By Titik Puspa 
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is set to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit once again with the highly anticipated return of the Builders Stage, a dedicated forum designed to equip founders, startup operators, and investors with the practical knowledge and strategic frameworks essential for building and scaling successful ventures. Scheduled to take place from October 13-15 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, this year’s event promises to be an unparalleled convergence of over 10,000 of the brightest minds in technology, offering a critical deep dive into the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of the modern startup landscape. Early registration is highly encouraged, with significant savings available before the next price increase.
The Builders Stage distinguishes itself as one of six industry-focused tracks at Disrupt 2026, meticulously curated to address the critical junctures in a startup’s lifecycle, from initial fundraising and talent acquisition to the intricate development of go-to-market strategies and the crucial transition from seed-stage funding to Series A rounds. Each session is engineered to deliver tangible strategies that founders can implement immediately, fostering a dynamic environment of learning and direct engagement through live Q&A sessions with industry luminaries.
This year’s agenda features an impressive roster of speakers who are at the forefront of innovation and growth in the tech ecosystem. Attendees will have the opportunity to glean insights from leaders such as Grant Lee, CEO and co-founder of Gamma, a company revolutionizing presentation software; Leah Solivan, founder and general partner at Precedent.vc, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments; and Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google, who will share his extensive experience in scaling products to billions of users. The breadth of expertise represented ensures a comprehensive exploration of the topics most critical to startup success.
The sessions on the Builders Stage are designed to provide a no-holds-barred look at the realities of building a company in today’s fast-evolving market. For founders not directly building AI, the session "How to Win When You’re Not Building AI" will feature insights from Shan Shan, Investment Manager at Baillie Gifford, and Yuri Sagalov, Managing Director at General Catalyst. This panel will dissect the enduring importance of efficient growth, revenue quality, and disciplined execution in an AI-saturated market, emphasizing that fundamental business principles remain the bedrock of breakout success.
A pressing concern for many AI founders is addressed in "What Happens When OpenAI Ships Your Roadmap." This critical discussion will bring together Michel Tricot, CEO and Co-founder of Airbyte; Rob Toews, Partner at Radical Ventures; and Linda Tong, CEO of Webflow. They will explore the strategic considerations for founders facing potential competition from large AI players, focusing on identifying areas of defensibility and navigating the landscape when major platforms launch competing functionalities.
The immense capital demands and rapid scaling of AI startups are under the spotlight in "Building the Next Generation of AI Giants," featuring Jas Khaira, Global Head at Blackstone N1. Khaira will offer a venture capitalist’s perspective on what differentiates enduring AI companies from those with only early momentum, and how founders should approach capital allocation as they scale.
In the fiercely competitive talent market, "Competing for AI Talent: Pay, Equity, and Retention" will offer crucial guidance. Matt Birnbaum, Founder of Wylder.co; Ioana Hreninciuc from Runware; and Atli Thorkelsson, VP, Talent Network at Redpoint Ventures, will delve into innovative strategies for attracting and retaining top AI talent, addressing evolving compensation models, company culture, and team-building in a radically altered labor market.
For those navigating the earliest stages of fundraising, "Winning Pre-Seed Without a Product" will provide invaluable advice. 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, will break down how founders can build credibility and secure crucial early investment based on vision, conviction, and founder-market fit, even before a tangible product exists.
The complexities of product development at scale will be explored in "From MVP to Billions of Users: How Product Decisions Must Change at Scale," a fireside chat with Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google. Stein will illuminate how the strategic decision-making process transforms when every product update impacts a global user base, emphasizing the delicate balance between innovation, speed, trust, and reliability.
The integration of AI into the workforce is further examined in "Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder." Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-founder of Gusto, will lead a discussion on how startups are redefining their teams by incorporating AI agents into engineering, support, and operational roles. The session will explore the critical decisions founders face in delegating tasks to AI versus human employees, and how to build hybrid teams that maintain agility and accountability.
"Rebuilding Consumer Products for the AI Era" will feature Maria Angelidou-Smith, CPO of Reddit, alongside leaders from Square and Uber. They will discuss how AI is fundamentally reshaping user experiences in areas like search, communication, and decision-making, and how product leaders are adapting their strategies to meet evolving user expectations while discerning where automation is truly beneficial.
The strategic importance of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) at the early stages of a startup’s journey will be the focus of "M&A Is Now an Early-Stage Strategy." Karl Alomar, Managing Partner at M13, and Lindsey Mignano, Founder of Mignano Law Group, will discuss how founders can proactively build their companies with potential acquisitions in mind from inception, a critical consideration in today’s tightening capital markets.
The future of venture capital funding is a key theme, particularly for Series A rounds. "The Series A in 2027" will feature Jahanvi Sardana, Partner at Index Ventures; Shailendra Singh, Managing Director at Peak XV; and Janelle Teng Wade, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. This panel will offer a forward-looking perspective on what venture capitalists will deem "fundable" in the coming years, examining evolving metrics, team compositions, and traction requirements that founders should be aware of as they plan their fundraising strategies.
The pressure to achieve rapid growth is palpable, as highlighted in "The 90-Day GTM: Why $0-$10M ARR Is the New Baseline (and How to Actually Get There)." Ryan Meadows, Chief Revenue Officer at Lovable; Tomasz Tunguz, General Partner and Founder at Theory Ventures; and Ben Broca, Founder at Polsia, will explore how AI-enabled execution, accelerated distribution channels, and shifting investor expectations are compressing go-to-market timelines. They will provide tactical guidance for founders to achieve significant revenue milestones within the crucial first 90 days.
The complexities of navigating a multi-model AI landscape will be explored in "The Real Tokenmaxxing: How the Best AI Companies Navigate a Multi-Model World." Mo Jomaa, Partner at Capital G, and Zuzanna Stamirowska, CEO and Co-founder of Pathway, will discuss strategies for evaluating and orchestrating various AI models to build resilient and cost-effective products that can adapt to rapid technological advancements.
A forward-looking session, "Revealing AI Disruptors 60: What Can AI Do Next?", will feature Shay Grinfeld of Greenfield Partners. This discussion will move beyond theoretical capabilities to examine concrete applications of AI, including agents navigating the web, advanced research, and the emerging infrastructure supporting these advancements. The session will culminate in the unveiling of Greenfield Partners’ 2026 AI Disruptors 60 list, highlighting companies pushing the boundaries of AI innovation.
In an era of AI hype, discerning genuine product-market fit (PMF) is paramount. "PMF Red Flags: How to Tell If You Really Have It" will feature Rajeev Dham, Managing Director at Sapphire Ventures, and Rahul Vohra, Founder and Head of Superhuman Mail. This session will equip founders and investors with the tools to identify authentic traction versus temporary momentum, exploring the subtle signals that indicate durable market pull.
The foundational challenge of acquiring early customers without substantial marketing budgets will be addressed in "The Zero-to-1K Playbook: How to Get Your First 1,000 Customers Without a Marketing Budget." Grant Lee, CEO and Co-founder of Gamma; Leah Solivan, Founder and General Partner at Precedent.vc; and Elia Wallen, Founder and CEO of Engine, will share strategies rooted in founder-led distribution, community building, product-led growth, and word-of-mouth momentum.
The intense psychological demands of entrepreneurship will be candidly discussed in "Yes, It’s Hard to Be a Founder: An Honest Conversation." Nell Daly, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Revenge Capital; David H. Rosmarin, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School; and Jack Withinshaw, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Airspeeder, will delve into the realities of burnout, decision fatigue, and identity strain, offering practical strategies for mental resilience and sustained high performance.
Building a sustainable, multi-product company beyond a single hit product is the focus of "So You’ve Got a Hit Product. How Does Your Company Do It Again?" Filip Kaliszan, CEO and Co-founder of Verkada; Aaron Jacobson, Partner at New Enterprise Associates; and Maddi Holman, General Partner at Daring Ventures, will reveal the operational playbooks for capital allocation, internal innovation, and engineering a compounding "Second Act."
The competitive landscape for talent, compensation, and culture will be revisited in "Hiring, Compensation and Culture in the Most Competitive Market Ever." Matt Birnbaum and Atli Thorkelsson will once again offer insights into how tech companies are adapting their strategies to attract and retain top talent amidst the intense demand fueled by AI startups.
Viral growth, while desirable, presents its own set of challenges for sustained success. Zach Yadegari, Founder of Cal AI, will share his experiences in "How to Create Viral Growth and Capitalize on It," detailing how Cal AI navigated rapid expansion, product pressures, and the transition from breakout attention to durable retention.
The core criteria that differentiate breakout companies will be dissected by Startup Battlefield judges in "The High-Conviction Filter: What We Learned From the Battlefield." Alexa von Tobel of Inspired Capital and Chi-Hua Chien of Goodwater Capital will provide real-time insights into the trends, founder qualities, and narratives that resonated most, offering a critical perspective on what it takes to succeed in the competitive startup arena.
A highly interactive session, "Ask the Investors," will feature the Startup Battlefield finals judges, including Stacy Brown-Philpot of Cherryrock Capital, Chi-Hua Chien of Goodwater Capital, Dayna Grayson of Construct Capital, Carter Reum of M13, and Alexa Von Tobel of Inspired Capital. This audience-led Q&A will provide direct, candid answers to the most pressing questions founders have about what investors look for, from team dynamics and traction to pitch delivery and potential red flags.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, and specifically the Builders Stage, offers an indispensable platform for founders and operators ready to elevate their ventures. By providing direct access to industry leaders, actionable strategies, and a vibrant networking environment, the event aims to equip participants with the knowledge and connections necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern startup ecosystem and drive significant growth. Securing a pass today is an investment in future success, with early bird pricing offering substantial savings before the next rate increase.
