The founder's guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Everything you need to know

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 centers around a pivotal question: How does one build a lasting company in the era of AI? Our programming and speaker selections are thoughtfully designed with this inquiry in mind, informed by valuable feedback from our community and the current landscape.

During last year's Disrupt, we engaged with founders who recounted their impactful experiences at the event. One founder reported experiencing a 3x oversubscription rate following their entry into Startup Battlefield, along with over 100 inquiries from investors generating discussions for a prospective fundraising round. Another founder engaged in nearly 30 consecutive conversations with investors who approached them after their pitch and continued the dialogue at their booth.

Such moments are not mere exceptions at Disrupt — they represent the very essence of the event. Each interaction within the Expo Hall or at Side Events has the potential to open doors for your startup. For many years, Disrupt has successfully united thousands of founders, investors, startup personnel, and technology leaders from across the globe.

This mission continues at San Francisco's Moscone West from October 13-15, featuring an impressive roster of speakers, over 200 specialized sessions, abundant networking opportunities, both organized and spontaneous, and, most importantly, the chance to connect with individuals who could significantly impact your burgeoning company or alter your existing venture's path.

This guide aims to assist founders—whether you are discovering Disrupt for the first time, require a refresher, or are questioning its value. Founders can bring a team member along at a 50% discount on their ticket or assist laid-off colleagues in your network by granting them access to discounted Expo+ passes.

The reality of what makes Disrupt, Disrupt

This year's Disrupt is not focused on merely forecasting the future of AI; instead, it emphasizes creating companies within it. Through six editorially curated stages, founders will gain practical insights from CEOs, investors, engineers, and operators who are shaping the technology landscape for the next decade.

Regardless of whether you are embarking on your first funding round, expanding your team, or reevaluating how AI impacts your product, every session is crafted to address one crucial question: "What actionable knowledge can I bring back to my company on Monday morning?"

The founders Disrupt empowers

Disrupt caters to your unique needs depending on the phase of your founding journey, offering distinct tracks to maximize your experience over the three days:

Pre-seed and idea stages

If you're at this stage, your focus is on testing your assumptions, connecting with your first angel or pre-seed investors, and identifying others in your sector. Prioritize the Builders Stage, the Startup Battlefield semifinalist pitches, and the Expo Hall, as well as roundtables relevant to your industry, and engage in conversations that offer further learning opportunities.

Early revenue or actively raising

When your main objectives are acquiring capital and validation, time becomes a critical resource. Focus on investor-matchmaking tools and the valuable connections available through your Founder Pass, which includes access to networking capabilities within the app. Additionally, you will benefit from the Deal Flow Café, designed to facilitate one-on-one interactions between founders and investors.

In-between deal-making sessions, consider attending fundraising-centered discussions and gaining insights from venture capital perspectives at the Builders Stage.

Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships

For those focusing on talent acquisition, strategic partnerships, and enhancing market visibility, the networking tools and opportunities available can assist you in meeting potential hires and partners, and nurturing existing relationships while establishing new ones. Do not overlook Disrupt's Side Events — there are options tailored to every industry, interest, or desired post-event atmosphere.

Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competition

The reveal of the Startup Battlefield winner is a highlight of the Disrupt stage, serving as the culmination of the event. However, the journey toward winning that $100,000 check and the wave of attention garnered thereafter is where much of the value lies for attending founders.

The 200 selected startups for this competition undergo a rigorous preparation process and have the opportunity to present their pitches live before an audience of top-tier venture capitalists and attendees. Observing these pitches offers a chance to take notes, learn from both successes and challenges, and potentially connect with the teams behind various innovative concepts.

Many participants have returned multiple times, and several previous winners are also repeat entrants. While applications for the 2026 competition have closed, there are plans to expand the program into more international markets, maintaining a similar process for the 2027 competition.

The founder-focused programming

Disrupt 2026 features several stages, each designed to address various founder needs:

Disrupt Stage: Engage in critical discussions within the technology sector, showcasing founders, CEOs, and industry leaders who are determining future trajectories.

Builders Stage: Access a tactical guide for startup development. From fundraising and hiring to product strategy and scaling, sessions provide practical advice founders can implement immediately.

AI Stage: Discover how the fastest-growing startups are innovating, deploying, and monetizing AI, with actionable insights on models, infrastructure, and strategic advantages in the AI landscape.

Real World AI Stage: Delve into applications of AI in robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense, transforming theoretical advancements into viable products and businesses.

Smart Money Stage: Investigate the technological evolution within fintech, stablecoins, payments, embedded finance, and AI-enhanced financial services.

Smart Systems Stage: Uncover advancements in chips, computing, energy, networking, and data centers that will shape the next generation of technology enterprises.

Conversations you can only get at Disrupt

This year's lineup of distinguished speakers includes:

• RJ Scaringe (Rivian): Discussing the creation of a generational company
• Panos Panay (Amazon): Exploring the design of products that resonate with consumers
• Paolo Ardoino (Tether): Addressing the dynamics of money, AI, and infrastructure
• Toni Schneider and Rose Wang (Bluesky): Investigating the potential for a new social media landscape
• Amjad Masad (Replit): Emphasizing the importance of technical knowledge for every founder
• Andrew Feldman (Cerebras): Analyzing competition in the AI computing sector

How to get the most bang for your buck at Disrupt

As the event approaches, ticket prices for Disrupt incrementally increase, but there are promotions available for founders looking to save. You can secure a 50% discount on a second ticket, enabling a coworker or co-founder to join you.

Additionally, for colleagues within your network affected by layoffs, a special $75 Expo+ Pass is offered in limited quantities, allowing them to participate.

Your time at Disrupt is highly valuable; therefore, prior to your arrival, review the updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, gain a competitive edge by scheduling networking opportunities in advance, and refine your elevator pitches to fully leverage the invaluable moments that Disrupt presents from October 13-15.