TechCrunch Disrupt is the startup conference that TechCrunch has run for well over a decade, landing in San Francisco each autumn with a founder-and-investor crowd and its signature Startup Battlefield.
What to expect
Expect a mix of main-stage interviews with founders and investors, breakout sessions, and the Startup Battlefield pitch competition that has helped launch well-known companies. The audience is early-stage and venture heavy, with a strong tech-media presence.
Who it is for
Early-stage founders raising or launching, investors, and anyone plugged into the United States startup and venture scene. It is less useful for enterprise buyers or a purely technical AI audience.
Why attend
The concentration of United States venture investors and tech media makes it a place to raise visibility and meet backers.
Good to know
Held in October at Moscone West in San Francisco, in person. Expect a busy side-event calendar across the city. Check the official site for the agenda and Battlefield applications.
Similar events
If Disrupt fits your plans, also look at Slush 2026 in Helsinki and Web Summit 2026 in Lisbon.
Our take
For an AI or SaaS founder targeting United States venture money and press, Disrupt is high-signal. Treat the sessions as backdrop and spend your energy on the investors and journalists in the room.