TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 has launched at Moscone West, featuring industry leaders, startup showcases, and a series of sessions on the future of technology.
Key facts
- •TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is taking place from October 13 to 15 at Moscone West in San Francisco.
- •The event hosts more than 10,000 attendees and over 300 exhibiting startups.
- •Speakers include Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, Cerebras CEO Andrew Feldman, and actor and investor Mark Wahlberg.
- •The Startup Battlefield 200 features early-stage companies competing live across various categories.
- •Attendees use Klik-enabled badges to exchange contact information and manage professional networks via the event app.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is underway at Moscone West in San Francisco, drawing more than 10,000 startup founders, investors, and tech leaders. The three-day event, running from October 13 to 15, serves as a hub for the startup ecosystem, featuring six industry stages, hundreds of exhibiting startups, and the Startup Battlefield 200 competition.
By the numbers
Conference Programming and Features
The conference includes six dedicated industry stages covering topics such as AI, fintech, climate tech, and robotics. Attendees can participate in interactive roundtables, Q&A breakouts, and investor-founder meetings. A notable feature on the conference floor is the Pitch Showcase Stage, which hosts rapid-fire, one-minute lightning pitches from startups representing various global regions. Additionally, the Startup Battlefield 200 Built World category highlights early-stage companies focused on infrastructure, real estate, and smart city technologies.
Key Speakers and Industry Discussions
The Disrupt Stage hosts a variety of industry figures discussing the future of technology. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is scheduled to discuss the challenges of scaling physical product manufacturing, while Cerebras CEO Andrew Feldman will address the sustainability of AI scaling regarding compute and energy demands. Other sessions include Science Corporation founder Max Hodak on human-technology interaction, Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley on public safety and AI, and Ricursive Intelligence co-founders Anna Goldie and Azalia Mirhoseini on AI-designed hardware. The event also features discussions on the future of social media with Bluesky leadership and software development with Replit CEO Amjad Masad.
Networking and Attendee Experience
To facilitate professional connections, the event utilizes Klik technology embedded in attendee badges. This system allows participants to exchange contact information through scanning and manage those connections via the official event app. The exhibition hall features over 300 startups showcasing new technologies, providing a central space for discovery and networking throughout the three-day gathering.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by TechCrunch AI.
