TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will be held at Moscone Center in San Francisco on October 13-15, bringing together more than 10,000 founders, investors, startup operators, and technology leaders for one of the industry’s premier technology conferences. The event features six industry-focused stages, including the Builders Stage, which is specifically designed to help founders navigate the challenges of scaling their companies.
The Builders Stage focuses on practical strategies for startup growth, covering critical topics including fundraising, hiring, go-to-market strategy, AI integration, and operational decisions that fuel company expansion. Sessions are structured around candid conversations and real-world case studies, providing founders with actionable insights they can implement immediately. The stage also offers live Q&A opportunities, allowing attendees to engage directly with speakers and dive deeper into the challenges they face.
The speaker lineup includes prominent figures from across the technology and venture capital ecosystem. Grant Lee, CEO and co-founder of Gamma, will share insights from his experience building and scaling his company. Leah Solivan, founder and general partner at Precedent.vc, brings her perspective from both the operator and investor sides. Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google, will discuss how product decision-making changes when building for billions of users.
Additional speakers include Shan Shan, Investment Manager at Baillie Gifford, Yuri Sagalov, Managing Director at General Catalyst, Michel Tricot, CEO and Co-founder of Airbyte, Rob Toews, Partner at Radical Ventures, and Linda Tong, CEO of Webflow. The investor perspective will be represented by Jas Khaira, Global Head of Blackstone N1, Matt Birnbaum, Founder of Wylder.co, Ioana Hreninciuc from Runware, and Atli Thorkelsson, VP of Talent Network at Redpoint Ventures.
The venture capital community will be well represented with speakers including Puneet Agarwal, Managing Partner at True Ventures, Austin Clements, Managing Partner at Slauson and Co, and Sandhya Venkatachalam, Founder and Managing Partner at Axiom Partners. Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-founder of Gusto, rounds out the announced lineup, with additional speakers to be revealed as the event approaches.
The Builders Stage is particularly focused on helping founders navigate the journey from raising initial capital to preparing for Series A funding rounds. Sessions address the evolving landscape of startup building, including how to compete for attention in an AI-focused market, strategies for winning pre-seed funding without a product, and approaches to hiring and retention in an increasingly competitive talent market. The stage also tackles emerging challenges such as competing with major AI platforms and building hybrid teams that integrate AI capabilities.
Attendees can take advantage of early registration savings of up to $330 before ticket rates increase. The conference represents a significant opportunity for founders at various stages of growth to learn from experienced operators and investors who have successfully navigated the challenges of building and scaling technology companies.