The key facts
- Founder Summit will take place on November 4, 2026 at SoWa Power Station, Boston; the event was previously called Early Stage and All Stage.
- Speakers include Steve Fredette (Toast), Chase Garbarino (HqO), Kent Bennett (Bessemer Venture Partners), Lior Div (7AI) and others.
- Tickets: Investor $399, Founder $199, students $149; a $100 discount for investors and founders, 50% off a second ticket; volunteer applications close on October 19.
A one-day event for founders in Boston
TechCrunch Founder Summit is a one-day conference that will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the SoWa Power Station venue in Boston. The event is aimed at founders of companies at all stages: they will be able to connect with venture investors and experienced entrepreneurs and gain practical knowledge about building and scaling a business — from hiring and finding product-market fit to working with investors and developing leadership skills. The venue is accessible by public transportation: a short walk from the Back Bay and Tufts Medical Center stations on the Orange Line or Broadway on the Red Line.
Program and speakers
This year's agenda focuses on fundraising, building companies around AI, and leadership. Announced sessions: Toast co-founder and CTO Steve Fredette will talk about how a company can continually reinvent itself; HqO co-founder and CEO Chase Garbarino will present the founder's 'Boston playbook' — about building a company outside Silicon Valley (according to TechCrunch, HqO has raised $200 million and operates in more than 30 countries); Bessemer Venture Partners partner Kent Bennett — on finding product-market fit before scaling; 7AI co-founder and CEO Lior Div — on what changes when AI is the foundation of a company rather than an added feature; Cogent Security co-founder and CEO Vinith Edupuganti — on evaluating investors and cap table trade-offs; TDK Ventures investment director Tina Tosukhwong — on a framework for evaluating startups based on economics, scalability, and timing; True Ventures partner and Edisyl CEO Dave Balter — on pitches that lead to the next meeting.
Pitch competition, breakouts, and a week of side events
The program will once again feature the So You Think You Can Pitch? competition, where three early-stage startups will present themselves to a jury for four minutes each. In addition to the main sessions, breakout sessions with more intimate discussions are planned, and networking is organized through the Braindate app — to connect investors with founders and enable entrepreneurs to share experience. Founder Summit Week will run from November 1 to 7: Side Events will take place on those days, and applications to host your own side event are open.
Tickets, discounts, and volunteering
Ticket prices rise in stages; according to TechCrunch, current rates are Investor at $399, Founder at $199, and student at $149, with a $100 discount available for investors and founders. When purchasing a second ticket for a co-founder or colleague, a 50% discount is offered, and groups of four or more receive additional discounts. Free admission is possible through the volunteer program: volunteers will get access to the program outside their shifts; applications close on October 19. TechCrunch also reminds that current discounts end on October 16.
