TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Day 2 Recap

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Day Two Kicks Off

The second day of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is now underway. San Francisco’s Moscone West is anticipated to be bustling with a full schedule of presentations, workshops, networking sessions, and social gatherings for all those in attendance.

Registration for tickets remains open, allowing individuals to participate in the event. A 50% discount on the standard walk-up price is currently available, given that the conference is already in progress.

Explore Disrupt 2025

Attendees can revisit the complete list of speakers. Alternatively, they can explore detailed information about each stage, event, and networking opportunity through the provided links.

Enjoy the experience and contribute to the conversation surrounding Disrupt. Share your insights, photos, and recommendations across all social media platforms using the hashtag #TechCrunchDisrupt2025.

Our team will also be providing live coverage on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.

Key Disrupt Activations

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the major components of Disrupt 2025:

• Expo Hall: Discover the latest innovations and connect with leading companies.

• Women of Disrupt Breakfast: An exclusive event fostering connections among women in tech.

• Networking: Opportunities to connect with peers, investors, and industry leaders.

• Disrupt Stage: Featuring keynote speakers and thought-provoking discussions.

• AI Stage: Dedicated to the latest advancements in artificial intelligence.

• Builders Stage: Showcasing the tools and technologies for creating the future.

• Breakout Stage: Smaller, more focused sessions on specific topics.

• Roundtables: Interactive discussions with experts in various fields.

• StrictlyVC: Insights into the world of venture capital.

• Pitch Showcase Stage: Witness emerging startups present their innovative ideas.

• Disrupt 2025 Side Events: Additional events happening alongside the main conference.

Expo Hall

The Expo Hall, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., continues to serve as a central location for emerging companies. Over 300 startups are participating, potentially leading to significant advancements or investment prospects.

A comprehensive list of the startups exhibiting at the event can be found here.

Key Features of the Expo Hall

• Networking Opportunities: The hall provides a prime environment for connecting with innovative founders and teams.
• Investment Potential: Discover promising ventures that may represent your next successful investment.
• Startup Showcase: Witness firsthand the latest developments from a diverse range of new businesses.

The Expo Hall is designed to facilitate interaction between startups and those seeking to support or invest in groundbreaking technologies and ideas.

Don't miss the chance to explore the innovations on display and potentially contribute to the growth of the next generation of companies.

Women of Disrupt Breakfast Reception

A longstanding tradition continues at Disrupt, offering a valuable morning session designed for individuals who identify as female.

This event facilitates connections, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities with peers from the diverse landscape of tech startups present at the conference.

Event Details

The breakfast reception will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Deal Flow Cafe.

Participation is available on a first-come, first-served basis, ensuring equitable access to this popular event.

Attendees can expect a relaxed atmosphere conducive to building relationships and exchanging insights within the tech startup community.

Networking Opportunities

For those unable to attend the breakfast event, numerous networking possibilities exist via scheduled meetings on Braindate, running from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Participants can both discover existing sessions and initiate their own 1:1 or small-group discussions, allowing for focused exploration of diverse subjects.

The Networking Lounge functions as the central hub for all these interactions and consistently maintains a vibrant atmosphere.

Deal Flow Cafe

Investors and founders are particularly encouraged to visit the Deal Flow Cafe.

This dedicated space provides a focused environment for discussing potential investments and collaborations over coffee.

Serendipitous Connections

Valuable connections can also be made unexpectedly while traveling between sessions.

Furthermore, the Expo Hall, the central area of Disrupt, and other locations throughout the venue offer opportunities to encounter promising startups.

• Explore curated meetings on Braindate.
• Utilize the Networking Lounge for focused discussions.
• Visit the Deal Flow Cafe for investor/founder interactions.
• Take advantage of spontaneous encounters throughout the venue.

Sessions

Industry-focused stages, interactive roundtables, and Q&A breakout sessions are designed to foster inspiration and provide valuable insights.

Disrupt Stage

Vinod Khosla’s Vision for the Future of Technology: No Filters: Featuring Vinod Khosla, Founder of Khosla Ventures.

Startup Battlefield – Session 3: The judging panel comprises Jon Chu (Partner, Khosla Ventures), Madison Faulkner (Partner, NEA), Ilya Kirnos (Founding Partner and CTO, SignalFire), Miloni Madan Presler (Partner, Institutional Venture Partners), and Rinki Sethi (Founding Partner, Lockstep).

The Evolution of Netflix and the Streaming Landscape: Elizabeth Stone, CTO of Netflix, will share her perspectives.

Brynn Putnam’s Return to Disrupt: Exploring What’s Next: Brynn Putnam, Founder of MIRROR and CEO Board, will be presenting.

First Look: Slate Auto’s Electric Truck: Chris Barman, CEO of Slate Auto, will unveil their latest innovation.

Startup Battlefield – Session 4: Judges include Leslie Feinzaig (Founder and GP, Graham & Walker VC), Ross Fubini (Founder and Managing Partner, XYZ Venture Capital), Ben Quazzo (Partner, Accel), Doug Pepper (General Partner, ICONIQ), and Santi Subotovsky (General Partner, Emergence Capital).

Scaling Consumer AI: Overcoming Challenges: Phoebe Gates (Co-Founder, Phia) and Sophia Kianni (Co-Founder, Phia) will discuss strategies.

AI Stage

VC Investment in AI Startups: What Investors Seek: Steve Jang (founder and Managing Partner, Kindred Ventures), Aileen Lee (Founder and Managing Partner, Cowboy Ventures), and Jon McNeill (CEO and Co-Founder, DVx Ventures) will share their insights.

The Intersection of Creativity and Artificial Intelligence: Prateek Dixit (Co-Founder, Pocket Entertainment), Soyoung Lee (Co-Founder and Head of GTM, TwelveLabs), and Nikola Todorovic (Co-Founder, Wonder Dynamics, an Autodesk company) will explore this topic.

The Future of Work with AI: A Conversation with Mercor’s Brendan Foody: Brendan Foody, CEO of Mercer, will lead the discussion.

The Reinforcement Learning Revolution: Transforming the AI Infrastructure Stack: Eric Anderson (Partner, Scale Venture Partners) and Kyle Corbitt (Head of OpenPipe Team, CoreWeave) will present their findings.

The Next Frontier in Search Technology: Edo Liberty, Founder and Chief Scientist of Pinecone, will share his vision.

Bridging Today’s Web and Tomorrow’s Data Layer with Autonomous Agents: Or Lenchner, CEO of Bright Data, will present a conversation on this topic.

The Future of Physical AI and Intelligent Motion: Jeff Cardenas (Co-Founder and CEO, Apptronik) and Raquel Urtasun (Founder and CEO, Waabi) will discuss advancements.

Developing Engaging Enterprise Software with AI: Arun Gupta (VP of Developer Experience, JetBrains) and Mark Pollack (OSS Contributor, Spring OSS Contributor) will share their expertise.

The Impact of Synthetic Voices on Various Industries: Mati Staniszewski, Co-Founder of ElevenLabs, will present their work.

Scaling AI Solutions: Lessons Learned from Real-World Implementations: Sanjay Dhawan (CEO, SymphonyAI) and Tamara Pattison (SVP, Chief Digital Officer, The Save Mart Companies) will share their experiences.

AI for Modern Defense Applications: Ethan Thornton, CEO and Founder of Mach Industries, will discuss the latest developments.

Advancements in Autonomous Driving Technology: Alex Kendall, CEO of Wayve, will present their research.

Builders Stage

Achieving Product-Market Fit: A Strategic Guide: Rajat Bhageria (Founder and CEO, Chef Robotics), Ann Bordetsky (Partner, NEA), and Murali Joshi (Partner, ICONIQ) will share their insights.

Designing Products for the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Andrew Reed (General Partner, Sequoia Capital), Yuhki Yamashita (Chief Product Officer, Figma), and Zach Lloyd (CEO and Founder, Warp) will lead the discussion.

Pitching Strategies for Early-Stage Startups: Wesley Chan (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, FPV Ventures) and Charles Hudson (Managing Partner, Precursor Ventures) will offer guidance.

The Role of Silicon Valley in the Startup Ecosystem: Anh-Tho Chuong (CEO and Co-Founder, Lago), David Hall (Managing Partner, Revolution/Rise of the Rest), and Tawni Nazario-Cranz (Operating Partner, SignalFire) will debate this topic.

Building the Future with Leaders from Twitter and Meta: Adam Bain (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, 01 Advisors), Dick Costolo (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, 01 Advisors), and David Fischer (General Partner, 01 Advisors) will share their experiences.

VC Investment Trends for 2026: Nina Achadjian (Partner, Index Ventures), Jerry Chen (General Partner, Greylock), and Peter Deng (General Partner, Felicis) will present their predictions.

Breakout Stage

Leveraging Agentic AI for Startup Growth: Automation and Adaptation: Anjali Mann (Technical Program Manager, Microsoft) and Anmol Rastogi (Head of Product Management, AI and ML, Amazon Business, Amazon) will present strategies.

Engineering Leadership in the Age of AI: Speed and Impact: Andrew Berman (CEO, Runlayer), Dima Dzhulgakov (Co-Founder, Fireworks AI), Suraj Patel (VP Ventures and Corporate Development, MongoDB), and Eno Reyes (CTO, Factory) will share their insights.

Transforming Healthcare Workflows with AI Solutions: Zubair Ahsan (Co-Founder and CEO, Max AI), Varun Krishnamurthy (Co-Founder and CEO, Assured Health), and Kanyi Maqubela (Managing Partner, Kindred Ventures) will discuss advancements.

Family Office Investment Strategies in Startups and Venture Funds: Mariane Bekker (Managing Partner, Founders Bay), Brett Horton (Chief Investment Officer, Paris-Roubaix Group), and Daniel Idzkowski (CIO, I.D.I.T. Family Office) will share their perspectives.

The Unique Role of Corporate Venture Capital (CVC): Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, will lead the discussion.

Building a Compelling Narrative for Startups: The Power of Storytelling: Jenna Birch (Founder, SISU), Allie Cefalo (Partner, Marketing, Kleiner Perkins), and Chantelle Darby (Founder, Darby PR) will share their expertise.

Harnessing AI for a Positive Digital Future: Meghana Dhar (Technology Advisor and Investor) and Matt Madrigal (Chief Technology Officer, Pinterest) will explore this topic.

Roundtables

These 30-minute sessions provide opportunities for small groups to address real-world challenges.

The Future of Banking and Fintech in the Age of AI: Nnamdi Okike (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, 645 Ventures) will facilitate the discussion.

Scaling Search and AI for Large User Bases: Lessons from Reddit: Rachel Miller, Product Manager at Reddit, will share her experiences.

The Importance of Founder Visibility: Why Founders Need to Be on Camera: Hanieh Sigari (CEO, EllieMD) and Uptin Saiidi (Founder and Creator, UP10 Media) will discuss this topic.

The New Economics of AI: From Tokens to Turbines: Caleb Appleton, Partner at Bison Ventures, will lead the discussion.

Prototyping, Tuning, and Scaling GenAI Applications with Open Models: Aishwarya Srinivasan, Head of AI Developer Relations at Fireworks AI, will present a workshop.

The Rise of Invisible AI: Applications and Implications: Brad Cordova (Founder and CPTO, Super.AI) and Benjamin Kwon (CEO, Super.AI) will share their insights.

Winning Strategies for Brands Leveraging Creator-Led Videos: Peter Sleiman (Creative Director, UP10 Media) and Uptin Saiidi (Founder and Creator, UP10 Media) will present their expertise.

Training and Managing AI Agents: Best Practices: Kyla Guru (Head of Model Cyber Safety, Anthropic) will lead a workshop.

Building and Scaling Trusted Communities for Business Growth: Tasneem Amina (Co-Founder and President, Kindred) and Justine Palefsky (Co-Founder and CEO, Kindred) will share their strategies.

Selling AI Agents to Enterprise Customers: A Scalable Approach: Allison Baum Gates, General Partner at SemperVirens Venture Capital, will offer guidance.

The Future of Home Energy Independence: Jenny Zhang, President of North America Residential, Energy Business, EcoFlow, will discuss advancements.

StrictlyVC

This LP session, making its second appearance at Disrupt, is exclusively for Investor Pass holders.

Global High-Tech at a Crossroads: Trends and Deep-Tech’s Role: Dror Bin, CEO of Israel Innovation Authority, will present his analysis.

The LP Perspective: Liquidity, Selection, and the Future of Venture Capital: Lara Banks (Managing Director and Head of Private Equity, Makena Capital), Kelli Fontaine (Partner, Cendana Capital), Adam Grosher (Director, The J. Paul Getty Trust), Matt Hodan (Partner, Lexington Partners), and Michael Kim (Founder and Partner, Cendana Capital) will share their insights.

GP-LP Relationship Dynamics: Kevin Hartz, General Partner at A*, will lead the discussion.

Startup Pitches on Display

Experience dynamic, live pitches delivered directly from the stage by startups exhibiting within the Expo Hall, representing a global range of innovation.

Pitch Session Schedule

The following schedule details the various pitch sessions taking place throughout the day. Each session offers a unique opportunity to discover emerging companies.

• 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Startup Battlefield 200 Consumer Pitches – Focused on companies targeting the consumer market.
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Pavilion Pitch Session — Catalonia – Showcasing startups originating from the Catalonia region.
• 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Pavilion Pitch Session — Poland – Highlighting innovative ventures based in Poland.
• 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Startup Battlefield 200 Enterprise Pitches – Featuring startups developing solutions for businesses.
• 3:30 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.: Pavilion Pitch Session — SilkRoad – Presenting startups connected to the SilkRoad economic corridor.

These startup pitch sessions provide valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies. Attendees can observe firsthand how entrepreneurs are addressing key challenges.

Don't miss the chance to witness these compelling presentations and learn about potentially groundbreaking innovations.

Disrupt 2025 Companion Events

Throughout this week in San Francisco, numerous Side Events are being hosted by various companies. These events are designed to amplify the excitement of Disrupt, reaching beyond the confines of Moscone West. Below is a schedule of tonight’s activities – including panel discussions, social gatherings, and networking meetups – all intended to foster connections between founders, investors, and leading tech innovators.

Tonight’s Schedule

Attendees are encouraged to register in advance for any events they wish to attend, as space may be limited.

A diverse range of opportunities are available to expand your network and engage with the broader tech community during Disrupt 2025.

• Panels will offer insights from industry experts.
• Parties provide a relaxed atmosphere for networking.
• Meetups facilitate focused discussions on specific topics.

These Side Events represent a valuable extension of the Disrupt experience, offering additional avenues for learning and collaboration.

Don't miss the chance to connect with peers and explore new possibilities within the dynamic tech landscape.

Don't Miss Out: Disrupt is Still Open for Registration

With only two days remaining, the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of founders, investors, industry leaders, and forward-thinkers at Moscone West in San Francisco is still available.

Secure your Disrupt pass now with a 50% discount and participate in what is anticipated to be the premier technology event of the year.

A Gathering of Tech Innovators

• Connect with founders building the next generation of companies.
• Network with investors actively seeking promising opportunities.
• Learn from operators with proven track records of success.
• Engage with visionaries shaping the future of technology.

This event provides a unique platform for collaboration and insight within the tech ecosystem.

Don't delay – registration closes soon! Take advantage of the reduced pricing and become a part of the Disrupt experience.