We’re Disrupting TechCrunch Disrupt: 8 stages, 3 days, 1 city

For founders and investors, there’s no platform like TechCrunch Disrupt. Just as the industry is always evolving and innovating—especially in recent months—we’re doing the same to keep Disrupt on the cutting edge for first time founders, seasoned investors, visionaries, and everybody in between.

It’s time to disrupt TechCrunch Disrupt.

This year, we’re reimagining and refreshing Disrupt to deliver the essential tools, knowledge, and connections that help ignite ideas and accelerate the next generation of startups. For three days in September, founders, investors, and industry experts will gather in San Francisco to discuss the most groundbreaking developments across six industry tracks, dig deep into expert learnings at the Builder Stage, and watch the world’s next great companies face off in Startup Battlefield 200—plus enjoy all those networking and connection opportunities at workshops, after-hours events, and the TechCrunch+ Lounge.

Startups start here, which is why we’ve tailored Disrupt 2023 to showcase the game-changing ideas, technologies, and industries that are shaping the future of the tech community.

Six new stages for six breakthrough sectors

We heard loud and clear that you wanted more Disrupt, so this year, we’re packing the entire Disrupt ecosystem into the main event! Our popular, stand-alone TC Sessions are coming to the mothership for the very first time: In addition to the Disrupt Stage, we’re filling six stages with salon-like programs that focus on the industries that matter most to the tech world today.

Guided by industry leaders with deep subject matter expertise, these tracks are selected and curated by TechCrunch’s own staff as the most important topics for founders right now. Each industry stage will also feature partner sessions, where TechCrunch partners get the spotlight to share their POV on their sector directly to an audience of their peers.

🤖 The AI Stage will cover the latest artificial intelligence tech related to NLG, speech recognition, virtual agents, biometrics, RPA, deep learning platforms, reactive machines, and P2P networks. Sessions will include: Deepmind and Benchmark.

🌿 The Sustainability Stage will tackle social and environmental solutions such as urban mobility, sustainable tech, green infrastructure, and new mobilities. Sessions will include: Breakthrough Energy Ventures, S2G, and the City of Atlanta.

🧑‍💻 The SaaS Stage will consider how software-as-a-service unlocks creativity and efficiency with mobile apps, cloud-based resources, collaboration tools, creator communities, developer tools, e-commerce, low code, recurring revenue and marketing tools. Sessions will include: GitHub, Cloudflare, and Atlassian.

🏦 The Fintech Stage will dig into the evolution of monetary exchanges across DeFi, challenger banks, blockchain, NFTs, and web3. Sessions will include: Plaid, Andreessen Horowitz, and Starling Bank.

🔐 The Security Stage will put on its white hat to share best practices for data protection, privacy regulations, information sharing, risk Management. Sessions will include: Google and Citizen Lab.

🖥️ The Hardware Stage will uncover the mechanics and code powering our smart world, featuring topics like articulated robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), commercial hardware, humanoids, IoT hardware, and interstellar technologies. Sessions will include: Alphabet and Magic Leap.

Disrupt 2023 isn’t just a conference, though. It’s also a platform for making connections. For founders and investors curious about an emerging category, these sessions are a chance to cross-pollinate. Catching a session will offer a deep view that might inspire you to update your thesis… or even spot that huge, undiscovered opportunity.

Hands-on learning at the Builder Stage

As the original startup conference, we’re extremely proud of how Disrupt has helped generations of founders build their businesses. That’s why we’re bringing back the TechCrunch+ Stage under a new name: The Builder Stage.

Across dozens of panels and interviews with experts, the Builder Stage will cover the nuts and bolts of running a startup from operations and hiring to fundraising, scaling, and beyond. It’s designed with a founder-first mindset, whether they’re seeking their next round of funding, acquiring insights for new tech enterprises, or making relationships that will help them level up faster as entrepreneurs. It’s like an MBA in a day—or three, to be exact.

While there’s a lot more to come from the Builder Stage, we’ve already announced the must-see agenda for Disrupt 2023: