The key facts
- The summit will take place on November 4, 2026, at SoWa Power Station in Boston
- Discounted registration with savings of up to $100 and a second ticket free is available until at-the-door prices take effect
- Program: Build Stage, Impact Stage, and interactive roundtables
Five days left until the summit
TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026, organized with support from Fidelity Private Shares, will take place on November 4 at the SoWa Power Station venue in Boston. According to TechCrunch, there are five days left until registration at current prices closes: right now, buyers can save up to $100 on a pass and get a second ticket free, whereas prices will rise at the door. The organizers position the event as a more practical alternative to large conferences — with an emphasis on questions, exchanging experience, and participation rather than just sitting through sessions.
Build Stage: distribution, rounds, and pitches
The first stage is devoted to the tactics of building a company. Hunter Walk of NEA will explain why distribution can matter more than the technology itself. Trends in fundraising will be discussed by Kristen Kraft (Fidelity Private Shares), Jennifer Neundorfer (January Ventures), and Darren Ross (THE·TEAM). Amulya Vishwanat of Techable VC will break down which AI niches remain unclaimed, and Dave Balter of True Ventures will cover how to build a pitch that 'earns the next meeting' with an investor.
Impact Stage: scaling and partnerships
The second stage focuses on the decisions that determine sustainable growth. Rudina Seseri of Glasswing Ventures will discuss when to accelerate growth after the first round and when to slow down. Kurt Bennett of Bessemer Venture Partners — on validating demand and finding product-market fit before scaling. A separate session on corporate partnerships will bring together Kristen Kraft, Yossi Hayut (Wix Ventures), Evan Schnidman (Fidelity Investments), and Jennifer Van Dijk (Boston Legacy FC). Chase Garbarino, CEO and co-founder of HqO, will present the 'Boston playbook' — on building companies outside Silicon Valley — and Tina Tousukhwong of TDK Ventures will talk about how investors spot future category leaders.
Roundtables instead of lectures
The roundtable format is designed for small groups: announced topics include entering difficult industries, event strategy without a dedicated team, reducing AI hallucinations, landing large corporate customers before Series A, creating new categories, and using AI in small teams to compete with major players. The full schedule of sessions and tables is published on the event website.
