Startups don't build themselves. TechCrunch's builder stage will disrupt 2025, which will take place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27-29. Investors, operators and founders will start talking about tactics. This year we will bring some of the keenest minds of the game onto the stage. These include legendary investor Elad Gil, former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, and Flexport founder Ryan Petersen. If you're looking for real-world insights from people who have actually built and supported the companies that define categories, this is where it happens.
If you're struggling with your first term seat, whether you're wondering whether you're actually building a GTM engine to convert, or whether AI should be your next employment, Builders Stage has the answer. Expect candid conversations, fresh strategies and tasteless advice from those who have experienced the fire. Plus, we use audience Q&A during every session, so answer the toughest questions.
Expands scaling with actionable insights from the leader sitting in the front and center of the builder stage. Sign up now and save up to $675 on your ticket.
How to look at the Builder Stage Agenda first
See below for what has been trapped so far. The 2025 agenda disruption is growing, with more top names and bold conversations in the middle.
Raise smart
Investor's extraordinary conversation with Elad Gil
Before most of the world experienced ChatGpt, Elad Gil had already written seed checks for startups such as Perplexity, Charition.ai, and Harvey. This adds to early bets on companies like Airbnb, Airtable, Anduril, Brex, CheckR, Coinbase, Deel, Figma, Flexport, Gitlab, Gusto, Instacart, Notion, Opendoor, Pinterest, Rippling, Square, and Stripe.
Having founded several companies like Mixer Labs (purchased on Twitter) and Color Health, Gil always seems to know: And he's already working on the next thing that comes for AI and investment.
Building the next thing together with the mind behind Twitter and Meta
Co-founders and managing partners Adam Bain and Dick Kostro, and David Fisher, 01 Advisor partner
Join these three powerhouse investors from 01 Advisors to see the insider fireside chat you really need to build, expand and fund today's early stage startups. From products to growth and fundraising, you'll get candid advice and fresh perspectives from industry veterans shaping the next wave of technology success.
Seed Money Secrets All Founders Should Know
Gabby Cazeau, partners, Harlem Capital, Marlon Nichols, co-founder and managing general partner Mac Venture Capital, and Freestyle Capital partner Maria Palma
It's difficult to raise the first round, but it's far from impossible. This panel brings together experienced investors to break down what you really need to close the seed round. From creating the right pitch to making sure you're greenlighting the right partner, get practical advice on turning investor interest into capital.
How to raise Series A in 2026
More speakers to be announced by Sangeen Zeb, GV and other speakers
In this unfiltered panel, the top VC reveals what you can actually get to provide term sheets with healthy ratings, from important metrics to miss pitches that kill trades. Learn how to position your company for initial price institutional investments.
What VCS really wants to hear on your pitch
Medha Agarwal, General Partner, Defy.vc, Jyoti Bansal, CEO and co-founder, Harness, Jennifer Neundorfer, General Partner, January Ventures
Investors hear hundreds of pitches, but only a few stand out. We hear directly from VCS about what they love, what they are shrunken, and what the founders of subtle signals often miss. The panel unveils insider tips that will help you create a pitch that will attract attention, build trust and earn the right checks.
Rethinking Startup Capital without VCS
Co-founder and CEO Chess.com, Kay Makishi, Lupoff/Stevens Family Office, and Vitalize Venture Capital
VC is not the only game in town. Explore alternative financing paths with angel investors, family office vice presidents and founders who have successfully bootstraped. Learn how to leverage capital that matches your vision, stay in control and take you to the next stage of your terms.
Prepare now for a later stage salary increase
Zeya Yang, CEO and co-founder, hardworking robotics and IVP partner, Lila Preston, Growth Equities, Generation Investment Management, Andrea Thomas, CEO and co-founder, hardworking robotics and IVP partner
To advance the second round, you need more than luck. It's about strategy from day one. Join these two exceptional VCs and experienced founders to share how you can build metrics, storytelling, and relationships that position your startup for future fundraising success. Learn the key moves that set you up to close the bigger round with confidence.
Where VCs are betting in 2026
Nina Atchajian, Partners, Index Ventures, Jerrychen, General Partners, Greylock, and Vivianafaga, General Partners, Felicis
Are you curious as to where smart money is heading next? This panel brings together top VCSs to share investment priorities, emerging sectors and what innovations are catching eye for 2026. Early Stage Founder, this is for you! You'll get a rare glimpse into the trends and technologies that could shape your business this year.
Smart Smart
Construction in an era of uncertainty
Ryan Petersen, Founder and CEO of Flexport
Uncertainty is a new normal, but it is also an opportunity. In this fireside chat, Ryan Petersen, CEO of Global Logistics Unicorn Flexport, shares his hard-working insights. With a $2.3 billion raised, Flexport's shipping technology crosses international business and policy, giving Petersen almost visionary economic insights. He speaks up on everything from tariff policy to AI. He also experienced personal volatility, left the famous CEO role and returned less than a year later. Founder, take notes: This is how you build it when rules continue to change.
How to nail the fit in the product market
Rajat Bhageria, Founder and CEO, Chefrobotics, Ann Bordetsky, Partner, NEA, and Murali Joshi, Partner, Iconiq
Building a product is difficult. Building something that customers are defending for a bit, it is priced and even more difficult and always tedious to offer that promise. But once you reach the Holy Grail of fit in the product market, your startup is on a fast track of growth, capital and traction. Listen to the founders who have lived it and two investors who helped many others get there. This panel can be smarter to test and deconstruct deliberate ways to stop guessing and start growing.
How much salary and stock do I need to provide to my early employees?
Randi Jakubowitz, Head of Operations and Talents, 645 Ventures, Rebecca Lee Whiting, fragmentary advisor to early-stage startups, Epigram Legal PC, and Yin Wu, CEO and Founder, Pulley
Early recruitment will shape the future of your startup, but only if you can attract and maintain it. This panel bounces into building equity and perk packages that compete with Big Technology without breaking burns. Hear real-world strategies for building teams that adjust incentives, increase retention and scale.
With vibe coding, do early stage startups need to hire 10 times more engineers?
David Cramer, co-founder and CPO, Sentry, Lauri Moore, partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and speakers to be announced
Vibe coding products have completely changed the speed, cost and technical skills required to build a product, from prototypes to shipping. This is especially true for early stage startups. Some manufacturers of these products have declared that no one needs to learn to code anymore. If so, that means that startups don't have to fill their early rosters with the famous 10x coder. But it's a hype, and how much is the reality? Our panelists will dive into how the world of developer tools is changing and what will happen next.
Should I hire AI as an early employee?
Caleb Peffer, co-founder and CEO, Firecrawl and other speakers to be announced
Most startups today use AI in several abilities, including vibe coding prototypes or new features, deep research via favorite chat before a sales call. Also, many build AI products, or at least include AI options and features. So, should you embed AI into your business's route operations, such as hiring AI agents instead of humans for sale? For customer support? How do I automate billing? Learn how to choose the right use cases, build smarter workflows, and get the most impact with limited resources.
Do startups still need Silicon Valley?
ANH-THO CHUONG, CEO and co-founder, Lago, Heather Doshay, Partners, Head of Talent, Signalfire and David Hall, Managing Partners, Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Revolution
Silicon Valley is still the capital of startups, but how important is it to access it now? This panel discusses whether founders must plant roots in the valley to succeed, or whether they do not need it because opportunities are strong elsewhere. Listen to investors and founders for perspectives that redefine what it means to build, expand and fund a company in today's world of decentralized technology.
Building a GTM engine that works
Max Altschuler, founder and general partner of GTMFund, and more speakers to be announced
Killer products require a market strategy to go to killer. This panel categorizes how early-stage startups build GTM functions that drive growth, attract customers, and efficiently drive scale. Ask your founders and GTM experts about key metrics that prove that recruitment, messaging, sales tactics, and approaches are working.
Want to see more?
Not only will you gain valuable insights from these tech giants who live live live in 2025 with over 10,000 startups, tech and VC leaders this October, but you can also save up to $675 on your pass today. To lock your savings, sign up here.
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