TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

TechCrunch's flagship startup conference where founders, investors and operators meet over AI, fundraising and scaling.

Date and Time

October 13 - October 15

Location

Moscone Center

747 Howard St CA 94103

About This Event

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is a Technology event taking place 13-15 Oct 2026 at Moscone Center, San Francisco, United States.

TechCrunch Disrupt is the technology publisher's biggest annual gathering for the startup ecosystem. Over three days in San Francisco, the 2026 edition puts founders, venture investors, operators and innovators in the same halls at Moscone West for keynote conversations, industry stages, breakouts, roundtables, an expo floor and the Startup Battlefield pitch competition. TechCrunch expects more than 10,000 attendees.

Who attends

Disrupt is built for people at every stage of the startup journey, with dedicated passes and networking for each group.

  • Founders looking for funding, exposure and growth advice
  • Investors scouting breakout startups and emerging trends
  • Operators seeking practical strategies to scale
  • Innovators exploring new technology and partnerships

Key topics for 2026

The 2026 programme is organised around four themes, delivered across the Disrupt Stage, the Builders Stage and industry stages such as Real World AI.

  • Building & Scaling: fundraising, company building and operations
  • AI & the Physical World: robotics, autonomy, energy and scientific discovery
  • Digital Finance: stablecoins, embedded finance and payment infrastructure
  • Machines, Infrastructure & Energy: rebuilding physical-world systems

Startup Battlefield

TechCrunch's long-running startup competition runs throughout the event. The 2026 Startup Battlefield 200 cohort was announced in August, and the final five teams pitch expert judges on October 15 for the Battlefield Cup and a $100,000 equity-free prize. TechCrunch says Battlefield alumni have raised $32 billion.

Networking and expo

Beyond the stages, attendees use matchmaking for one-to-one meetings, explore the Expo Hall and join side events across the city. Founder and investor pass holders also get the Deal Flow Cafe, curated opt-in founder and investor lists, and an investor-only StrictlyVC session.

Tickets & passes

  • Attendee Pass — USD 949: Regular $1,049. All industry stages, breakouts, roundtables, 1:1 matchmaking and the Expo Hall
  • Founder Pass — USD 999: Regular $1,099. Attendee perks plus Deal Flow Cafe, speaker Q&As and the curated investor list
  • Investor Pass — USD 1,099: Regular $1,199. Attendee perks plus investor-only StrictlyVC session and curated founder list
  • Non-Profit Pass — USD 399: Regular $499. For non-profit and public employees
  • Student Pass — USD 349: Regular $399. For students or recent grads
  • Expo+ Pass — USD 299: Regular $349. Expo Hall, on-site experiences and 1:1 matchmaking

Agenda

Tuesday, October 13

11:15 AM – 11:45 AM

Disrupt Stage

Building the Impossible

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM

Disrupt Stage

Can AI Keep Scaling?

Wednesday, October 14

11:15 AM – 11:45 AM

Disrupt Stage

AI, Surveillance, and the Future of Public Safety

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM

Disrupt Stage

When AI Starts Designing Its Own Hardware

Thursday, October 15

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Disrupt Stage

What Comes After the Smartphone?

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Disrupt Stage

Can Social Start Over?

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Disrupt Stage

Startup Battlefield Final

The final five teams pitch expert judges for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM

Disrupt Stage

Everyone Can Build Software Now. What Happens Next?

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM

Disrupt Stage

Beyond the Check: The Power of Access

Frequently asked questions

About this listing

Details are collected from the organizer’s official site, techcrunch.com.

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October 13 - October 15

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026