Startups do not build themselves. The builders stand at Techcrunch interrupt 2025happening October 27-29 at Moscone West of San Francisco, is where investors, operators and founders come to talk tactics-Nitty-Grimpty from pulling out something off the ground and make it work. This year, we bring some of the sharpest minds in the game to the stage, including legendary investor Elad Gil, former Twitter -General Dick Costle, and Flexport founder Ryan Petersen. If you are looking for real-world insights from people who have actually built and supported category-defining companies, this is where it happens.
Do you struggle with your first term sheet, building a GTM engine that actually converts, or wonder if AI should be your next employment, the Builders stage have answers. Wait for candidate conversations, recent strategies and non-fluid advice from the people who have passed through the Fire-Plus audience Q&A during each session so you can answer your hardest questions.
Scale smarter with available understandings of the leaders sitting forward and focus on the builders. Register now and save up to $ 675 in your ticket.
First look at the builders’ agenda
See what is locked up so far and stay tuned. The To interrupt a 2025 agenda Only increases, with higher names and bold conversations on the way.
Raising Smart
Conversation with Investor Extraordinary Elad Gil
Before most of the world experienced Chatgpt, Sell GIL had already written seed checks to startups such as perplexity, character.ai and Harvey. This is top of early bets about companies like Airbnb, AirTable, Anduril, Brex, Checkr, Coinbase, Deel, Figma, Flexport, Gitlab, Taste, Instacart, Notion, Opendoor, Pinterest, Rippling, Square, Stripe … you get the idea.
GIL, who also founded multiple companies such as Mixerlabs (bought by Twitter) and color health, always seems to know what is following. And he is already working on the coming things for AI and Investment.
Build what follows with the minds behind Twitter and Meta
Adam Bain And Dick ribco -founders and managing partners, and David Fischerpartner, at 01 counselors
Join these three powerful investors of 01 counselors For a cultured fiery chat about what it really needs to build, scale and fund early stages today. From product to growth to fundraising, you will receive candidate advice and recent perspectives from industrial veterans forming the next wave of Te Technical Success.
Seed money secrets that every founder must know
Gabby Cazeaupartner, Harlem Capital, Marlon Nicholsco -founder and administrative general partner, Mac Venture Capital, and Mary PalmaPartner, Freestyle Capital
Increasing your first round is difficult, but far from impossible. This panel brings together experienced investors to destroy what it really needs to close seed. From creating the right pitch to ensuring you illuminate the right partners, get action advice to make investment interest in capital.
How to raise series A in 2026
Sangeen zebgeneral partner, gv, and more speakers to be announced
In this unfiltered panel, top VCs reveal what really makes them offer a term with a healthy assessment – from metrics that matter to the pitch errors that kill deals. Learn how to position your company for its first price, institutional investment.
What vc really wants to hear in your pitch
Hadegeneral partner, defy.vc, Jyoti BansalDirector General and Co -Founder, Hair League, and Jennifer NeundorferGeneral Partner, January Ventures
Investors hear hundreds of ditches, but only a few stand out. Listen directly from VCs about what they love, which makes them shout, and the subtle signals that founders often miss. This panel reveals internal tips to help you process a pitch that captures attention, builds trust and earns the right checks.
Rethink starting capital without VCS
Erik bothco -founder and general manager, Chess.com, Kay makihiLupoff/Stevens family office, and Gale WilkinsonManaging Partner, Vitalalize Venture Capital
VCs are not the only game in the city. Join us as we explore alternative fundraising roads with an angel investor, vice president of a family office, and a founder who seized success. Learn how to strike capital that aligns with your vision, keeps you dominant, and leads you to the next stage according to your conditions.
Preparing now for your subsequent stage
Lila prestonHead of growth equity, generational investment management, Andrea ThomazDirector General and Co -Founder, Dedicated Robotics, and Zeyapartner, IVP
Raising later stages more than lucky-topic on the first day’s strategy. Join these three exceptional VCs as they share how to build metrics, stories and relationships that position your start for future financial success. Learn the key moves that set you up to close bigger rounds with confidence.
Where VCs put their bets in 2026
Nina Achadjianpartner, index businesses, Jerry Chengeneral partner, Greylock, and Viviana beechGeneral partner, Felix
Curious Where the smart money goes later? This panel joins top VCs to share its 2026 investment priorities, emerging sectors and what innovations capture its eye. Early stages, this is for you! Get a rare glimpse of the trends and technologies that could form your company next year.
Scaling smart
Building in time of uncertainty
Ryan Petersen, Founder and Director General, Flexport
Uncertainty is the new normal, but it is also an opportunity. In this fire chat, Ryan PetersenDirector General of Global Logistics Unicorn Flexportshares their difficult earning insights. With $ 2.3B income, Flexport’s shipping technology intersects international trade and policy, giving Petersen almost almost economic insights. He was vocal about everything, from tariff politics to AI. He also experienced personal volatility, famously leaving his CEO and later returning less than a year later. Founders, take notes: This is how you build when the rules continue to change.
How to nail a product market suitable
Rajat BhagariaFounder and Director General, Chef Robotics, Ann Tableetskypartner, no, and Murali Joshi. Partner, Iconiq
Building a product is difficult. Building one that customers press a little to get, this is price correctly, and fulfill their promises is even more difficult, and it is always messy. But after you have hit the Holy Grail of product market fitness, your starting is a rapid path to growth, funding and traction. Listen from a founder who lived it and two investors who helped many others achieve it. This panel breaks like testing more skillfully and repeat with intent, so that you stop guessing and starting to grow.
How much salary and equity do you really offer early employees?
Randa JakubowzHead of Operations and Talent, 645 Ventures, Rebecca Lee WhitingFractional General Advisor for Early Stages, Epigramic Legal Computers, and Yin WuDirector General and Founder, Pulley
Early employers form the future of your starting, but only if you can attract and keep them. This panel dives into building packages and benefits packages that compete with a large Te Techniko without breaking your burning rate. Listen to real-world strategies to line up incentives, accelerate retention and build a team that scales.
With vibrant encoding, do early stage startups still need to hire 10X engineers?
David Cramerco -founder and CPO, Sentry, LariorePartner, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Speaker to be announced
VIBE coding products have completely changed the speed, cost and technical agility needed to build products, from prototypes to shipping. This applies especially to early stage startups. Some manufacturers of these products have even stated that no one needs to learn to encode further. If so, that means that startups do not need to fill their early lists with the famous 10x coders. But how much of that is Hype and how much is the reality? Our panelists will dive into how the World Programmer -World changes and what will come next.
Do you have to hire AI as early employees?
Caleb Pepperco -founder and general manager, Firecrawl, and more speakers to be announced
Most startups today use AI in some capabilities: VIBE code prototypes or new features, deep research through their favorite chat in front of sales calls. Many also build AI products, or at least including AI options and functions. So, do you have to insert AI at the root operations of your companies, such as hiring AI agents instead of people for sales? For customer support? To automate your billing? Learn how to choose the right cases, build smarter workflows and get the greatest impact with limited resources.
Do startups still need Silicon Valley?
Anh-tho ChuongDirector General and Co -Founder, Lake, Heather Doshaypartner, head of talent, signalfire, and David HallManaging Partner, Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Revolution
While Silicon Valley is still the starting capital, how much is it any access to it? This panel debates whether founders should plant roots in the valley to succeed or if a chance is so strong elsewhere that they do not need it. Listen to prospects of investors and founders to redefine what it means building, scaling and funding a company in today’s decentralized Technical World.
Building a GTM engine that actually works
Max AltschulerFounder and General Partner, GTMFund, and more speakers to be announced
A killer product needs a killer-to-market strategy. This panel destroys how early stages can build a GTM function that drives growth, gains customers and scales effectively. Listen from founders and GTM experts on employment, messaging, sales tactics and the key metrics that prove that your access works.
Do you want to see more?
Not only will you gain worthless insights from these ie Technic giants in the 2025 interruption along with 10,000+ startup, ie Techniko and VC leaders this October, but you can also save up to $ 675 in your pass today. Register here to lock your savings.
