Startups don’t construct themselves. The Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27–29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, is the place traders, operators, and founders come to speak techniques — the nitty-gritty of getting one thing off the bottom and making it work. This 12 months, we’re bringing a number of the sharpest minds within the sport to the stage, together with legendary investor Elad Gil, former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, and Flexport founder Ryan Petersen. If you happen to’re on the lookout for real-world insights from individuals who’ve really constructed and backed category-defining corporations, that is the place it occurs.
Whether or not you’re wrestling along with your first time period sheet, constructing a GTM engine that truly converts, or questioning if AI ought to be your subsequent rent, the Builders Stage has solutions. Anticipate candid conversations, recent methods, and no-fluff recommendation from the parents who’ve been via the hearth — plus viewers Q&A throughout each session, so you may get your hardest questions answered, dwell.
Scale smarter with actionable insights from the leaders sitting entrance and middle on the Builders Stage. Register now and save as much as $675 in your ticket.
A primary have a look at the Builders Stage agenda
See what’s locked in thus far beneath and keep tuned. The Disrupt 2025 agenda is simply getting greater, with extra prime names and daring conversations on the best way.
Elevating Good
A Dialog with Investor Extraordinaire Elad Gil
Earlier than a lot of the world had skilled ChatGPT, Promote gil had already written seed checks to startups like Perplexity, Character.AI, and Harvey. That’s on prime of early bets on corporations like Airbnb, Airtable, Anduril, Brex, Checkr, Coinbase, Deel, Figma, Flexport, GitLab, Gusto, Instacart, Notion, Opendoor, Pinterest, Rippling, Sq., Stripe… you get the concept.
Gil, who has additionally based a number of corporations like Mixerlabs (purchased by Twitter) and Coloration Well being, at all times appears to know what’s subsequent. And he’s already engaged on the subsequent issues coming for AI and investing.
Picture Credit:Slava Blazer for TechCrunch /
Constructing What’s Subsequent with the Minds Behind Twitter and Meta
Adam Bain and Dick ribco-founders and managing companions, and David Fischeraccomplice, at 01 Advisors
Be a part of these three powerhouse traders from 01 Advisors for an insider hearth chat on what it actually takes to construct, scale, and fund early-stage startups at present. From product to progress to fundraising, you’ll get candid recommendation and recent views from business veterans shaping the subsequent wave of tech success.
Seed Cash Secrets and techniques Each Founder Ought to Know
Gabby Cazeauaccomplice, Harlem Capital, Marlon Nicholsco-Founder and managing common accomplice, MaC Enterprise Capital, and Maria Palmaaccomplice, Freestyle Capital
Elevating your first spherical is hard, however removed from unimaginable. This panel brings collectively skilled traders to interrupt down what it actually takes to shut a seed spherical. From crafting the appropriate pitch to making sure you’re greenlighting the appropriate companions, get actionable recommendation to show investor curiosity into capital.
Methods to Increase a Collection A in 2026
Sangeen zebcommon accomplice, GV, and extra audio system to be introduced
On this unfiltered panel, prime VCs reveal what actually will get them to supply a time period sheet with a wholesome valuation — from metrics that matter to the pitch errors that kill offers. Learn to place your organization for its first priced, institutional funding.
What VCs Actually Wish to Hear in Your Pitch
Completely satisfied Agarcommon accomplice, defy.vc, Jyoti bansalCEO and co-founder, Harness, and Jennifer Neundorfercommon accomplice, January Ventures
Traders hear a whole lot of pitches, however only some stand out. Hear instantly from VCs on what they love, what makes them cringe, and the refined indicators founders usually miss. This panel reveals insider suggestions that will help you craft a pitch that grabs consideration, builds belief, and wins the appropriate checks.
Picture Credit:Kimberly White / Getty Pictures
Rethinking Startup Capital With out VCs
Erik Eachco-founder and CEO, Chess.com, Kay MakihiLupoff/Stevens Household Workplace, and Gale Wilkinsonmanaging accomplice, VITALIZE Enterprise Capital
VCs aren’t the one sport on the town. Be a part of us as we discover various fundraising paths with an angel investor, a household workplace vice chairman, and a founder who bootstrapped to success. Learn to faucet into capital that aligns along with your imaginative and prescient, retains you in management, and will get you to the subsequent stage in your phrases.
Making ready Now for Your Later Stage Increase
Lila Prestonhead of progress fairness, Technology Funding Administration, Andrea ThomazCEO and co-founder, Diligent Robotics, and Zeyaaccomplice, IVP
Elevating later-stage rounds takes greater than luck — it’s about technique from day one. Be a part of these three distinctive VCs as they share learn how to construct metrics, storytelling, and relationships that place your startup for future funding success. Be taught the important thing strikes that set you as much as shut greater rounds with confidence.
The place VCs Are Putting Their Bets in 2026
Nina Achadjianaccomplice, Index Ventures, Jerry Chencommon accomplice, Greylock, and Viviana FagaBasic Companion, Felix
Curious the place the good cash is heading subsequent? This panel brings collectively prime VCs to share their 2026 funding priorities, rising sectors, and what improvements are catching their eye. Early-stage founders, this one is for you! Get a uncommon glimpse into the developments and applied sciences that would form your small business within the 12 months forward.
Scaling Good
Constructing in a Time of Uncertainty
Ryan Petersen, founder and CEO, Flexport
Uncertainty is the brand new regular, nevertheless it’s additionally a possibility. On this hearth chat, Ryan PetersenCEO of world logistics unicorn Flexportshares his hard-won insights. With $2.3B raised, Flexport’s delivery expertise intersects worldwide enterprise and coverage, giving Petersen virtually prescient financial insights. He’s been vocal about every thing from tariff coverage to AI. He’s additionally skilled private volatility, famously leaving his CEO function after which returning lower than a 12 months later. Founders, take notes: that is the way you construct when the foundations maintain altering.
Methods to Nail Product Market Match
Rajat bhagariafounder and CEO, Chef Robotics, Ann tableetskyaccomplice, NEA, and Murali Joshi. Companion, Iconiq
Constructing a product is tough. Constructing one which clients are chomping on the bit to get, that’s priced proper, and delivers on its guarantees is even more durable, and it’s at all times messy. However when you hit the holy grail of product-market match, your startup is on a quick observe to progress, funding, and traction. Hear from a founder who’s lived it and two traders who’ve helped many others get there. This panel breaks down learn how to take a look at smarter and iterate with intention so you’ll be able to cease guessing and begin rising.
Picture Credit:Haje Kamps / TechCrunch
How A lot Wage and Fairness Ought to You Actually Provide Early Staff?
Randa Jakubowzhead of operations and expertise, 645 Ventures, Rebecca Lee Whitingfractional common counsel for early-stage startups, Epigram Authorized P.C., and Yin WuCEO and founder, Pulley
Early hires form your startup’s future, however provided that you’ll be able to entice and maintain them. This panel dives into constructing fairness and advantages packages that compete with massive tech with out breaking your burn fee. Hear real-world methods to align incentives, enhance retention, and construct a group that scales.
With Vibe Coding, Do Early Stage Startups Nonetheless Have to Rent 10x Engineers?
David Cramerco-founder and CPO, Sentry, Larioreaccomplice, Bessemer Enterprise Companions, and a speaker to be introduced
Vibe coding merchandise have utterly modified the velocity, price, and technical talent wanted to construct merchandise, from prototypes to delivery. That is very true for early stage startups. Some makers of those merchandise have even declared that nobody must be taught to code anymore. In that case, which means startups don’t must fill their early rosters with the famed 10x coders. However how a lot of that’s hype and the way a lot is actuality? Our panelists will dive into how the developer instrument world is altering and what comes subsequent.
Ought to You Rent AI as Early Staff?
Caleb pepperco-founder and CEO, Firecrawl, and extra audio system to be introduced
Most startups at present are utilizing AI in some capacities: vibe coding prototypes or new options, deep analysis by way of their favourite chat earlier than gross sales calls. Many are additionally constructing AI merchandise, or at the very least together with AI choices and options. So, do you have to embed AI on the root operations of your companies, like hiring AI brokers as an alternative of people for gross sales? For buyer help? To automate your billing? Learn to decide the appropriate use circumstances, construct smarter workflows, and get the largest affect with restricted assets.
Do Startups Nonetheless Want Silicon Valley?
Anh-THO ChuongCEO and co-founder, Lago, Heather doshayaccomplice, head of expertise, SignalFire, and David Corridormanaging accomplice, rise of the remaining seed fund, Revolution
Whereas Silicon Valley continues to be the startup capital, how essential is entry to it anymore? This panel debates whether or not founders should plant roots within the Valley to succeed or if alternative is so sturdy elsewhere that they don’t want it. Hear views from traders and founders redefining what it means to construct, scale, and fund an organization in at present’s decentralized tech world.
Constructing a GTM Engine that Truly Works
Max Altschulerfounder and common accomplice, GTMfund, and extra audio system to be introduced
A killer product wants a killer go-to-market technique. This panel breaks down how early-stage startups can construct a GTM operate that drives progress, wins clients, and scales effectively. Hear from founders and GTM consultants on hiring, messaging, gross sales techniques, and the important thing metrics that show your method is working.
Wish to see extra?
Not solely will you achieve invaluable insights from these tech giants dwell at Disrupt 2025 alongside 10,000+ startup, tech, and VC leaders this October, however you may as well save as much as $675 in your cross at present. Register right here to lock in your financial savings.
Picture Credit: Jeff Bottari / Flickr (opens in a brand new window)
