Disrupt 2026 adds Builders Stage for hands-on startup growth advice
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature a dedicated Builders Stage with sessions on fundraising, hiring, go-to-market strategy, and AI. Speakers include Gamma CEO Grant Lee, Precedent.vc founder Leah Solivan, and Google VP Robby Stein. The event runs October 13-15 at Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The Builders Stage is one of six industry-focused tracks at the three-day conference, which expects more than 10,000 attendees at San Francisco's Moscone Center. Early registration offers savings up to $330 before ticket prices increase. The agenda includes sessions on competing with AI giants, pre-seed fundraising without a product, and talent retention strategies, with additional speakers to be announced closer to the event.
Featured speakers span venture capital and operating roles, including Gamma CEO Grant Lee, Precedent.vc founder Leah Solivan, and Google VP Robby Stein. Session leaders include Jas Khaira from Blackstone N1, Michel Tricot of Airbyte, and partners from True Ventures and General Catalyst. The programming emphasizes practical takeaways, with live Q&A opportunities following each session.
This event could help early-stage founders navigate an increasingly AI-dominated investment landscape, where differentiation and defensibility are growing challenges. The focus on fundraising mechanics, talent competition, and scaling fundamentals may influence how startups structure their growth strategies. For the broader tech economy, these conversations could shape hiring practices and capital allocation patterns, potentially affecting job seekers and investors who watch which approaches gain traction among successful companies.