TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is almost here, with more than 10,000 founders, investors, operators, and tech leaders set to convene at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13-15. The event promises a robust schedule of interactive roundtable sessions that will explore key topics impacting the tech industry.
Below is the full agenda of roundtable discussions, highlighting a variety of important themes ranging from AI innovations to fundraising tactics.
Table of Contents
1. Arm Wrestling Your Data: The Physical AI Challenge
Radha Basu, Founder and CEO, iMerit
Physical AI requires more than just larger models. Basu addresses the data issues related to robotics and autonomous systems, such as edge cases, multimodal data, and the development of dependable pipelines that work effectively in real-world settings.
2. Is SaaS Dead? AI Is Exposing What Enterprise Software Got Wrong
Rajeev Singh, CEO, Smartsheet
AI isn’t eliminating SaaS; rather, it’s uncovering the underlying fragmentation. Singh analyzes how orchestration, organizational context, and intelligence across workflows might define the next wave of enterprise software.
3. Can AI Take You Public? The New Playbook for IPO-Ready Finance
Eléonore Crespo, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Pigment; and Sofia Fatakhova, Senior Vice President, Finance and Capital Markets, Chime
Getting ready for an IPO begins earlier than it once did. Find out how AI-driven finance teams can automate processes, maintain documentation, and build the financial discipline required well ahead of a public offering.
4. Specialty Post-Training Data: Powering the Next Wave of AI
Dani London, Investor, Base10 Partners
As models advance, specialized data is becoming a crucial differentiator. Investigate where valuable datasets originate, which applications are most in need of them, and the businesses developing around this new layer of the AI ecosystem.
5. AI’s Next Frontier: Modernizing Legacy Industries
Rob Biederman, Managing Partner, Asymmetric Capital Partners
Significant AI opportunities may exist beyond conventional tech. Biederman looks at how outdated workflows and neglected industries are creating space for a new wave of startups.
6. The Science of Powerful Introductions: How to Be Remembered in an AI World
Cal Amir, Keynote Speaker and Founder, Introduction Lab
The first minute you spend with an investor, customer, or prospective hire is critical. Discover what makes an introduction stand out, which common methods often fail, and how to be memorable without immediately pitching.
7. Atoms vs. Bits: Physical AI for the Physical World
Jackson Feder, VP, Investment, MetaProp
AI is shifting from digital tasks to applications in construction, property, infrastructure, and energy. Learn how physical AI opens new opportunities and why developing for the physical world calls for a different methodology than traditional software.
8. Beyond the Demo: Building Physical AI That Actually Works
Logan Farrell, Co-founder and CTO, Rugged Robotics; and Austin Yount, Partner, Brick & Mortar Ventures
An impressive robotics demonstration does not equate to a functional product. This discussion focuses on reliability, workflow integration, trust, ROI, and the requirements for physical AI to be adopted widely by customers.
9. Beyond Inventory: The Commerce AI Playbook for the Intent Era
Srishti Chaudhary, Senior Manager, Product, Walmart eCommerce
Commerce is evolving from interpreting search terms to understanding customer intent. Explore how agentic shopping impacts personalization, transactions, LLMs, and ultimately, who has the customer relationship.
10. The Quantum Revolution: What Investors Need to Know
Speaker details to be announced
Quantum computing is nearing commercial viability. This session will provide investors with practical knowledge about the technology, new opportunities, and the key milestones that differentiate real advancements from mere hype.
11. Healthcare Took 40 Years to Adopt EHRs, Then Adopted Generative AI in Three. What Comes Next?
Brian Butler, Partner, Questa Capital
The rapid adoption of generative AI in healthcare has been noteworthy. Butler examines the factors driving this quick transition, the challenges that still exist, and the potential for founders to create enduring value as healthcare organizations reassess their tech investments.
12. Beyond the Term Sheet: How to Architect a Great Fundraise
Alex Li, Partner, MVP Ventures
A successful fundraising effort requires more than just a pitch. Learn how to choose the right investors, secure introductions, navigate a competitive landscape, negotiate terms, and create a cap table that supports future growth.
13. From Pilot to Production at Scale: Provable, Trusted Agentic AI for the Enterprise
Dr. Maha Achour, Co-founder and CEO, Kodamai; and Pankaj Kedia, Founder and Managing Partner, 2468 Ventures
Why do many enterprise AI initiatives remain in pilot mode? Explore the necessary changes to transition agentic systems into trusted, verifiable, and scalable production environments.
14. Brutal Truth: 12 Critical Mistakes That Nearly Derailed My CISO Career
Stephen Ward, Founder and Managing Partner, Brightmind Partners
Ward shares lessons learned from errors made throughout his CISO career, from taking on unsustainable risks to addressing organizational maturity too early–and what other leaders can take away from his experiences.
