If in recent years, and even last weekreminded us of something well – it is that the startup world will never be predictable. To meet the evolving startup landscape, we’re big-time revamping and reimagining TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 with more of what you love and new ways to accelerate your growth.
What’s new on TechCrunch Disrupt 2023?
Industry days
TechCrunch has created 6 new programming days around the most pioneering industries in the startup world. In these salon-style sessions, industry leaders share their deep expertise, insights and trends within your industry.
During these shows-within-our-shows, you’ll connect with bright, driven founders, investors, and members of your community, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with leaders from other industries.
Here are the big new stages spanning this year’s Disrupt:
- The phase of artificial intelligence:
Discover the rapidly growing possibilities and possibilities of artificial intelligence; delve into the science behind deep tech, the products it powers, and the ethical, social, and legal challenges associated with it. With topics like biometrics, deep learning platforms, natural language generation, peer-to-peer network, reactive machines, robotic process automation, speech recognition, and virtual agents - The sustainability phase:
Discover emerging technologies that are changing the way we interact with our environment, impact society and how we move from place to place. With topics such as green infrastructure, new mobilities, sustainable technology, urban mobility - The Fintech phase:
Dive into the evolution of money exchanges and follow the technology that enables new ways to capture and distribute value and wealth. With topics like blockchain, challenger/neo banks, DeFi, fintech, NFTs and web3 - The hardware phase:
Discover the mechanics and code behind the machines that enable us to get things done faster, smarter and more efficiently at work and at home. With topics like articulated robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), commercial hardware, humanoids, IoT/consumer hardware, and interstellar technologies - The SaaS phase:
Discover Software-as-a-Service tools that reveal insights, drive productivity, and unleash creativity and efficiency within your organization. With topics like mobile apps, cloud-based resources, collaboration tools, creator communities, developer tools, e-commerce, low code, recurring revenue, and marketing tools - The security phase:
Get the keys to protect sensitive information and thwart hackers bent on unlocking details of your business and your life. With topics like data protection, information sharing, privacy regulations and risk management.
Introducing the Builder phase
You’ll continue to find top leaders and subject matter experts speaking throughout Disrupt. That certainly applies to the Builder Stage. It’s your new destination for business building advice and how-to discussions with experts deep in the trenches, ready to share their knowledge and answer your questions.
In the Builder Stage, you can expect to learn how to build your early VC network, find the product market early, and negotiate your first term sheet, among many other topics of immediate value to any founder.
In addition to theme-specific sessions, you can expect several fireplace chats with today’s biggest founders and investors. With this new phase, Disrupt 2023 confirms its mission: to support founders, builders and investors across the entire startup spectrum.
New and more ways to connect
While the Disrupt events app remains an essential connection and planning tool, we are creating more organic networking opportunities where you can experience moments of magic in a variety of settings.
- Deal Flow Cafeour brand new network area from investor to founder
- Enhance your trip to San Francisco After hours events happening throughout the city during Disrupt week
- Meet like-minded travelers in the many enthralling workshops, discussions, meetups and Q&A sessions in the expo
- Charge and reconnect at the TechCrunch+ Loungewhere TC+ subscribers can network and chat with our writers and other special guests
Launch Battlefield 200 returns
Last year we launched the Launch Battlefield 200. By creating the invite-only cohort, we’ve transformed our show floor into a highly curated group of the world’s next big companies. It’s one of the world’s best corporate showcases and it’s right up there in Disrupt.
We’re happy to say that Startup Battlefield 200 is returning this year, and we’re eagerly awaiting the next cohort of 200 startups to exhibit on the show floor — especially the top 20 who will pitch on the Disrupt stage.
TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield Program, one of the most coveted cohorts it belongs to, is made up of more than 1,100 startups that have collectively raised $13 billion and generated more than 126 exits. Do you think you have what it takes to reach the top? Submit your Startup Battlefield 200 application here to be processed before May 15.
Final thoughts
In addition to everything we’ve mentioned above, our partners are another reason to choose Disrupt. Companies like Brex, Hedera, JetBlue Technology Ventures, Mayfield, Visa and many others consistently deliver a high level of relevant content, educational expertise, resources and connection.
Disrupt is the big tent of the startup world. It attracts founders, investors, CEOs, tech professionals, scientists, policy makers, researchers and entrepreneurs. Here you will find inspiration, gain knowledge, forge new relationships and find the tools to help you build your business.
Wherever you fall on the startup continuum – ideation, early, growth, or late stage – we hope you join this global community of makers building the future of technology in San Francisco on September 19-21. Early Bird tickets are on sale now through May 12 – book your pass here. See you there!