Today marks the opening day of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, a high-energy gathering of 10,000 founders, investors, and builders converging at Moscone West in San Francisco. The atmosphere is charged with innovation, as startups, tech leaders, and visionaries come together to shape the next decade of technology. The event kicks off with a full day of action across five powerhouse stages, 300+ exhibiting startups in the Expo Hall, and a wide array of networking and deal-making opportunities. From the Startup Battlefield to the AI Disruptors 60, the event is a launchpad for the most promising new ideas in tech. The Startup Battlefield 200 is the centerpiece of the day, featuring 20 early-stage startups pitching for a $100,000 equity-free prize and the coveted Disrupt Cup. Sessions are judged by top-tier investors including Allison Baum Gates, Cathy Friedman, Katelin Holloway, Charles Hudson, Nicolas Sauvage, Eryk Dobrushkin, Jen Hoskins, Thomas Krane, Jon McNeill, and Katie Stanton. On the Disrupt Stage, thought leaders tackle critical topics like AI, space innovation, and going public. Highlights include Tekedra Mawakana from Waymo delivering a candid look at self-driving technology, Roelof Botha from Sequoia Capital sharing insights on what’s next in venture, and Astro Teller from The Moonshot Factory exploring the future of Alphabet’s bold experiments. The Space Stage brings together pioneers redefining space tech. Sessions cover everything from solving complex aerospace challenges to building new supply chains in orbit. Notable speakers include Dr. Tom Cwik from JPL, Baiju Bhatt of Aetherflux, and William Bruey from Varda Space Industries. Panels also explore investing in space, AI at the edge, and the emerging space economy with leaders from Vast, Stoke Space, and True Anomaly. On the Going Public Stage, founders and investors discuss IPO readiness, post-exit strategies, and how AI is reshaping go-to-market approaches. David George from a16z, Don Burnette from Kodiak AI, Eric Yuan of Zoom, and industry experts from CapitalG, Premise, and Nextdoor share real-world insights. The Builders Stage dives into the gritty realities of startup life. Sessions cover raising a Series A in 2026, scaling teams, building GTM engines, and navigating uncertainty. Speakers include Thomas Krane, Katie Stanton, Tulsee Dosah from Google DeepMind, Darren Mowry from Google Cloud, and Ryan Petersen from Flexport. The Pitch Showcase Stage features live pitches from startups across sustainability, the built world, and international pavilions from Japan, Korea, and Oman. Founders from around the globe present their visions to a live audience and judges. Breakout sessions offer deep dives into niche but critical topics. From AI in national security to bootstrapping startups, fundraising pitfalls, and building AI-ready data infrastructure, these 50-minute Q&As are led by experts from GitHub, Anthropic, Airbyte, Cloudflare, and more. Roundtables provide intimate, pre-registered discussions on topics like AI in fintech, building scalable communities, selling AI agents, and the future of construction. Founders and investors connect on real challenges in small-group settings. Networking is front and center. The Braindate Lounge offers curated and spontaneous meetups. The Deal Flow Cafe provides a quiet space for founders and investors to make deals over coffee. Equity Live kicks off the day with a live recording of TechCrunch’s flagship podcast. Beyond the main event, a series of side events are happening across San Francisco. From pitch parties and deep tech meetups to rooftop AI debates, founder happy hours, and film screenings on humane AI, the energy extends far beyond Moscone West. It’s not too late to join. Tickets are still available, and the event continues through the week. Whether you're a founder, investor, or builder, Disrupt 2025 is where the future of tech is being written — live, in real time.