Key facts
- TechCrunch's Side Events program will feature over 15 gatherings during Disrupt Week.
- Events are scheduled from October 7 to October 16.
- Participating hosts include KOTRA, WayFounder, Enterprise Ireland, SafetyWing, Descope, Uhura Bionics, PrincipiumX, Syntro, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, Omelo, EdgeM8, Fynex, Bolter, INNOVA, BeGlobe PR Agency, CedarDB, Brinc, 500
- Events range from founder networking nights and happy hours to workshops and live demonstrations.
TechCrunch's annual Side Events program will offer more than 15 gatherings in San Francisco during the week of its Disrupt conference in 2026. These events aim to extend the conversation beyond the main show floor, providing networking opportunities for founders, investors, operators, and tech leaders.
The events, scheduled from October 7 to October 16, include a variety of formats such as intimate roundtables, founder gatherings, happy hours, dinners, workshops, and community meetups. They are designed to facilitate connections, collaborations, and discussions on specific industries.
Featured events include the Born2Global Founder Networking Night on October 13, hosted by WayFounder, bringing together emerging startups from South Korea. SafetyWing will host a happy hour at Harrington’s on the same day for founders and HR leaders. Enterprise Ireland is returning with 'The Irish Shark Tank' on October 13, showcasing Irish startups. KOTRA Silicon Valley is organizing a Korea-US Startup & Investor Networking Night on October 14, aimed at connecting Korean startups with the U.S. market. Descope is co-hosting 'Vault & Verify' on October 14, focusing on security, privacy, and identity in the context of AI.
Other events include Uhura Bionics' demonstration of voice-restoration technology, a workshop on product growth by PrincipiumX, a hardware-focused happy hour by Syntro, and a session on Taiwan's AI ecosystem hosted by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs. Additional gatherings cover topics like B2B partnerships, AI and infrastructure networking, business automation demonstrations, deep tech conversations, SQL skill challenges, emerging Korean and Japanese tech showcases, and a founder run.