Disrupt 2025 Builders Stage Agenda Unveiled
▼ Summary
– The Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 (Oct 27–29 in San Francisco) features top investors and founders sharing practical startup advice.
– Speakers include Elad Gil, Dick Costolo, and Ryan Petersen, offering insights on fundraising, scaling, and AI integration.
– Key sessions cover seed funding, Series A strategies, pitch tips, and alternative capital sources like angel investors and bootstrapping.
– Topics include product-market fit, hiring early employees, AI’s role in startups, and whether Silicon Valley is still essential for success.
– Attendees can save up to $675 on tickets and gain actionable insights from 10,000+ tech and VC leaders.
The Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is where startup founders, investors, and operators gather to share battle-tested strategies for launching and scaling game-changing companies. Taking place October 27–29 in San Francisco, this year’s lineup features industry heavyweights like Elad Gil, Dick Costolo, and Ryan Petersen, all sharing hard-earned lessons on everything from fundraising to product-market fit.
For founders navigating early-stage challenges, whether structuring equity packages, refining pitches, or deciding when to bring AI into operations, the Builders Stage delivers practical insights without the fluff. Every session includes audience Q&A, giving attendees direct access to experts who’ve built and backed billion-dollar ventures.
Here’s a preview of what’s on the agenda:
Fundraising Masterclass
Seed to Series A: What Investors Really Want Top VCs like Gabby Cazeau (Harlem Capital) and Marlon Nichols (MaC Venture Capital) reveal the make-or-break details in seed rounds, while GV’s Sangeen Zeb unpacks the metrics that secure Series A funding in 2026.
Alternative Funding Paths Not every startup fits the VC mold. Chess.com CEO Erik Allebest and Gale Wilkinson (VITALIZE Venture Capital) discuss bootstrapping, angel networks, and family offices as viable routes to growth.
Scaling Through Uncertainty
Product-Market Fit Without the Guesswork Chef Robotics CEO Rajat Bhageria and NEA’s Ann Bordetsky break down data-driven strategies for refining products until customers can’t live without them.
The AI Hiring Dilemma With AI automating tasks from coding to customer support, Firecrawl’s Caleb Peffer leads a debate on when to replace human roles with AI agents—and when it’s a costly mistake.
GTM and Talent Tactics
Equity and Salary for Early Hires Pulley’s Yin Wu and 645 Ventures’ Randi Jakubowitz tackle competing for top talent without blowing runway on inflated packages.
Is Silicon Valley Still Essential? Lago CEO Anh-Tho Chuong and Revolution’s David Hall debate whether geography matters less than ever for scaling globally.
Why Attend? Beyond these sessions, Disrupt 2025 offers networking with 10,000+ founders and investors, plus workshops and pitch feedback. Early registration saves up to $675—secure your spot now to learn from the best while optimizing your growth strategy.
(Note: Speaker lineup subject to change; additional sessions will be announced.)
(Source: TechCrunch)
