique Dubugras (Brex), Michele Romanow (Clearbanc) and Angela Strange (Andreessen Horowitz)
Startup Battlefield: Session 2
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
How to Locate the Value with Dennis Crowley (Foursquare)
Foursquare has pulled off a monumental pivot over the last decade, going from a silly location-based social network to an integral enterprise business with the chops to take on Google and Facebook. Hear founder Dennis Crowley discuss the journey the company has taken over the past ten years and what the next ten years looks like for New York’s tech sweetheart.
Landing Stephen Curry’s SC30 Inc. as an Investor with Stephen Curry (SC30 Inc./Golden State Warriors), Bryant Barr (SC30 Inc.), and Hussein Fazal (SnapTravel)
Startup founders are hard-pressed to find the right investors — not only to fund their businesses, but to help their businesses grow. Listen as two-time MVP Stephen Curry and SC30 Inc President Bryant Barr introduce SC30 Inc. Investments, featuring SnapTravel CEO Hussein Fazal as he discusses how he determined SC30 Inc. would make a good strategic investor.
October 3rd
Opening Remarks by Matthew Panzarino (TechCrunch)
Robots and Returns with Frederic Moll (Johnson & Johnson) and Ajay Royan (Mithril Capital)
Frederic Moll is a pioneer in robotic surgical applications. Backed by Ajay Royan’s Mithril Capital he sold his last business to JNJ for $3 billion. Hear from these two industry leaders on the opportunities available in medical robotic field.
Opening Remarks by Mike Butcher (TechCrunch)
Inside GV with David Krane (GV)
Gain insight into the inner workings of GV, the firm’s bold bets (Lime, Impossible Foods), recent wins (Uber, Slack) and how Krane views SoftBank in an exclusive interview with David Krane, Google’s former director of global communications and public affairs and current CEO and managing partner of GV.
How to Raise My First Dollars with Russ Heddleston (DocSend), Charles Hudson (Precursor Ventures) and Annie Kadavy (Redpoint Ventures)
Venture funding may have boomed over the last decade, but the decisions around your initial funding are as tricky as ever. Hear how to take advantage of the current landscape from top Silicon Valley early-stage thinkers including pre-seed investor Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures, early-stage investor Annie Kadavy of Redpoint Ventures, and Russ Heddleston, CEO of Docsend.
Beyond AI with Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Greg Brockman (OpenAI)
Fresh off a $1B cash commitment from Microsoft, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Greg Brockman are joining us to talk about the company’s plans to bring about the age of artificial general intelligence. We’ll talk about whether that’s a good idea or not.
The Cutting Edge of Healthtech with Dr. Rajaie Batniji (Collective Health), Arvind Gupta (IndieBio) and Rachel Haurwitz (Caribou Biosciences)
The Future of Flight with Sebastian Thrun (Kitty Hawk)
Sebastian Thrun — the scientist and inventor, educator and serial entrepreneur, Google moonshot factory chieftain and self-driving car architect — is coming back to Disrupt SF. This time, it’s to talk about his latest passion project: Kitty Hawk, the electric flying car company led by Thrun and backed by Google’s Larry Page. We’ll talk about the future of flight and how this startup aims to free people from traffic.
How to Build a Secure Startup without Slowing Growth with Heather Adkins (Google), Dug Song (Duo), and Jennifer Sunshine Steffens (IOActive)
Leading security experts from Google, Duo, and IOActive discuss some of the challenges startups and enterprises face in security. How do companies navigate the litany of issues and threats without hampering growth?
Scooting to a Multibillion-Dollar Valuation with Travis VanderZanden (Bird)
It’s a jungle out there in the scooter wars, but that didn’t stop Bird from being on an epic tear this year. Hear from Bird CEO Travis VanderZanden about what it took to hit a $2.5 billion valuation and what the company is doing to improve its unit economics.
Trophies, Twitch and T-Shirts with Scooter Braun and Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag (100 Thieves)
100 Thieves is one of the few esports orgs to look to Silicon Valley for investment – and it’s paying off. Hear from former pro gamer and 100 Thieves CEO and founder Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag and 100 Thieves co-owner Scooter Braun on how they built a brand worth more than $160 million that turns fans into ambassadors.
Collaborating with Corporates with Chris Bartlett (Verizon Ventures), Quinn Li (Qualcomm) and Leigh Radford (Procter & Gamble Ventures)
Break
Remaking Mobility with Manik Gupta (Uber), Jesse Levinson (Zoox) and Sebastian Thrun (Kitty Hawk)
Break
How to Build a Sex Tech Startup with Cyan Banister (Founders Fund), Cindy Gallop (MakeLoveNotPorn), and Lora Haddock (Lora DiCarlo)
As the old adage goes, sex sells. A panel of investors and founders will discuss the opportunities — and challenges — of building a successful sex tech startup, and how to capitalize on a market that’s projected to be worth more than $123 billion by 2026.
Pitch Teardown with Anu Duggal (Female Founders Fund), Russ Heddleston (DocSend) and Charles Hudson (Precursor Ventures)
Talk through the nuts and bolts of what makes a great deck (or not) with top early-stage investors Anu Duggal and Charles Hudson, plus insights from Docsend’s Russ Heddleston, as they go through submitted pitches live on stage.
Startup Battlefield: Session 3
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
How to Build a Space Economy with Tess Hatch (Bessemer Venture Partners), Sara Spangelo (Swarm), and Adrian Steckel (OneWeb)
From thousand-satellite constellations to space tourism, orbit is a fresh and inspiring source of new startup ideas and evolutions of established ones. Swarm’s Sara Spangelo and OneWeb’s Adrian Steckel are taking on global connectivity and Bessemer Ventures’ Tess Hatch provides the perspective of investors looking to make bets like these happen.
When Spies Meet Startups with Admiral Mike Rogers and Nadav Zafrir (Team8)
Since leaving the world of intelligence, former NSA director Adm. Mike Rogers and ex-Israeli cyber-intelligence chief Nadav Zafrir talk shop about what startups need learn about security.
How Do I Exit and What Happens Next with Justin Kan (Atrium), Jess Lee (Sequoia Capital) and Mike Marquez (CodeAdvisors)
Most good startup outcomes are acquisitions, and most good acquisitions happen because a buyer needs your company for a specific reason. Hear from Justin Kan (sold Twitch) and Jess Lee (sold Polyvore) plus top Silicon Valley banker Mike Marquez of Code Advisors about how to make them happen the right way.
Investing and Operating in Growth Markets with Bob van Dijk (Prosus and Naspers)
Prosus is a global consumer internet company with interests in food delivery, payments and fintech, classifieds, travel, retail, media, social platforms and a dedicated ventures team, not to mention a huge stake in Tencent. Hear from CEO Bob van Dijk about what Prosus believes is around the corner in these growth markets and why Naspers listed Prosus on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange in September, creating Europe’s largest listed consumer internet company in 2019.
Blasting into Space with Tess Hatch (Bessemer Venture Partners) and Adrian Steckel (OneWeb)
State of the Security Union with Jeanette Manfra (DHS)
In an ever-evolving cyber world, from election security to the supply chain, Homeland Security assistant director Jeanette Manfra discusses the threats we face today — and tomorrow.
Equity Podcast: Live with Charles Hudson (Precursor Ventures)
Join Kate Clark and Alex Wilhelm, hosts of TechCrunch’s wildly popular venture capital-focused podcast, as they unpack the numbers behind the week’s headlines with Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures live from Disrupt.
Reinventing the Hearing Aid with Embedded Sensors and Artificial Intelligence
Starkey® is reinventing the hearing aid with embedded sensors and machine learning. Livio™ AI is a multi-purpose device that not only helps people hear better, but also helps them live better by monitoring physical and cognitive health. It detects falls, translates languages, transcribes speech, and serves as a personal assistant.
Modernizing Matrimony with Shan-Lyn Ma (Zola)
In just over five years, Zola has managed to become the go-to service provider for couples planning their wedding. Hear from Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma on raising upwards of $140 million and how to capitalize on the most important day of her users’ lives.
How to be a Positive Force in the Gig Economy with Amanda de Cadenet (Girlgaze) and Derecka Mehrens (Working Partnerships USA)
As gig workers continue to struggle with financial instability, inadequate labor protections and few alternatives, hear from leaders and companies that are now trying to figure out how to create an equitable, just, and sustainable economic system for gig workers.
The Future of Cities with Aicha Evans (Zoox) and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
Aicha Evans, the CEO of self-driving vehicle startup Zoox, and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm will talk about how innovative technologies support smart city infrastructure and provide new and sustainable ways for people to live and work in these urban areas.
Securing Your Startup with Dug Song (Duo Security), Jennifer Sunshine Steffens (IOActive), and Nadav Zafrir (Team8)
Business as the Greatest Platform for Change with Marc Benioff (Salesforce)
Startup founders often think it’s impossible to achieve financial success while building a socially responsible company, but Marc Benioff and his co-founders built this notion into Salesforce before the company even made a dime. Hear Salesforce Chairman & co-CEO Marc Benioff discuss his new book, Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change, and what went into his company where values and giving back are on par with the product.
How to Decide Between Bootstrapping and Raising Venture Capital with Ben Chestnut (Mailchimp) and Kathryn Petralia (Kabbage)
In this panel, we host two founders who have each grown their respective startups to stratospheric levels, but with very different funding approaches. Kathryn Petralia, co-founder and president of SMB FinTech Kabbage, has raised prodigious venture capital, including $500 million in equity from the likes of the SoftBank Vision Fund. Meanwhile, Ben Chestnut, co-founder and CEO of Mailchimp, has built a massive and well-known marketing platform entirely by bootstrapping. Why did they choose their different financing strategies? Come hear from two leading founders about how they thought through their fundraises and the lessons we can all learn from their experiences.
Startup Battlefield: Session 4
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
October 4th
Opening Remarks by Matthew Panzarino (TechCrunch)
Ethical tech with Tracy Chou (Block Party) and Ellen Pao (Project Include)
Running an ethical tech company is underrated. From fostering a diverse and inclusive company, to examining your technology’s impact on society it all comes down to ethics. Hear from Project Include’s Ellen Pao and Block Party’s Tracy Chou about how they grapple with ethics, and how focusing on diversity can positively impact a company’s bottom line.
Opening Remarks by Mike Butcher (TechCrunch)
How to Iterate Your Product with Manik Gupta (Uber), Diya Jolly (Okta), Ravi Mehta (Tinder) and Robby Stein (Instagram)
Launching an MVP and finding early product-market fit are just the first steps in the journey to build a great startup. Learn from leading product thinkers from Instagram, Okta, Tinder and Uber on how they expand, grow, and refine their products to increase their value without alienating existing users.
The Grass Is Greener with Keith McCarty (WAYV) and Bharat Vasan
The cannabis industry is projected to reach $50 billion in ten years. Keith McCarty and Bharat Vasan represent two of the biggest names in the market. Hear the duo talk about an industry with undeniable potential, but plenty of red tape to deal with, too.
Investing in Africa with Wale Ayeni (IFC), Marième Diop (Orange Digital Ventures), and Sheel Mohnot (500 Startups)
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Venture Capital in 2019 with Theresia Gouw (Aspect Ventures) and Ann Miura-Ko (Floodgate)
Floodgate co-founding partner Ann Miura-Ko and Aspect Ventures co-founder Theresia Gouw have risen to the ranks of top VCs, thanks in part to two of 2019’s most defining IPOs, in Lyft and TheRealReal. At Disrupt, they’ll unpack the trends in venture capital that have dominated headlines this year, and dive deeper into what’s coming.
How to Take a Hardware Company Public with Eric Friedman (Fitbit) and James Park (Fitbit)
Ten years after launching their product at TechCrunch 50, Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman join us to discuss the company’s ups and downs.
The Ethics of Snipping DNA with CRISPR with Rachel Haurwitz (Caribou Biosciences)
Rachel Haurwitz is the founder of Caribou Biosciences, a startup on the cutting edge of gene editing technologies — including animal and human DNA. She will chat with us about the ethical and scientific questions surrounding CRISPRing human embryos and what that could mean for the future of humanity.
Snap Stays Sticky with Evan Spiegel (Snap)
Snap’s 2018 was rocky and its 2017 wasn’t much better, but in the face of renewed user growth and accelerating revenues, Snap has been mounting a massive comeback on Wall Street this year. Hear from CEO Evan Spiegel about the company’s long-term prospects and its biggest existential threats.
How to Make Immigration Work for You with Sophie Alcorn (Alcorn Immigration Law)
Dealing with a tricky visa situation? Troubleshoot the many snags that can affect early-stage startups who are trying to bring talent into the country, with top Silicon Valley immigration expert Sophie Alcorn.
How to Build a Brand that Gets Attention with Brooke Hammerling (Media Relations), Chelsea Maclin (Bumble), and Ben Pham (Character)
Brooke Hammerling is the founder of one of the most iconic tech startup PR firms of the past decade, Brew PR, which was sold for $15 million in 2016. Chelsea Maclin is VP of Marketing at Bumble, one of the most recognizable brands in the app world today. And Ben Pham is the founder of Character, a brand design firm that’s worked with the likes of Oculus, Nike, DoorDash and Peets Coffee. The three will discuss how to think about brand design and what gets and keeps the attention of users.
Making Sh** with Simone Giertz (This is an Adventure Inc.)
Simone Giertz has amassed a major YouTube following courtesy of her “sh*** robots” and other highly entertaining projects. She’ll join us to discuss her work and show off her crowdfunded Every Day Calendar project.
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Getting a Hardware Company off the Ground with Lora Haddock (Lora DiCarlo) and Eric Migicovsky (Y Combinator)
Startup Battlefield Alumni Update
Battlefield startups from the past return to the stage to tell us what they’ve been up to since they competed for the Disrupt Cup. With Moalla Ilani and Mohamad Bakri (Buildlink), Phyllis Kyomuhendo and Menyo Innocent (M-SCAN), and Pedro Coutinho (Olho do Dono)
Special Announcement: TechCrunch and AWS
Empowering a Diverse Workforce with Tracy Chou (Block Party) and Melanie Tantingco (Sisense)
How to be a Serial Founder with David Cancel (Drift)
So your first company worked out well. Let’s say you have the burning desire to do another one — what’s the right way to do it the next time around? Hear from frequent founder David Cancel (formerly Performable/Hubspot, Lookery, Ghostery, Compete) on what he’s done.
Passing of the Disrupt Cup
Startup Battlefield: Final
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.Judges: Mamoon Hamid (Kleiner Perkins), Ashton Kutcher (Sound Ventures), Alfred Lin (Sequoia), Marissa Mayer (Lumi Labs), Ann Miura-Ko (Floodgate Ventures)
How to Build a Better Banking Startup with Chris Britt (Chime) and Angela Strange (Andreessen Horowitz)
Chris Britt, the chief executive of Chime and Andreessen Horowitz’s Angela Strange know that money is what everyone wants. The problem is how to make it more accessible to everyone in the world. Hear them discuss how to build a better bank for everyone.
What's Growing on the Consumer Internet with Andrew Chen (Andreesen Horowitz)
You may know Andrew Chen as a widely read startup growth strategist, but today he’s investing in his expertise. As a partner at top venture firm Andreessen Horowitz, he is focused on consumer internet companies, seeking out the new growth in this maturing tech sector. Come hear the latest on what he’s seeing in the industry both from the growth and investing perspective.
Bucking Smartphone Stagnation with Carl Pei (OnePlus)
OnePlus has maintained impressive growth even as global numbers smartphone sales have faltered. Co-founder Carl Pei will discuss how the company has managed to buck industry trends by catering to a devoted fanbase and offering an innovative alternative to Apple and Samsung.
Surviving the Smartphone with Yves Maitre (HTC)
No one knows the pain of slowing smartphone sales better than HTC. Join the new CEO Yves Maitre in his first public appearance as we discuss how the company has maintained an industry-wide slow down and how technologies like blockchain and VR could hold the keys to the future.
Postmates' Path Forward with Bastian Lehmann (Postmates)
Postmates co-founder and CEO Bastian Lehmann talks about the on-demand delivery company’s uncertain future, the challenges of eventually navigating the public markets, and how robotics will change the landscape of the on-demand world.
THIS WEEK ONLY: Founder & Investor Bundle Deals
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- Act fast — group deals end Oct 3.
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