TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to Feature Builders Stage for Startup Scaling Strategies

The Builders Stage is returning to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, bringing together founders, startup operators, and investors for practical conversations on what it takes to build and scale successful companies. The event will take place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from October 13 to 15, drawing more than 10,000 technology leaders, founders, and investors.

As one of six industry-focused stages at Disrupt 2026, the Builders Stage is designed to help founders navigate growth challenges, including raising capital, hiring top talent, building go-to-market engines, and transitioning from seed to Series A. Every session will feature practical strategies and opportunities for direct engagement with speakers during live Q&A sessions.

Navigating the AI Landscape and Defensibility

With artificial intelligence dominating the venture ecosystem, several sessions will address how startups can survive and thrive. In "How to Win When You’re Not Building AI," Shan Shan, Investment Manager at Baillie Gifford, and Yuri Sagalov, Managing Director at General Catalyst, will discuss how non-AI companies can build breakout businesses by focusing on efficient growth, retention, revenue quality, and disciplined execution.

For AI-focused startups, "What Happens When OpenAI Ships Your Roadmap" will explore product defensibility. Panelists Michel Tricot, CEO and co-founder of Airbyte; Rob Toews, Partner at Radical Ventures; and Linda Tong, CEO of Webflow, will discuss how founders can respond when major AI players launch competing features.

Additionally, Jas Khaira, Global Head of Blackstone N1, will lead a session on "Building the Next Generation of AI Giants," focusing on capital management and what Blackstone looks for when backing category-defining businesses. Another panel, featuring Mo Jomaa, Partner at Capital G, and Zuzanna Stamirowska, CEO and co-founder of Pathway, will discuss how companies navigate a multi-model world by orchestrating across various AI models to manage cost and reliability.

Product Decisions, Talent, and Organizational Growth

The event will also feature sessions on scaling products and managing human infrastructure. Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google, will host a fireside chat on how product decision-making must evolve when transitioning from a minimum viable product to serving billions of users, balancing speed with trust and reliability.

Hiring and retaining talent remains a critical challenge. A session titled "Competing for AI Talent: Pay, Equity, and Retention," featuring Matt Birnbaum, founder of Wylder.co, Ioana Hreninciuc of Runware, and Atli Thorkelsson, VP of Talent Network at Redpoint Ventures, will examine how companies are adapting compensation and culture to attract talent. A related session, "Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder," featuring Josh Reeves, CEO and co-founder of Gusto, will explore how high-growth startups build hybrid teams of humans and AI agents.

Redesigning established platforms will also be highlighted. Maria Angelidou-Smith, Chief Product Officer at Reddit, alongside leaders from Square and Uber, will discuss how they are rebuilding consumer products for the AI era to meet changing user expectations without over-automating.

Fundraising, Go-to-Market, and Exit Strategies

The Builders Stage will address shifting expectations in venture capital and customer acquisition. In "Winning Pre-Seed Without a Product," 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 share how founders can build credibility before generating revenue.

For later-stage funding, Jahanvi Sardana, Partner at Index Ventures; Shailendra Singh, Managing Director at Peak XV; and Janelle Teng Wade, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, will outline what "fundable" will mean for Series A rounds in 2027.

Other key sessions include:

• The 90-Day GTM: Ryan Meadows, Chief Revenue Officer at Lovable, and Tomasz Tunguz, General Partner and Founder at Theory Ventures, alongside Ben Broca, founder of Polsia, will discuss how compressed timelines are establishing $0 to $10 million ARR as a new early-stage baseline.
• The Zero-to-1K Playbook: 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 for acquiring the first 1,000 customers without a marketing budget.
• 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 build with acquisition options in mind from day one.

Evaluating Product-Market Fit and Founder Well-being

To help founders identify sustainable growth, Rajeev Dham, Managing Director at Sapphire Ventures, and Rahul Vohra, Founder and Head of Superhuman Mail, will lead a session on identifying false product-market fit signals during an AI hype cycle.

Addressing the personal toll of entrepreneurship, "Yes, It’s Hard to Be a Founder" will feature 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, discussing burnout, decision fatigue, and mental frameworks for high-pressure environments.

The event will also feature a session on building repeatable multi-product engines with Filip Kaliszan, CEO and co-founder of Verkada, and Aaron Jacobson, Partner at New Enterprise Associates, alongside Maddi Holman, General Partner at Daring Ventures. Additionally, Zach Yadegari, founder of Cal AI, will share insights on sustaining viral growth.

The programming will conclude with insights from Startup Battlefield judges, including Stacy Brown-Philpot, Founder & Managing Partner at Cherryrock Capital; Chi-Hua Chien, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Goodwater Capital; Dayna Grayson of Construct Capital; Carter Reum, Co-founder and Managing Partner at M13; and Alexa von Tobel of Inspired Capital, who will participate in an audience-led Q&A on investment decisions.