The deadline to apply for a Side Event at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 is rapidly approaching, with only hours remaining before submissions close. Applications will shut down tonight at midnight Pacific Time, leaving organizers with less than a day to propose their events.
Founder Summit brings together founders, investors, partners, and technology leaders in Boston from November 1 through November 7. Side Events provide an alternative avenue for community engagement, allowing hosts to connect with attendees before, during, and after the main conference. Potential formats include meetups, happy hours, panels, or workshops.
Events that receive approval gain access to the broader Founder Summit community, extending visibility beyond the venue floor throughout the week. TechCrunch supports these events through placement on its official Side Events page, the event agenda, the mobile application, attendee email communications, a dedicated TechCrunch article, and various social media channels. Additionally, approved hosts can offer ticket discounts to their networks as an incentive for attendance.
While applying provides an opportunity to expand brand reach, TechCrunch notes that submission does not guarantee acceptance. All proposals undergo review by the TechCrunch events team, and only approved events are included in the official program. Organizers are responsible for managing all logistics and associated costs for their side events.
For those interested in attending rather than hosting, tickets remain available for the conference, which is expected to draw more than 1,000 tech leaders to Boston.
The article mentions discounts for networks. That’s a nice touch—definitely sharing with my VC contacts now.
Honestly, side events often feel like a cash grab. I’d rather see them focus on quality over quantity this year.
Boston in November? Perfect timing to network before the holidays. Hope my happy hour proposal gets picked.
Does TechCrunch provide any logistical support, or are hosts truly on their own for everything? Asking for a friend who missed the deadline.
Just submitted mine five minutes ago. Nervous about acceptance, but the exposure is worth the shot.