TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Unveils Builders Stage Lineup with Founders, VCs, and AI Innovators Sharing Scaling Secrets

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 has finalized its Builders Stage agenda, offering founders, operators, and investors a deep dive into the practical realities of building and scaling startups. Taking place October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, the stage is dedicated to actionable insights, real-world tactics, and candid conversations from those who’ve built category-defining companies. The lineup continues to grow with notable additions, including Jason Citron, founder and former CEO of Discord, joining forces with Tade Oyerinde, founder and chancellor of Campus, to discuss how to build companies rooted in community. Their conversation will explore product design, scaling amid competition, and balancing vision with adaptability. Other highlights include a fireside chat with Elad Gil, CEO of Gil & Co., known for early investments in Airbnb, Stripe, Notion, and AI pioneers like Perplexity and Character.AI. Gil will share his perspective on what’s next in AI and investing. Founders navigating early-stage fundraising will benefit from panels on pitching at the inception stage, with Mayfield’s Navin Chaddha and Precursor Ventures’ Charles Hudson breaking down how to win trust with no product or traction. The Seed Money Secrets session brings together Gabby Cazeau (Harlem Capital), Marlon Nichols (MaC Venture Capital), and Maria Palma (Freestyle Capital) to reveal what investors really look for when evaluating first rounds. For those preparing for Series A in 2026, top VCs Thomas Krane (Insight Partners), Katie Stanton (Moxxie Ventures), and Sangeen Zeb (GV) will discuss the metrics and messaging that win term sheets. Meanwhile, Medha Agarwal (defy.vc), Jyoti Bansal (Harness), and Jennifer Neundorfer (January Ventures) will share what truly stands out in a pitch—beyond the slide deck. Alternative funding paths are also covered, with Erik Allebest (Chess.com), Kay Makishi (Lupoff/Stevens Family Office), and Gale Wilkinson (VITALIZE VC) exploring non-VC routes like bootstrapping, angel investing, and family offices. On the scaling side, Ryan Petersen (Flexport) will share hard-earned lessons from leading a global logistics company through economic uncertainty and personal leadership shifts. Rajat Bhageria (Chef Robotics), Ann Bordetsky (NEA), and Murali Joshi (ICONIQ) will tackle the messy but critical journey to product-market fit. Talent strategy is front and center, with discussions on how to structure early compensation packages that attract top talent without overextending budgets. The panel on hiring AI agents as early employees—featuring Jaspar Carmichael-Jack (Artisan), Sarah Franklin (Lattice), and Caleb Peffer (Firecrawl)—will explore where AI can replace humans and where human judgment still matters most. The debate over whether startups still need Silicon Valley continues with Anh-Tho Chuong (Lago), Tawni Cranz (SignalFire), and David Hall (Rise of the Rest). Meanwhile, Max Altschuler (GTMfund), Marc Manara (OpenAI), and Alison Wagonfeld (Google Cloud) will break down how to build a go-to-market engine that actually works—especially with AI-powered tools. One of the most anticipated sessions is a live demo of Moxi, the humanoid robot from Diligent Robotics, already deployed in hospitals to handle routine tasks and free up staff. Attendees will see how Moxi navigates complex environments, interacts with people, and supports healthcare teams. From fundraising to talent, product, GTM, and AI integration, the Builders Stage delivers the unfiltered, no-fluff guidance founders need to scale smarter. With over 10,000 tech and startup leaders expected, registering now offers savings of up to $668 before prices rise later this month.