The TechCrunch Founder Summit is scheduled for November 4, 2026, at the SoWa Power Station in Boston. The full-day conference is designed to bring together entrepreneurs at various stages of growth with venture capitalists and seasoned business leaders to discuss practical strategies for scaling companies.
This event serves as a more intimate, hands-on alternative to TechCrunch’s larger Disrupt conference. While Disrupt features a broad lineup of speakers from major firms like Anthropic, Nvidia, OpenAI, and Benchmark, the Founder Summit focuses specifically on the operational mechanics of building a business, including fundraising, hiring, legal considerations, and leadership.
The agenda emphasizes three core areas: capital raising, AI-native development, and executive leadership. Notable sessions include discussions on the current landscape of venture funding led by Underscore partner Brian Devaney, and insights on the evolving responsibilities of CEOs from HubSpot co-founder and Sequoia partner Brian Halligan.
Additional speakers include Lior Div, CEO of 7AI, who will address integrating artificial intelligence into company foundations; Vineet Edupuganti of Cogent Security, who will discuss evaluating investor terms beyond valuation; and Tina Tosukhowong from TDK Ventures, who will present frameworks for assessing startup scalability and economics.
NEA partner Melissa Taunton will lead a session on early hiring impacts on corporate culture, while HqO CEO Chase Garbarino will share experiences on building a category-defining company outside of Silicon Valley after raising $200 million. Kent Bennett of Bessemer Venture Partners will also speak on achieving product-market fit prior to expansion.
The event was previously known as Early Stage and All Stage before being rebranded this year. Beyond main stage presentations, attendees can participate in smaller breakout panels and network using the Braindate application. The broader Founder Summit week runs from November 1 through November 7, featuring additional side events and opportunities for attendees to host their own gatherings.
Ticket pricing is structured in phases, with costs increasing after October 16. Current rates are $399 for investors, $199 for founders, and $149 for students. Discounts are available for group purchases, including a 50% reduction for a second ticket bought for a colleague or co-founder. Volunteers who assist with event operations can attend free of charge, with applications closing on October 19.
I appreciate the student ticket price. As a grad student exploring startups, that $149 entry point makes attending actually feasible for us.
Brian Halligan speaking on leadership is a huge draw. If you want real CEO insights, this is the place to be.
Boston venue is solid, but $399 for investors seems steep compared to a few years ago. Hope the networking ROI justifies it.
Wait, so is this just a smaller Disrupt with a different name? I miss the energy of the bigger conference, to be honest.
Finally, an event focusing on the nitty-gritty of fundraising instead of just hype. Need those practical strategies desperately right now.