TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Builders Stage: Scaling startups in an AI-dominated world

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is bringing back its Builders Stage, a dedicated track for founders and startup operators who need actionable strategies to scale. Over 10,000 attendees will gather at San Francisco's Moscone Center from October 13-15 to hear from leaders like Grant Lee (Gamma), Leah Solivan (Precedent.vc), Robby Stein (Google), and more. The agenda zeroes in on the hardest questions founders face today: How do you build defensibility when OpenAI or Anthropic can ship your roadmap? How do you raise pre-seed without a product? And how do you manage a hybrid team of humans and AI agents from day one?

Sessions include candid breakdowns of fundraising, hiring, go-to-market strategy, and operational decisions that fuel growth—without the hype. One standout panel, "What Happens When OpenAI Ships Your Roadmap," features Airbyte's Michel Tricot and Webflow's Linda Tong exploring how founders can survive competition from giant AI labs. Another session, "Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder," with Gusto CEO Josh Reeves, redefines early-stage team building in an era of agentic AI. The Builders Stage is one of six industry-focused tracks at Disrupt, with all content designed for immediate action. Registration is open now with discounts up to $330 before prices increase.