Key facts
- The TechCrunch Founder Summit will take place on November 4 at Boston's SoWa Power Station.
- Sessions will cover fundraising, AI strategy, hiring, and CEO leadership.
- Speakers include investors from Underscore, Sequoia, TDK Ventures, NEA, and Bessemer Venture Partners.
- Founders will receive insights on building AI-native companies and identifying category winners.
- The event aims to help founders avoid common mistakes in fundraising and team building.
TechCrunch has announced the agenda for its upcoming Founder Summit, a one-day event focused on startup building, set to take place on November 4 at Boston’s SoWa Power Station. The summit is designed to provide founders with direct access to investors and experienced entrepreneurs to help them navigate the complexities of launching and scaling a business.
The agenda features sessions addressing critical areas such as fundraising, AI strategy, hiring, and CEO leadership. Speakers include Brian Devaney, partner at Underscore, who will discuss the current fundraising landscape and investor expectations. Brian Halligan, HubSpot co-founder and Sequoia partner, will share insights on the evolving role of a CEO through different company stages. Lior Div, co-founder and CEO of 7AI, will explore the unique challenges and strategies for building AI-native companies from the ground up.
Additional sessions will cover how founders can choose the right investors beyond just valuation, with insights from Vineet Edupuganti, co-founder and CEO of Cogent Security. Tina Tosukhowong, investment director at TDK Ventures, will present a framework for identifying category-defining companies. Melissa Taunton, partner at NEA, will offer guidance on building resilient teams through effective hiring, while Chase Garbarino, co-founder and CEO of HqO, will share his experience building a successful company from Boston. Kent Bennett, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, will focus on achieving product-market fit before scaling.
Beyond the scheduled talks, the summit will also offer networking opportunities for founders to connect with peers and investors.