TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will host its Builders Stage from Oct. 13 to 15 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, bringing together 10,000 founders, investors, and technology leaders to discuss scaling strategies in a capital-conscious market.
The agenda reflects a shift in founder priorities: away from AI hype and toward business fundamentals. Sessions will cover fundraising mechanics, go-to-market efficiency, retention economics, and the seed-to-Series A transition—practical challenges that determine which startups survive the current funding slowdown.
One marquee session, "Building Beyond the AI Hype Cycle," will pair Shan Shan, investment manager at Baillie Gifford, with Yuri Sagalov, managing director at General Catalyst. The focus: efficient growth, revenue quality, and disciplined execution rather than speculative positioning.
A second major track, "Defending Against AI Giants," will address a core question for AI startup founders: how to build competitive moats against incumbents. Michel Tricot, CEO of Airbyte; Rob Toews, partner at Radical Ventures; and Linda Tong, CEO of Webflow, will examine defensibility strategies against players such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Jas Khaira, global head of Blackstone N1, will lead a session on capital allocation for AI startups, focusing on how investors distinguish enduring businesses from early momentum plays and what criteria define category-defining winners.
Additional speakers include Grant Lee, CEO of Gamma; Leah Solivan, founding general partner at Precedent.vc; and Robby Stein, VP of product at Google. The format emphasizes direct Q&A and real-world case studies over keynote speeches.
Registration is open; early-bird pricing of up to $330 off is available before rates increase.
