Key facts
- The Builders Stage is returning to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
- The event aims to provide practical strategies for scaling startups.
- Sessions will cover topics including fundraising, hiring, go-to-market strategy, and AI.
- Speakers include Grant Lee of Gamma, Leah Solivan of Precedent.vc, and Robby Stein of Google.
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will be held at Moscone Center in San Francisco from October 13-15.
The Builders Stage is set to return to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, offering practical strategies for scaling startups. The event will convene founders, startup operators, and investors for discussions on building and growing successful companies.
Attendees can expect to hear from prominent figures in the tech and venture capital landscape, including Grant Lee, CEO and co-founder of Gamma; Leah Solivan, founder and general partner at Precedent.vc; and Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google. Sessions will focus on actionable insights derived from real-world case studies, covering critical areas such as fundraising, talent acquisition, go-to-market strategies, the role of AI, and operational decision-making that drives startup expansion.
The conference is scheduled to take place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from October 13-15, with an anticipated attendance of over 10,000 industry professionals. Early registration is encouraged to take advantage of discounted ticket prices.
The Builders Stage is one of six industry-focused stages at Disrupt 2026, specifically designed to assist founders in navigating the complexities of growth, from securing capital and recruiting top talent to developing effective go-to-market strategies and preparing for the transition from seed to Series A funding rounds. Each session aims to deliver immediately applicable strategies, complemented by live Q&A opportunities with speakers.
Key sessions will explore themes such as competing in an AI-dominated market without selling AI models, understanding the competitive landscape when major AI players launch similar products, and strategies for scaling AI startups and attracting capital. Discussions will also address the challenges of competing for AI talent, navigating secondary sales, and rethinking startup human infrastructure. Furthermore, sessions will cover winning pre-seed funding without a product, adapting product decision-making for billion-user scale, and integrating AI as a co-founder in hiring strategies. The agenda also includes discussions on rebuilding consumer products for the AI era, the role of M&A as an early-stage strategy, and the evolving landscape of Series A funding in 2027, emphasizing redefined metrics and investor expectations. Finally, the stage will delve into the compressed go-to-market timelines for achieving $0-$10 million ARR and the strategies for navigating a multi-model AI world.