TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 Opens in Boston on November 4 With Two Stages and Roundtables
TechCrunch's Founder Summit for startup founders takes place on November 4 at SoWa Power Station in Boston. Organizers are offering up to $100 off passes and a free second pass.
Technology news outlet TechCrunch will hold its Founder Summit 2026, an event for startup founders, in Boston, US, in five days, on November 4. The venue is SoWa Power Station, and the event is presented by Fidelity Private Shares, an investment platform. Organizers say the focus is on hands-on learning and building connections rather than simply listening to talks.
Pass prices will rise at the door. Those who register now can save up to $100 and receive a second pass free.
Build Stage: building the company
The first stage covers turning an idea into a growing business, with sessions on distribution, fundraising, emerging AI opportunities and pitching.
- Hunter Worland, Principal at venture firm NEA, will explain why distribution can matter more than the technology itself.
- Kristen Craft (Fidelity Private Shares), Jennifer Neundorfer (January Ventures) and Darren Ross (THE·TEAM) will share fundraising advice.
- Amulya Vishwanath, CEO and Managing Partner at Techable VC, will discuss AI opportunities that have not yet been built.
- Dave Balter, Venture Partner at True Ventures, will cover how to craft a pitch that earns the next meeting with investors.
Impact Stage: sustainable growth
The second stage addresses decisions behind sustainable, scalable businesses: product-market fit, when to accelerate growth, enterprise partnerships and spotting future category leaders.
- Rudina Seseri (Glasswing Ventures) will discuss decisions after a first funding round.
- Kurt Bennett (Bessemer Venture Partners) will explain how to validate customer demand before scaling.
- Chase Garbarino, CEO and Co-founder of HqO, will talk about building companies outside Silicon Valley, and the advantages and challenges of Boston.
- Tina Tosukhowong, Investment Director at TDK Ventures, will explain how investors evaluate potential category leaders.
Roundtables
Smaller roundtable discussions let attendees ask questions and compare experiences. Topics include entering difficult industries, building an events strategy without a dedicated team, reducing AI hallucinations, landing major enterprise customers before Series A, and helping lean teams compete with larger organizations through AI.
