Disrupt 2025 Agenda
New sessions are added weekly. Check back in to explore more sessions.
October 26th
October 27th
Investing at the Edge of Space
As space becomes a bigger focus for both governments and private markets, investors are navigating new opportunities and new risks. Join these top investors to break down where capital is flowing, what startups need to show to stand out, and how the funding landscape for space is evolving.
Aerospace Startup Showcase: Solving the Hardest Problems in Space
AI is transforming countless industries, and space is no exception. The Aerospace Corporation is hosting a pitch-off at TechCrunch Disrupt to showcase startups working on innovative AI solutions to the hardest problems in space exploration, orbital intelligence, and infrastructure.
How to Raise a Series A in 2026
In this no-fluff panel, top VCs reveal what really gets them to offer a term sheet with a healthy valuation from metrics that matter to the pitch mistakes that kill deals. Learn how to position your company for its first priced, institutional investment.
From Vibes to Velocity: How AI Tools Can Help You Achieve Your Development Goals
With the recent surge in popularity of vibe coding, developers are looking at every option to help them work faster, think bigger, and commit more secure, high-quality code. GitHub Product Manager, Tim Rogers is pioneering agentic coding at scale with GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered peer programming tool used by more than 15M people to scale their impact. During this breakout session, Tim will give the audience a first-hand look at how GitHub’s latest innovations, insights, and AI-powered tools are changing the future of software development and advancing developer workflows in an increasingly autonomous world.
From Robinhood to Aetherflux: Baiju Bhatt’s Next Frontier
As the co-founder of Robinhood, Baiju Bhatt helped redefine access to investing for an entire generation. Now he’s back with Aetherflux, a company operating at the cutting edge of aerospace and deep tech. In this fireside chat, Bhatt will share why he’s diving into space, what he’s learned about building in radically different industries, and how founder experience translates when the stakes are literally orbital.
IPO Success: Charting the Course from Private to Public
Join Daniel Tay (Managing Director, Morgan Stanley’s Global Capital Markets) and Charly Kevers (Chief Financial Officer, Carta) as they discuss strategies and draw upon their experiences in navigating the IPO process, focusing on balancing internal readiness with external market conditions, identifying market windows, and understanding both private and public investor perspectives. Attendees of this session will walk away with valuable insights and practical advice for companies considering an IPO, helping them to better navigate the complexities of the process and potentially enhance their chances of success.
The Startup Battlefield – Session 1
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the prestigious Startup Battlefield Cup and equity-free $100,000.
Future of Construction: The Role of AI and Data in the Field and the Office
In ‘Future of Construction: The Role of AI and Data in the Field and the Office,’ Austin Yount of Brick & Mortar Ventures explores how artificial intelligence and data-driven tools are reshaping construction workflows—both on-site and back-office—to boost efficiency, improve decision-making, and accelerate innovation across the built environment.
Dual-use and the Rise of Private Investment
The lines between commercial and defense technology have never been thinner and private capital is racing to fund the next generation of dual-use companies. Startup leaders join us to explore how startups are navigating this complex landscape, the opportunities (and responsibilities) that come with building dual-use tech, and what it means for the future of the aerospace industry.
Flying into the Future: AI Is Fueling Aviation
The aviation industry has long been slowed by legacy systems and lengthy certification processes — but Epic Aircraft is proving change is possible. The Oregon-based disruptor earned FAA type certification for its E1000 AX in July 2025 and is now pioneering the use of artificial intelligence across design, testing, certification workflows, and customer support. By embracing smart automation, Epic is scaling faster and more efficiently than traditional manufacturers. In this session, attendees will get an inside look at how AI is reshaping the future of flight, what aerospace can learn from startup culture, and how innovation is accelerating speed, safety, and performance. Discover what happens when Silicon Valley thinking meets aviation’s next frontier.
How Much Salary and Equity Should You Really Offer Early Employees?
Early hires shape your startup’s future but only if you can attract and keep them. This panel dives into building equity and benefits packages that compete with big tech without breaking your burn rate. Hear real-world strategies to align incentives, boost retention, and build a team that scales.
Build First, Fund Later: The Founder's Guide to Bootstrapping Breakout Startups
In a world obsessed with fast funding and flashy valuations, Tarun Raisoni has taken a different path twice. With $565M+ in exits under his belt, he’s proven that bootstrapping isn’t about being scrappy—it’s about being sharply focused. In this breakout session, Tarun will share hard-earned lessons on how to build a profitable business that scales. He’ll dive into how to identify problems worth solving, generate revenue before raising capital, and create lasting traction without relying on brand cachet or a big burn. Whether you’re pre-seed or post-product, this session delivers a no-fluff playbook for building a capital-efficient company that lasts and why doing more with less is still the ultimate founder advantage.
From Data to Disruption: Redesigning Startup & VC Ecosystems
Data isn’t just for dashboards — it’s a design tool for equity. In this roundtable, award-winning strategist Brit Fitzpatrick (All Raise, #ProjectDiane) leads a dynamic discussion on using data as both mirror and map to drive ecosystem change. From tracking which founders get funded to surfacing who’s missing entirely, we’ll explore how data can reveal blind spots, reshape narratives, and unlock capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs and investors. Brit will share real-world examples from her work at All Raise and ProjectDiane — including how simple tools like dashboards and overlooked datasets have fueled strategic decisions and shifted power. We’ll discuss how to translate data into funding, policy, and platform change — no technical background required. Attendees will leave with insights on spotting key signals, designing inclusive strategies, and using narrative-backed data to build what the future of tech actually needs.
How to Train Your Model: Taming AI Agents Without Breaking Them
Every AI model faces a fundamental tension: make it too harmless and it becomes less helpful, too helpful and it becomes dangerous. This interactive discussion explores real-world decisions in AI training – from constitutional AI to red-teaming strategies and enforcement approaches. We’ll examine case studies of blending safety and functionality, debate steering techniques that preserve model personality, and crowdsource solutions for common training dilemmas. Attendees will leave with frameworks for balancing safety constraints with performance goals, practical approaches to model character development, and strategies for building AI that’s both helpful and harmless.
AI in the Public Sector
In this roundtable, Ross Fubini of XYZ Venture Capital and Ben Van Roo of Legion Intelligence—the agentic AI platform tackling the Department of Defense’s AI infrastructure challenge—will dig into the evolving role of AI in the public sector. Together, they’ll unpack where investment dollars are flowing in defense and government tech, the real-world hurdles of deploying AI in highly regulated environments, and how agentic AI is reshaping what’s possible for mission-critical operations. Attendees of this session will walk away with a better understanding of the investment landscape in public sector AI, practical insights into deploying AI in highly-regulated, complex government environments, and actionable advice for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the public sector market—from federal agencies to state and local governments.
AI at the Edge: Startups Powering the Future of Space
Space isn’t just about rockets and satellites anymore – it’s about data and decisions – and doing both fast. From autonomous systems to resilient compute and onboard intelligence, AI is becoming the backbone of how missions get managed at scale. The Aerospace Corporation and innovators break down how early-stage innovation is driving these shifts and laying the foundation for the evolving space economy.
The Self-Driving Reality Check
Autonomous vehicles have been “just around the corner” for years—until now. Tekedra Mawakana, Co-CEO of Waymo, takes the Disrupt Stage to talk about where AVs actually stand, what it’s taken to get to real deployments, and why the race isn’t just about tech, it’s about trust. From regulation to rider experience to competition with Tesla and Tesla-adjacent hype, this conversation gets real about what’s next in mobility.
Laying the Groundwork for a New Space Economy
The next wave of space startups is not just building rockets, it’s building an entire ecosystem. The CEOs of Northwood Space, True Anomaly and Vast take the stage to discuss how their companies are creating infrastructure, enabling new markets, and laying the foundations for a thriving space economy. From orbital services to next-generation satellite networks, this session explores the building blocks of a future where commercial space is a critical part of global tech.
How to Get Acquired in Tech (Without Selling Out): M&A Tips for Founders and Builders
Coinbase just pulled off the biggest acquisition in crypto history — and its 6th acquisition in 6 months. So what separates the builders getting acquired from the ones getting ghosted? This no-BS session breaks down how to make your project irresistible: from product-market fit to community traction. Learn how to position your project for a strategic acquisition, partnership, or investment — without compromising decentralization. If you’re building onchain or in tech and wondering whether M&A is a path to scale, this is your playbook. And if you’re an investor, you’ll get a cheat sheet for spotting teams building toward high-value outcomes.
Fundraising Mistakes That Will Kill Your Round, and How to Avoid Them.
From pre-pitch prep to post-meeting follow-through, this session will give founders a real-world look at what works — and what doesn’t — in today’s competitive fundraising landscape.
Building a GTM Engine that Actually Works
A killer product needs a killer go-to-market strategy. This panel explores best traditional practices in building a GTM function, as well as how early-stage startups can harness AI to build a GTM function that drives growth, wins customers, and scales efficiently. Hear from founders and GTM experts on hiring, messaging, sales tactics, and the key metrics that prove your approach is working.
Real Economy Automation: Vertical Software and Vertical AI
The next frontier of automation is here—and it’s not generic. It’s vertical software and vertical AI: purpose-built technologies transforming real industries like logistics, construction, and healthcare. In this session, we’ll explore how automation is shifting from horizontal platforms to deeply integrated, vertical solutions that directly impact the real economy—the businesses that move people, build infrastructure, and keep society running. Attendees will leave with an understanding of why this shift matters, where the biggest opportunities lie, and how founders, operators, and investors can help shape an automated future that drives both profit and progress.
How Long Should a Startup Stay Private?
Startups today can grow to huge valuations, cash out their employees, and stay private longer than those of previous eras. But that also means that late-stage startups are facing a whole new set of rules. a16z’s David George unpacks the shifting VC landscape, what the next generation of scaled startups needs to know, and how capital is being deployed in an era of tighter money and higher expectations. From IPO windows to secondary markets to the evolving role of growth investors, this fireside chat goes deep on what it really takes to build enduring companies in today’s market and what’s coming next.
The Startup Battlefield – Session 2
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the prestigious Startup Battlefield Cup and equity-free $100,000.
Fundraising Process Workshop with TC editor turned VC Josh Constine
The deck was the easy part. How do you get hundreds of investor meetings, answer their questions successfully, follow up without sounding desperate, and get competing term sheets on the table? Josh Constine has advised dozens of companies on their raises as a Venture Partner at $3B AI-powered VC firm SignalFire, and knows how to make your pitch compelling from his 9 years at TechCrunch where he was ranked the world’s #1 most cited tech journalist. Josh will share what he teaches at top accelerators and the Stanford Graduate School Of Business so you can get the capital you deserve. You’ll leave knowing how to build a fundraise CRM, get the best intros, present effectively, and generate investor FOMO so your round closes fast!
Who’s Defining AI’s Future in 2025? The AI Disruptors 60 Unveiled
We’ve seen revolutions with the internet and mobile, now AI is taking center stage, and it’s moving faster than ever. Greenfield Partners is curating the AI Disruptors 60, a list of early and growth-stage companies leading this AI revolution. In this panel, top investors like Shay Grinfeld of Greenfield Partners, and founders like Renen Hallak of VAST Data will break down how these startups are succeeding, from building the AI infrastructure of tomorrow, to solving real-world problems in critical sectors, as well as the GTM plays that scale revenue. They’ll discuss why they’ve chosen these strategies in a rapidly evolving market and what makes them stand out. Finally, they’ll share what’s coming next, offering a glimpse of the innovations and challenges shaping the future of AI.
Future of Space Economy in the Low Earth Orbit
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is no longer just for satellites; it’s the new frontier for manufacturing, energy, and data infrastructure. This session explores the emerging LEO economy, regulatory shifts, and key investment trends. Attendees will gain actionable insight into partnering with space startups, leveraging orbital platforms for Earth-based industries, and preparing for the commercialization of near-Earth space.
Building in a Time of Uncertainty
Uncertainty is the new normal—but it’s also an opportunity. In this fireside chat, Ryan Petersen, CEO of global logistics unicorn Flexport, shares his hard-won insights. With $2.3B raised, Flexport’s shipping technology sits at the intersection of international business and policy, giving Petersen almost prescient economic insights. He’s been vocal about everything from tariff policy to AI. He’s also experienced personal volatility, famously leaving his CEO role and then returning less than a year later. Founders, take notes: this is how you build when the rules keep changing.
What Comes After Breakout Success?
You’ve built the hit product—now what? Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence GP Santi Subotovsky take the stage to dig into what comes after the breakout moment. From expanding into new markets to launching the next product bets, this panel will explore how great companies avoid becoming one-hit wonders. We’ll get into the tough calls on focus vs. diversification, how to keep innovating at scale, and what investors want to see in a second act. If you’re staring down the post-product/market fit phase, this convo is your roadmap.
AI at the Brink: Strategic Playbook for National Security
Advanced AI poses dual-use risks with potentially catastrophic consequences, from bioweapons to cyberattacks. As global competition accelerates progress, managing technological risks is a national and international security priority. This session explores strategic frameworks for the AI age, including Mutually Assured AI Malfunction, technical evaluations, non-proliferation, and supply chain security. Dan Hendrycks (CAIS) will be joined by key voices, potentially including Superintelligence Strategy co-authors Eric Schmidt and Alexander Wang.
How AI is Forcing Late-stage Startups to Rewire GTM – or Be Left Behind
AI is rewriting the playbook for how startups reach and win customers — and late-stage companies are feeling the pressure to adapt fast. In this panel, two top VCs and a seasoned founder break down how AI is transforming go-to-market strategies, from sales and marketing to customer success. We’ll get into what’s working, what’s hype, and how to build AI into your GTM engine without losing focus. If you’re scaling and wondering how AI fits into your next phase of growth, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.
What VCs Really Want to Hear in Your Pitch
Investors hear hundreds of pitches but only a few stand out. Hear directly from VCs on what they love, what makes them cringe, and the subtle signals founders often miss. This panel reveals insider tips to help you craft a pitch that grabs attention, builds trust, and wins the right checks.
Leading a Series A Round in 2025 and Sustaining Momentum
2025 kicked off with a record-breaking first quarter for early-stage ventures, with the median deal size reaching $2.7M. At the same time, last year marked a 46% annual decline in the number of new venture funds raised in the U.S. VC dollars haven’t dried up, but the competition to secure capital has intensified. Drawing from his firsthand experience leading Series A rounds, Prelude Ventures’ Gabriel Kra will speak to what it takes for startups to successfully raise first funding, offering attendees practical takeaways for navigating today’s increasingly competitive landscape.
What Sequoia Sees Coming Next
As one of the most influential VCs of the modern era, Roelof Botha has seen it all; booms, busts, and billion-dollar breakout bets. In this fireside chat, the Sequoia Capital managing partner opens up about how today’s most ambitious founders are navigating AI, geopolitics, and a shifting capital landscape.
Moonshots, AI, and the Future of Alphabet
From self-driving cars to internet balloons to AI-fueled breakthroughs, Astro Teller leads the lab where Alphabet incubates the nearly impossible. In this rare Disrupt stage appearance, he shares what’s actually working inside X, why “failing fast” isn’t just a mantra, and how moonshots may evolve in the AI age. If you think your startup is ambitious, wait until you hear what he’s launching next.
Building a Company That Lasts
Chris Britt knows how to build a company that withstands headwinds and seizes rare opportunities. As co-founder and CEO of Chime, he’s led the fintech from scrappy challenger to one of the few to go public in today’s tough market. In this conversation, Britt will share what it takes to scale with discipline, stay resilient through market shifts, and make the leap from private to public when so few manage it.
Startup Lessons You Won’t Find in a Playbook
The founder’s path is paved with challenges. With AI-fueled transformation accelerating the pace of innovation, the stakes for success are sky-high. Santi Subotovsky, founder-turned-investor at Emergence Capital, and Melissa Wong, Zipline CEO, know firsthand the rough terrain and milestones founders face. In this session, Santi and Melissa will share vital lessons learned in their partnership and explore tactics attendees can leverage to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship: from hiring a winning team and creating a vibrant company culture to honing leadership skills essential for lasting success.
Future of Space Economy in the Low Earth Orbit [encore]
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is no longer just for satellites; it’s the new frontier for manufacturing, energy, and data infrastructure. This session explores the emerging LEO economy, regulatory shifts, and key investment trends. Attendees will gain actionable insight into partnering with space startups, leveraging orbital platforms for Earth-based industries, and preparing for the commercialization of near-Earth space.
Everything You Need to Know Before an Exit
Go public, get acquired, or double down and stay private? In today’s unpredictable market, founders need to think about exit strategy earlier — and more strategically — than ever. This panel brings together two top VCs and a seasoned CEO to unpack how to set your company up for every option. We’ll talk timing, metrics that matter, investor expectations, and what it really takes to navigate M&A, IPO prep, or just keep building through the storm. Whether you’re 12 months out or just starting to scale, this conversation is all about making smart moves now for whatever comes next.
Cocktail Reception
Join Google Cloud for some great networking, light bites and drinks. This is an invite only event. Check your inbox for the exclusive invitation.
Disrupt Space and Going Public Meetup
Network with fellow attendees to chat about space and going public following the conclusion of Disrupt Day 1.
Meetup is located at the House of Shields- 39 New Montgomery St. You must be at least 21 years of age and present your Techcrunch Disrupt badge for entry.
October 28th
Women of Disrupt Breakfast
Join Thomson Reuters and TechCrunch for a morning program dedicated to all female attendees and those who identify as female. This event has limited capacity and will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Betting on the Next Wave: What VCs Want in AI Startups
From model infrastructure to niche applications, AI is producing a new breed of founders, and a new set of investor expectations. In this candid conversation, top VCs share what’s catching their eye (and what’s not), how they’re thinking about defensibility in a world of AI monopolies, and what founders need to show to get that next term sheet.
No Filters: Vinod Khosla on the Future of Tech
Few investors speak as bluntly—or think as big—as Vinod Khosla. The Khosla Ventures founder has never shied away from calling out hype, doubling down on moonshots, and pushing founders to think beyond incremental progress. In this candid fireside chat, Khosla will share his unvarnished views on AI, climate, healthcare, and the next generation of transformational startups—and what entrepreneurs need to hear (not just what they want to hear) to build enduring companies in turbulent times.
How to Nail Product Market Fit
Building a product is hard. Building one that has customers chomping at the bit to get it, is priced well and can deliver on its promises is far harder, and always messy. But once you achieve the holy grail of product market/fit, your startup will rocket to growth, funding and success. Hear from a founder who’s lived it and two investors who have helped many others achieve it. This panel breaks down how to test smarter, iterate with intention so you can stop guessing and start growing.
Agentic AI for Startups: Automate, Adapt, and Accelerate Growth
Agentic AI is revolutionizing how startups scale by enabling automation, personalized user experiences, and data-driven agility. In this session, we’ll break down how startups can identify high-impact AI opportunities, build practical agentic AI workflows, and measure outcomes. Using real startup case studies, attendees will gain a hands-on blueprint for integrating agentic AI to streamline operations, enhance customer engagement, and accelerate growth — empowering founders and teams to outpace competition with AI-driven strategies.
The Startup Battlefield – Session 3
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the prestigious Startup Battlefield Cup and equity-free $100,000.
Creative Machines and Where AI Meets Imagination
AI is no longer just optimizing workflows; it’s co-creating art, media, and experiences in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Wonder Dynamics CEO Nikola Todorovic, Twelve Labs Co-founder Soyoung Lee and Co-founder of Pocket Prateek Dixit are creative technologists who explore how AI is reshaping the creative process, blurring the lines between artist and algorithm, and opening up new frontiers for storytellers, designers, and dreamers alike.
The Future of Banking and Fintech: the AI Wave
AI is transforming financial services, creating huge opportunities for new fintech startups as well as providers of software for banking. This session will focus on the AI wave and its impact on financial services, describing where startups are innovating and where VC’s are investing. We’ll discuss how startups can differentiate themselves in this new world, in particular in terms of data and technology moats as well as end-user experiences. We’ll also discuss key learnings from the mobile and cloud waves in terms of the successful companies those waves produced, and what new AI startups should learn from them.
Scaling Search and AI for Millions: Lessons from Reddit Search
Let’s talk about what it really takes to build AI at scale in a way that users trust. This conversation dives into Reddit’s approach to scaling Search and ML systems for millions globally—balancing relevance, safety, and bias mitigation. We’ll explore tough questions around community expectations, ethical tradeoffs, and real-world implementation. Bring your startup’s challenges and join a candid, collaborative discussion.
Designing Products for the AI Age
AI is changing how we work, and the tools we depend on. Join Yukhi (Chief Product Officer, Figma), Zach (Founder & CEO, Warp), and Andrew Reed (Partner, Sequoia) for a conversation on how product strategy is evolving in the AI era and what it takes to design great AI experiences.
How to Pitch When You're at the Inception Stage
Raising pre-seed and seed-stage capital at the inception stage means pitching without a product, users, or traction—just a vision and a founder story. In this panel, Wesley Chan of FPV Ventures and Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures share what they look for in the earliest-stage founders and how to stand out when you have little more than an idea. Learn how to build trust, tell a compelling story, and avoid the most common mistakes founders make when trying to land that critical first check.
AI Meets the Future of Work with Mercor’s Brendan Foody
AI isn’t just changing how we work—it’s redefining who gets to work, how teams are built, and what talent looks like in a global, automated economy. Brendan Foody, co-founder and CEO of Mercor, joins the AI Stage to discuss how his company is using artificial intelligence to connect talent with opportunity in new ways, the implications for hiring and upskilling in an AI-first world, and what the next generation of work platforms will look like.
What's Next for Netflix and for Streaming Itself
As CTO of Netflix, Elizabeth Stone is steering the future of entertainment for hundreds of millions of users. In this fireside chat, Stone will break down how Netflix is evolving its product and technology strategy—from personalized discovery to global growth, from ad tiers to gaming. We’ll explore how Netflix is adapting to a shifting content landscape, what it means to innovate at massive scale, and what design surprises Netflix has up its sleeve. For anyone building consumer experiences, this will be a masterclass.
Why the Next Frontier Is Search
In a world overflowing with data, finding what matters is everything. Pinecone founder Edo Liberty unpacks why infrastructure, not algorithms, might be the biggest unlock in AI, and what’s coming next in the race to power smarter applications at scale.
Inside Microsoft’s AI Bet with CTO Kevin Scott
Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott joins the Disrupt Stage to unpack the company’s boldest AI moves yet, from its OpenAI partnership to reshaping enterprise and consumer products. He’ll share where Microsoft sees the biggest opportunities, how startups should think about building on its platforms, and what comes next in the race to define the future of AI.
From Web Pages to Autonomous Agents: A Conversation on Linking Today's Web to Tomorrow’s Data Layer
Bright Data CEO Or Lenchner discusses how today’s web is the data infrastructure layer for tomorrow’s AI-powered dynamic web. Learn how to bridge the gap by future-proofing your tech stack so chatbots and agents can reason with live, structured web data, while overcoming challenges related to scale, speed, and regulations.
The Winning Formula: Turning Your Business Into a Trusted, Scalable Community To Drive Growth
Join Kindred Co-founders Justine Palefsky and Tasneem Amina as they share how they turned a high-performing tech platform into a community-led movement that redefined home swapping.They’ll explore the strategic blueprint behind building trust at scale to drive exponential growth to include: Turning members into brand ambassadors through a values-driven approach. Using community as a lever for growth and retention. Building for emotional need, not just technical performance. Justine and Tas didn’t just launch a travel product — they revived an outdated category. This talk is for any founder or operator looking to grow an authentic community with integrity, relevance, and resonance.
How to Train Your Model: Taming AI Agents Without Breaking Them [encore]
Every AI model faces a fundamental tension: make it too harmless and it becomes less helpful, too helpful and it becomes dangerous. This interactive discussion explores real-world decisions in AI training – from constitutional AI to red-teaming strategies and enforcement approaches. We’ll examine case studies of blending safety and functionality, debate steering techniques that preserve model personality, and crowdsource solutions for common training dilemmas. Attendees will leave with frameworks for balancing safety constraints with performance goals, practical approaches to model character development, and strategies for building AI that’s both helpful and harmless.
Inside the Family Office Playbook: How the Wealthiest Invest in Startups and Venture Funds
Family offices — the private investment arms of the world’s wealthiest families — now control an estimated $6+ trillion in assets, and their influence on the startup and venture ecosystem is growing fast. In this exclusive fireside discussion with two leading family office principals, we’ll go behind the scenes of how these investors source deals, decide between backing founders directly or investing as LPs in venture funds, and build multi-generational investment strategies. Attendees will learn what makes a pitch stand out, how to structure partnerships that last, and the trends shaping where private capital flows next. Whether you’re a founder looking to unlock new sources of funding or a VC seeking to attract family office LPs, this is your insider’s guide to one of the most powerful — and least understood — forces in venture capital today.
From MIRROR to What’s Next: Brynn Putnam Returns to Disrupt
In 2018, Brynn Putnam unveiled MIRROR on the Disrupt stage, launching one of the most talked-about connected fitness products of the decade — and ultimately selling it to Lululemon for $500 million. Now she’s back, and she’s chosen TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 to reveal her brand-new, never-before-seen product. Join us for an exclusive conversation with Putnam as she shares her founder journey, the lessons she’s carried forward, and to get a first look and live demonstration of her new product.
Intelligence in Motion and the Future of Physical AI
AI in the physical world hasn’t had its ChatGPT moment…yet.. Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun and Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas join us to explore what it takes to bring intelligence into motion, whether it’s behind the wheel or on two legs. From simulation to sensors to scaling safely, this panel explores the breakthroughs driving the next generation of physical machines.
Do Startups Still Need Silicon Valley?
While Silicon Valley is still the startup capital, how important is access to it anymore? This panel debates whether founders must plant roots in the Valley to succeed or if opportunity is so strong elsewhere that they don’t need it. Hear perspectives from investors and founders redefining what it means to build, scale, and fund a company in today’s decentralized tech world. While Silicon Valley is still the startup capital, how important is access to it anymore? This panel debates whether founders must plant roots in the Valley to succeed or if opportunity is so strong elsewhere that they don’t need it. Hear perspectives from investors and founders redefining what it means to build, scale, and fund a company in today’s decentralized tech world.
Vibe coding? Cute. Now Let’s Get Real and Talk about AI Built for Developers
AI’s evolving role in software development has created a tension between rapid code generation and quality. In the real world, true disruption is more than just velocity, it’s about delivering intelligent, reliable software at scale. Join Kirill Skrygan, CEO of JetBrains, for an insightful session on how AI built for developers is reshaping the industry, and why elevating code quality, not just speed, will become the new measure of success.
The Startup Battlefield – Session 4
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the prestigious Startup Battlefield Cup and equity-free $100,000.
Building What’s Next with the Minds Behind Twitter and Meta
Join Adam Bain (former COO, Twitter), Dick Costolo (former CEO, Twitter) and David Fischer (former Chief Revenue Officer, Meta) of 01 Advisors for an insider fireside chat on what it really takes to build, scale, and fund early-stage startups today. From product to growth to fundraising, get candid advice and fresh perspectives from three industry veterans shaping the next wave of tech success.
Synthetic Voices and Real Impact
From audiobooks to avatars, synthetic speech is having a moment. ElevenLabs is helping lead the charge. CEO Mati Staniszewski joins us to explore what it takes to build AI that speaks like us and how voice technology is reshaping the creative industries, accessibility, and entertainment.
Where VCs Are Placing Their Bets in 2026
Curious where the smart money is heading next? This panel brings together top VCs to share their 2026 investment priorities, emerging sectors, and what innovations are catching their eye. Early-stage founders, this one is for you, get a rare glimpse into the trends and technologies that could shape your business in the year ahead.
Startups, Stories, and the Fight for Attention
In a fractured media landscape of challenger brands competing with legacy players, learn how to win attention and influence your audience from three VC communications veterans. This session will give founders clear, no-BS guidance on when they actually need PR and what comms strategies they should be fine-tuning (earlier than they realize). Learn how to build authentic, lasting relationships with journalists, podcasters, and independent creators that cut through today’s AI-driven noise. Get practical strategies for navigating a shifting media landscape where niche voices can be more impactful than legacy outlets. Hear how to avoid exploitative PR tactics, spot when media attention could hurt more than help your startup, and master the art of when to speak and when to stay quiet. Walk away with a new playbook for storytelling that drives real business results, not vanity headlines.
The Winning Formula: Turning Your Business Into a Trusted, Scalable Community To Drive Growth [encore]
Join Kindred Co-founders Justine Palefsky and Tasneem Amina as they share how they turned a high-performing tech platform into a community-led movement that redefined home swapping.They’ll explore the strategic blueprint behind building trust at scale to drive exponential growth to include: Turning members into brand ambassadors through a values-driven approach. Using community as a lever for growth and retention. Building for emotional need, not just technical performance. Justine and Tas didn’t just launch a travel product — they revived an outdated category. This talk is for any founder or operator looking to grow an authentic community with integrity, relevance, and resonance.
Building Intelligence for Modern Defense
From stealth mode to center stage, Mach Industries is bringing AI into one of the world’s most complex and controversial sectors: defense. CEO Ethan Thornton joins us to talk about what it takes to build in high-stakes environments, where speed and autonomy matter most, and why next-gen infrastructure starts with rethinking the fundamentals.
Storming the Gates: Scaling Consumer AI
Phia has quickly become one of the buzziest AI startups of 2025, capturing attention for how Gen Z shops — and for its high-profile cofounders. Sophia Kianni, climate activist and influencer, and Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates, join us at Disrupt to share how they’re building a new kind of consumer AI brand, what it takes to scale in one of tech’s most competitive markets, and how they’re turning buzz into staying power.
Driving Intelligence
From self-driving cars to self-learning systems, Alex Kendall is rethinking how machines perceive and act in the world. The Wayve CEO joins us to explore how real-world autonomy is shaping the next chapter of AI, and why breakthroughs on the road may unlock progress far beyond it.
Embracing AI for a Better Digital Future
We’re at a crossroads for AI, where the norms and innovations we cement now could define whether AI is additive instead of addictive, inclusive instead of harmful. As AI reshapes digital experiences, leaders must pioneer a new path. Matt can explore how AI works “under the hood” at Pinterest-powering its positivity, personalization for users, and advertiser performance and internal productivity, and how Pinterest charts a different course from other platforms through its vision for tuning AI for good. In a landscape often dominated by “engagement by enragement” models, Pinterest proves that AI can be both powerful and responsible, drive innovation and keep users’ well-being at the forefront.
Global High-Tech at a Crossroads: Trends, Emerging Technologies, and the Role of Deep-Tech
The global high-tech economy is navigating a complex landscape characterized by rapid technological advancements, evolving investment trends, increasing risks, and emerging opportunities. In this shifting environment, venture capitalists face tighter markets and shifting priorities due to global geopolitical headwinds. In this interview, the CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority will discuss global trends and outline how Israel, one of the world’s most dynamic and resilient innovation hubs, balances resilience and excellence with both local and global challenges. The discussion will also highlight how the country is doubling down on supporting bold deep-tech founders and investors, even in the toughest
***The StrictlyVC program is dedicated to investor pass holders only.***
The LP Lens: Liquidity, Selection, and the Future of Venture
Venture capital starts and ends with LPs — but how are they making decisions in today’s market? In this candid conversation, top allocators share how they’re navigating liquidity crunches, rebalancing portfolios, and leveraging secondaries. We’ll also dig into what makes a GP stand out (or stumble) in a crowded fundraising environment. Expect tactical insights, red flags to avoid, and rapid-fire advice for emerging managers — plus a few “what would you do?” hypotheticals to put our panelists on the spot.
***The StrictlyVC program is dedicated to investor pass holders only.***
GP Perspectives on LP Relationships
The GP–LP dynamic is the quiet engine that drives venture capital. Kevin Hartz of A* shares a founder-turned-investor’s perspective on cultivating lasting LP partnerships, managing expectations through cycles, and aligning on both vision and returns. From first meetings to multi-fund commitments, Hartz offers hard-earned advice on building trust and turning transactional relationships into long-term alliances.
***The StrictlyVC program is dedicated to investor pass holders only.***
Disrupt AI Meetup
Network with fellow AI professionals and attendees at a happy hour following the conclusion of Disrupt Day 2.
Meetup is located at the House of Shields- 39 New Montgomery St. You must be at least 21 years of age and present your Techcrunch Disrupt badge for entry.
October 29th
Investors Breakfast Fireside Chat: Innovation in the next decade – The Next Growth Engines and funding models
As we look a decade into the future, the global high-tech landscape will be increasingly influenced by the evolving dynamics between the public and private sectors. During this exclusive reception, we will explore with VIP guests: Lior Susan, Founding Partner at Eclipse, and Matt Ocko, Co-founder, Co-Managing Partner at DCVC on how innovative joint funding models, regulatory sandboxes, and collaborative policy frameworks can drive new waves of innovation. The discussion will cover investment trends across the hi-tech sector, with a particular emphasis on deep tech as a crucial growth engine. The discussion will highlight how Israel is positioning itself amidst these trends and what founders, investors, and LPs worldwide can learn from its deep-tech investments and potential public-private partnerships. Breakfast and coffee will be served along with ample time for networking during this reception.
*** This event is open to investor pass holders only.***
Seed Money Secrets Every Founder Should Know
Raising your first round is tough—but far from impossible. This panel brings together experienced investors to break down what it really takes to close a seed round. From crafting the right pitch to ensuring you are greenlighting the right partners, get actionable advice to turn investor interest into capital.
From Ads to Films: Creating with Code
Creatives aren’t being replaced, they’re being rearmed. Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, co-founder of Runway, shares how creative work is being reshaped by machine learning, what AI-native tools mean for visual storytelling, and why this is just the beginning of a new creative era.
Being Heard in the Age of AI
In a world saturated with AI-generated content, the challenge isn’t speaking—it’s being heard. The Age of AI has made it effortless to create but harder than ever to cut through the noise. For founders and builders, the ability to cut through the noise is no longer optional—it’s survival. This breakout panel explores what it really takes to stand out when AI can mimic anyone and algorithms dictate who gets noticed. We’ll examine the evolving role of personal brand, the shifting dynamics of narrative and design, and how credibility is built when trust is fragile and attention is scarce. Attendees can expect an honest conversation about the intersection of AI, branding, and influence, with insights into how today’s leaders navigate visibility, build trust, and make their voices resonate in an increasingly noisy digital landscape.
AI Evaluation 101: Addressing Challenges to Real-World AI Applications
This session looks at GenAI under the hood, breaking down how neural networks generate language. We discuss challenges to real-world AI deployment, and why evaluation is key to ensuring success. We’ll compare automated, judge-based and human-rated methods for assessing AI performance. Attendees will learn how to build evaluations for their use-cases to assess AI vs. human performance on their tasks.
Scaling Search and AI for Millions: Lessons from Reddit Search [encore]
Let’s talk about what it really takes to build AI at scale in a way that users trust. This conversation dives into Reddit’s approach to scaling Search and ML systems for millions globally—balancing relevance, safety, and bias mitigation. We’ll explore tough questions around community expectations, ethical tradeoffs, and real-world implementation. Bring your startup’s challenges and join a candid, collaborative discussion.
A Conversation with Investor Extraordinaire Elad Gil
Before most of the world had experienced ChatGPT, Elad Gil had already written seed checks to startups like Perplexity, Character.AI, and Harvey. This on top of checks into, for example, Airbnb, Airtable, Anduril, Brex, Checkr, Coinbase, Deel, Figma, Flexport, Gitlab, Gusto, Instacart, Notion, Opendoor, Pinterest, Rippling, Square, Stripe … you get the idea.
What Startups Can Learn from Google Cloud’s AI Playbook
Google Cloud CTO Will Grannis sits down on the AI Stage to share how startups can harness the same tools and strategies powering some of the world’s biggest companies. From building with generative AI to scaling responsibly, Grannis will break down what founders need to know to compete in an AI-first world and where the real opportunities lie for early-stage companies.
Powering AI: The Race to Scale Gigawatts of New Energy
AI is running into an energy wall. Panthalassa CEO Garth Sheldon-Coulson and former Meta CTO and Gigascale Capital founder Mike Schroepfer share how building the world’s largest new energy platform can unlock clean power for AI. They will also break down what every founder needs to know about using an iterative, market-learnings-driven approach to prioritize the right pain points, de-risk technology, and signal momentum to customers, employees, and investors.
With Vibe Coding, Do Early Stage Startups Still Need to Hire 10x Engineers?
Vibe coding products have completely changed the speed, cost and technical skill needed to build products, from prototypes to shipping. This is especially true for early stage startups. Some makers of these products have even declared that no one needs to learn to code anymore. If so, that means startups don’t need to fill their early rosters with the famed 10x coders. But how much of that is hype and how much is reality? Our panelists will dive into how the developer tool world is changing and what comes next.
Survive, Scale, Reinvent: Lessons from a Cloud OG
Aaron Levie built Box before cloud was cool and the company is still thriving while competitors have come and gone. Known for his sharp takes and startup instincts, Levie joins us to unpack how to keep innovating inside a public company, the possibilities AI and agents bring to enterprise software, and why reinvention is the name of the game in tech right now. Expect real talk and a playbook for building companies that last in the world of AI.
Shaping the AI Stack with Hugging Face
From models and datasets to ethics and infrastructure, Hugging Face is helping define what building responsibly with AI actually looks like. Co-founder and CSO Thomas Wolf joins us to talk about the shifting power dynamics in the AI ecosystem, the rise of community-led innovation, and what it takes to stay open while moving fast.
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 Battlefield Cup. This year, we’ll hear from 2024’s geCKo Materials.
The Startup Battlefield Final
The grand final of TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition. Watch the final 5 teams from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
AI & Agents: Shaping how we Build, Live & Connect
AI is no longer just a back-end tool—it’s shaping how we design our homes, connect in communities, and empower agents to take meaningful action. This panel brings together three founders at the forefront of this shift: Alyx van der Vorm (Clyx), building a new kind of social network centered on real-world connection; Patrick Murphy (Maket.ai), democratizing architecture with generative AI that produces zoning-compliant home designs in minutes; and Karan Vaidya (Composio), powering the next wave of AI agents with tools that enable real-world execution. Moderated by Jeremiah Owyang, General Partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and founder of the Llama Lounge event series, the session will explore how AI and agents are redefining the way we live and interact—and what it takes to build enduring companies that thrive beyond the hype.
AI Evaluation 101: Addressing Challenges to Real-World AI Applications [encore]
This session looks at GenAI under the hood, breaking down how neural networks generate language. We discuss challenges to real-world AI deployment, and why evaluation is key to ensuring success. We’ll compare automated, judge-based and human-rated methods for assessing AI performance. Attendees will learn how to build evaluations for their use-cases to assess AI vs. human performance on their tasks.
Discovery to Disruption: Turning Research into Venture-Backable Companies
Join us for an exclusive session on transforming cutting-edge deep tech research into scalable, venture-ready companies. Hear from trailblazing founders in the Berkeley SkyDeck portfolio who have successfully spun out their research into high-growth startups with major commercial impact. Topics: – How do you identify whether your research has a viable market application or product opportunity? – How do you find the right Co-Founder or team? – What are early validation strategies for Deep Tech? – How do you raise your first $1mm of funding? Moderator: – Chon Tang, Managing Partner of Berkeley SkyDeck Fund Panelists: – Jared O’Leary, Co-Founder & CEO of SirenOpt – Asad Tirmizi, Founder of T-Robotics – Pratik Nimbalkar, Co-Founder of Plaid Semiconductors
Love, Lies & Algorithms: The Truth About AI in Matters of the Heart
AI is changing the way we meet, match, and fall in love, sometimes in ways we don’t even notice. This panel explores how technology is reshaping modern relationships, for better or worse. From dating apps to digital soulmates, we’ll look at where things are headed and what that means for the human heart.
Preparing Now for Your Later Stage Raise
Raising later-stage rounds takes more than luck — it’s about strategy from day one. Join these 2 exceptional VCs and an experienced founder as they share how to build metrics, storytelling, and relationships that position your startup for future funding success. Learn the key moves that set you up to close bigger rounds with confidence.
Smarter Streets: How AI Is Driving the Future of Transportation
From ride-hailing at massive global scale to autonomous delivery bots on neighborhood streets, AI is reinventing how people and goods move. Uber CTO Praveen Naga and Nuro Co-Founder Dave Ferguson take the stage to discuss the breakthroughs shaping mobility, the challenges of deploying AI in unpredictable real-world environments, and what the next decade of transportation will look like.
CVC: What's Different? What's their Superpower?
In this myth-busting session, TDK Ventures President Nicolas Sauvage reveals how modern CVCs differ from earlier generations of Corporate VCs—and how to spot the 20% that truly deliver “capital++“: market access, commercialization bridges, strategic insight, and patient partnership. Drawing on lessons from building TDK Ventures to avoid the pitfalls of first-wave CVCs, Nicolas shares field-tested insights to help founders identify CVCs that integrate strategic and financial goals, move with speed and rigor, and accelerate long-term success. He’ll also debunk common myths (“too slow,” “strings-attached,” “no follow-ons”) and offer practical tips—from governance and decision-making speed to incentive alignment and post-investment support—so founders can evaluate the right CVC partners and know what to expect after the check clears.
The Pros and Cons of Hiring AI Agents as Early Employees
Most startups today are using AI in some capacities: vibe coding prototypes or new features, deep research via their favorite chat before sales calls. Many are also building AI products, or at least including AI options and features. So should you embed AI at the root operations of your businesses like hiring AI agents instead of humans for sales? For customer support? To automate your billing? Learn how to pick the right use cases, build smarter workflows, and get the biggest impact with limited resources.
AI and National Security in the High-Stakes Race to Innovate
From defense labs to Wall Street and naval operations, AI is reshaping how countries protect themselves and project power. DARPA’s Kathleen Fisher, Point72’s Sri Chandrasekar, and Navy CTO Justin Fanelli dive into the cutting-edge AI breakthroughs driving security innovation. They’ll discuss what it means for entrepreneurs, investors, and the future of global stability.
AI That Talks Back: Character.AI in the Spotlight
Character.AI has captured global attention but not without controversy. CEO Karan Anand joins us to discuss the explosive rise of human-like AI companions, the legal battles and recent lawsuits challenging the company’s practices, and the ethical and technical questions behind lifelike dialogue. This fireside chat dives into both the breakthroughs and the pitfalls of conversational AI, exploring how these digital personalities are reshaping human interaction and the scrutiny that comes with pushing the boundaries of AI.
Creating Communities and Companies That Last
What happens when you design around people, not institutions? Jason Citron, founder and former CEO of Discord, and Tade Oyerinde, founder and chancellor of Campus, will discuss how they built companies that tapped into community to break through the noise. From Discord’s rise as a global hub for millions to Campus’s ambitious mission to reinvent college, they’ll explore product design, lessons in scaling amidst competition, and how founders can balance vision with adaptability.
Rethinking Startup Capital Without VCs
VCs aren’t the only game in town. Join us as we explore alternative fundraising paths with an angel investor, a family office vice president, and a founder who bootstrapped to success. Learn how to tap into capital that aligns with your vision, keeps you in control, and gets you to the next stage—on your terms.
From Digg to Deals: Kevin Rose on Reinvention and Investing
Kevin Rose last spoke at Disrupt in 2012, when Digg was in the middle of one of tech’s most talked-about pivots. More than a decade later, he returns to Disrupt to talk about relaunching Digg alongside Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and to share what that experience taught him about product and community. Beyond Digg, Rose has become one of Silicon Valley’s most active early stage investors, backing breakout startups in consumer tech and crypto. In this fireside chat, he’ll reveal how he evaluates founders, spots the next wave of opportunities, and applies lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey to investing today.