Startups don’t construct themselves. The Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, going down October 27-29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, is the place buyers, operators, and founders come to speak techniques — the nitty-gritty of getting one thing off the bottom and making it work. This yr, we’re bringing a few of the sharpest minds within the recreation to the stage, together with legendary investor Elad Gil, former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, and Flexport founder Ryan Petersen. When you’re in search of real-world insights from individuals who’ve truly 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 really converts, or questioning if AI needs to be your subsequent rent, the Builders Stage has solutions. Anticipate candid conversations, contemporary methods, and no-fluff recommendation from the oldsters 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 heart on the Builders Stage. Register now and save as much as $675 in your ticket.
A primary take a look at the Builders Stage agenda
See beneath what’s locked in to this point, and keep tuned. The Disrupt 2025 agenda is just getting greater, with extra prime names and daring conversations on the way in which.
Elevating Sensible
A Dialog with Investor Extraordinaire Elad Gil
Earlier than many 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 thought.
Gil, who has additionally based a number of corporations like Mixer Labs (purchased by Twitter) and Shade 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 Fischerassociate, at 01 Advisors
Be part of these three powerhouse buyers from 01 Advisors for an insider fireplace chat on what it actually takes to construct, scale, and fund early-stage startups as we speak. From product to development to fundraising, you’ll get candid recommendation and contemporary views from trade veterans shaping the subsequent wave of tech success.
Seed Cash Secrets and techniques Each Founder Ought to Know
Gabby Cazeauassociate, Harlem Capital, Marlon Nicholsco-founder and managing normal associate, MaC Enterprise Capital, and Maria Palmaassociate, Freestyle Capital
Elevating your first spherical is hard, however removed from unattainable. This panel brings collectively skilled buyers to interrupt down what it actually takes to shut a seed spherical. From crafting the precise pitch to making sure you might be greenlighting the precise companions, get actionable recommendation to show investor curiosity into capital.
Methods to Increase a Collection A in 2026
Sangeen zebnormal associate, 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
Hadenormal associate, defy.vc, Jyoti bansalCEO and co-founder, Harness, and Jennifer Neundorfernormal associate, January Ventures
Buyers hear a whole bunch of pitches, however only some stand out. Hear immediately from VCs on what they love, what makes them cringe, and the refined alerts founders typically miss. This panel reveals insider suggestions that will help you craft a pitch that grabs consideration, builds belief, and wins the precise checks.
Picture Credit:Kimberly White / Getty Photos
Rethinking Startup Capital with out VCs
Erik Eachco-founder and CEO, Chess.com, Kay MakihiLupoff/Stevens Household Workplace, and Gale Wilkinsonmanaging associate, VITALIZE Enterprise Capital
VCs aren’t the one recreation on the town. Be part of us as we discover different fundraising paths with an angel investor, a household workplace vp, 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.
Getting ready Now for Your Later Stage Increase
Lila Prestonhead of development fairness, Technology Funding Administration, Andrea ThomazCEO and co-founder, Diligent Robotics, and Zeyaassociate, IVP
Elevating later-stage rounds takes greater than luck — it’s about technique from day one. Be part of these two distinctive VCs and an skilled founder as they share how you can construct metrics, storytelling, and relationships that place your startup for future funding success. Study 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 Achadjianassociate, Index Ventures, Jerry Chennormal associate, 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 traits and applied sciences that would form your small business within the yr forward.
Scaling Sensible
Constructing in a Time of Uncertainty
Ryan Petersen, founder and CEO, Flexport
Uncertainty is the brand new regular, but it surely’s additionally a chance. On this fireplace chat, Ryan PetersenCEO of worldwide logistics unicorn Flexportshares his hard-won insights. With $2.3 billion raised, Flexport’s delivery know-how intersects worldwide enterprise and coverage, giving Petersen nearly prescient financial insights. He’s been vocal about every little thing from tariff coverage to AI. He’s additionally skilled private volatility, famously leaving his CEO function after which returning lower than a yr later. Founders, take notes: That is the way you construct when the principles maintain altering.
Methods to Nail Product-Market Match
Rajat bhagariafounder and CEO, Chef Robotics, Ann tableetskyassociate, NEA, and Murali Joshi. Companion, Iconiq
Constructing a product is tough. Constructing one which prospects are champing 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 development, funding, and traction. Hear from a founder who’s lived it and two buyers who’ve helped many others get there. This panel breaks down how you can take a look at smarter and iterate with intention so you possibly can cease guessing and begin rising.
Picture Credit:Haje Kamps / TechCrunch
How A lot Wage and Fairness Ought to You Actually Provide Early Workers?
Randa Jakubowzhead of operations and expertise, 645 Ventures, Rebecca Lee Whitingfractional normal 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 possibly can entice and maintain them. This panel dives into constructing fairness and advantages packages that compete with massive tech with out breaking your burn price. Hear real-world methods to align incentives, increase retention, and construct a crew that scales.
With Vibe Coding, Do Early-Stage Startups Nonetheless Have to Rent 10x Engineers?
David Cramerco-founder and CPO, Sentry, Larioreassociate, Bessemer Enterprise Companions, and a speaker to be introduced
Vibe coding merchandise have fully modified the pace, value, 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 study to code anymore. If that’s the 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 Workers?
Caleb pepperco-founder and CEO, Firecrawl, and extra audio system to be introduced
Most startups as we speak are utilizing AI in some capacities: vibe coding prototypes or new options, deep analysis through 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 assist? To automate your billing? Learn to decide the precise use instances, construct smarter workflows, and get the most important affect with restricted assets.
Do Startups Nonetheless Want Silicon Valley?
Anh-THO ChuongCEO and co-founder, Lago, Heather doshayassociate, head of expertise, SignalFire, and David Corridormanaging associate, Rise of the Relaxation seed fund, Revolution
Whereas Silicon Valley remains to be the startup capital, how vital 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 buyers and founders redefining what it means to construct, scale, and fund an organization in as we speak’s decentralized tech world.
Constructing a GTM Engine that Truly Works
Max Altschulerfounder and normal associate, 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 perform that drives development, wins prospects, 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 acquire invaluable insights from these tech giants dwell at Disrupt 2025 alongside 10,000+ startup, tech, and VC leaders this October, however you too can save as much as $675 in your cross as we speak. Register right here to lock in your financial savings.
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