founders
40 stories filed under founders on Beyond Market Intelligence. The newest of them: “Secure up to $200 savings before early pricing ends October 16”, “Explore how AI-designed chips can accelerate the future of computing”, and “Twenty Disrupt finalists who could reshape data, space, and life itself”. The early-pricing window for the TechCrunch Founder Summit closes October 16, securing up to $200 in savings on Founder and Investor Passes. A startup is teaching AI to design chips, learn from each iteration, and improve the next one. Acme AI is the next-generation, AI-powered spreadsheet platform built to replace Excel and redefine how analysts, data scientists, and enterprise teams work… The list below is every founders story on Beyond Market Intelligence, newest first.
Secure up to $200 savings before early pricing ends October 16
The early-pricing window for the TechCrunch Founder Summit closes October 16, securing up to $200 in savings on Founder and Investor Passes. That discount vanishes Friday. On November 4, 1,000 founders and investors will gather at Boston's SoWa Power Station. Bring your toughest questions. Make the day count for your business. For a deeper look at what drives today's most ambitious founders, explore how AI-designed chips can accelerate the future of computing, our coverage of a startup training AI to design better chips.
Explore how AI-designed chips can accelerate the future of computing
A startup is teaching AI to design chips, learn from each iteration, and improve the next one. The goal is to automate and accelerate chip design itself. This isn't about incremental upgrades; it's about rethinking the process from the ground up. If AI can master its own hardware, the future of computing gets faster, smarter, and more efficient. For more on how platforms are evolving, see our piece on Figma opening its platform to agents.
Twenty Disrupt finalists who could reshape data, space, and life itself
Twenty founders just earned their shot at the Disrupt Cup. They're headed to the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt to compete for the $100,000 prize, and their ideas could reshape data, space, and life itself. Longshot's plan to build a gun big enough to launch space data centers shows how far these finalists are willing to push physics. We admire that ambition. Simulate the impossible to stress-test robots before they launch, and you might just win.
Tomorrow marks the start of Disrupt 2026: save up to $100 before doors open
Tomorrow, 10,000 founders, investors, and tech operators converge on Moscone West for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. This is your final 24 hours to save up to $100 on tickets, and get 50% off a second. We're exploring what comes next in AI, regulation, and biology. For a deeper look at how an unlikely benchmark in household appliances is shaping the push for AI oversight, read our related coverage. Secure your spot now.
Discover how Disrupt 2026 transforms investor access to tomorrow's founders
Disrupt 2026 has a proven track record of connecting investors with the founders who will define tomorrow. Year after year, those who walk the Expo Halls and learn from peers see the value of being on the ground. This October 13, the opportunity is clear. For deeper insight into building early momentum, our coverage of Gamma, Engine, and Google Ventures leaders offers a practical companion. Explore how being present transforms access.
Four days remain to claim $100 off Disrupt 2026 passes
The clock is ticking on your $100 Disrupt 2026 discount, with just four days left before the doors open at Moscone West. From October 13-15, 10,000 founders, investors, and tech leaders will gather to shape what comes next. Grab the savings now, and bring a teammate for half price on a second pass. Curious about turning first users into lasting momentum? Our leaders from Gamma and Google Ventures have some answers worth exploring.
Explore the Side Events powering Founder Summit 2026 across Boston
Boston's side events are where Founder Summit 2026 truly comes alive. From November 3-6, the city becomes a launchpad for connections that don't happen on a main stage. Think intimate gatherings, unexpected conversations, and the energy that turns a conference into a movement. If you're ready to explore beyond the agenda, this is your moment.
Beyond the Valley, a $320M Fund Backs Founders Everywhere Else
$320 million is a strong statement, but the message behind it matters more. Endeavor Catalyst just raised that sum to back founders building beyond Silicon Valley, and half the profits flow straight back to the nonprofit that finds them. That structure aligns incentives with impact, not just returns. It is a confident bet on overlooked markets. If you want to see how this fits into the broader funding landscape, our piece on Lambda's $4B raise offers useful context.
Navigate founder decisions with insights from those who built before you
There isn't a single manual or prompt that can truly prepare you to build a company. On November 4, TechCrunch Founder Summit offers the next best thing: a packed day at Boston's SoWa Power Station where investors and operators share how they've navigated the decisions that matter. It's about learning from those who built before you. If you're weighing strategic forks, our piece on Type One Energy's lean path to a fusion plant by 2034 offers a real-world example of focused execution.
Founders weigh open versus closed AI at Disrupt 2026
Founders at Disrupt 2026 are confronting a defining question: open or closed AI? The choice shapes everything from flexibility to control, and there is no universal answer. We examine how builders are navigating this decision, weighing transparency against performance. For deeper context on how startups are earning real traction, explore our coverage of "Five startups earning trust and traction at PearX demo day." Register now to save up to $100 and get a second pass at 50% off.
Your last chance to connect with 10,000 tech leaders is today
Today is the final day to secure your exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. From October 13-15, more than 10,000 founders, investors, and operators will fill Moscone West in San Francisco, actively seeking the next companies and ideas worth their attention. The real question is whether your startup will be among them. For deeper insight into what draws this crowd, explore our coverage of Kareem Amin discussing the rise of the GTM engineer on the AI Stage.
3 days remain to claim your startup's spotlight at Disrupt 2026
Three days remain to secure your startup's spot at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. That's 10,000 founders, investors, and tech leaders waiting to see what you're building. Book by October 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT. This is the kind of audience that accelerates momentum. Want context on the forces shaping this year's event? Read our piece on Cerebras Systems CEO Andrew Feldman's take on AI's compute demands. Don't let the deadline pass without claiming your place.
The AI boom splits climate tech's inner circle, and the rift is widening
The divide over AI is no longer theoretical. It's splitting climate tech's inner circle, and the rift is widening as data centers demand more power. Some founders and investors see opportunity; others see a distraction from the real work. We think that tension is worth watching closely. For more on how this pressure is reshaping priorities, our piece on Crusoe pausing Boom turbine deployment offers a useful example. The conversation isn't just about energy. It's about what the movement stands for.
Secure your place at Disrupt 2026 before the October 2 deadline
The final countdown for Disrupt 2026 is here. This Friday, October 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT is your last chance to secure an exhibit table before 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather at Moscone West. We respect the urgency, but we also see the opportunity. For those mapping the path from breakthrough to the grid, our Smart Systems Stage conversation with CFS' Brandon Sorbom and Helion's David Kirtley offers a clear look at what comes next. Claim your space now.
Unlock Growth: Connect with Investors and Founders in Boston
A full-day summit in Boston on November 4 brings founders and investors together for a practical look at scaling companies. The focus is on tactical insights, not theory, with top VCs and experienced entrepreneurs leading the conversation. It is a direct opportunity to build relationships that move businesses forward. If you are tracking how AI is reshaping infrastructure, our piece on Anthropic's cloud investment with Akamai pairs well with the event's growth-focused agenda.
Navigate Fundraising, Hiring, and AI: Boston’s Founder Summit Awaits
Founders shouldn't have to learn the hardest lessons the hard way. At TechCrunch Founder Summit in Boston, we're cutting through the noise on fundraising, hiring, and AI, because those challenges shouldn't stall your momentum. It's about practical insight, not hype. If you're navigating the shifting expectations in AI and ML roles, our recent piece on skill requirements offers a useful lens. But first, come to Boston ready to act. The highs of building are worth chasing, and this summit is where you'll find the map.
Final Week: Secure Your Spot to Showcase at TechCrunch Disrupt
The exhibitor program at TechCrunch Disrupt is back open, but only through September 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you want your startup in front of 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders at Moscone West this October, this is the moment to act. We've extended the deadline because we know timing matters. Don't let the opportunity pass. For more on who else is shaping conversations at Disrupt, check out our piece on Wahlberg and Lee discussing investing.
Explore AI Safety Insights from Disrupt 2026's Leading Experts
AI safety is moving from the background to the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, with five dedicated sessions featuring leaders from Anthropic, Nvidia, AWS, and Waabi. That focus matters because the conversation around AI is shifting from capability to accountability. We're seeing the ripple effects elsewhere, like how Meta's AI turned one dull task into $5,350 in yearly savings, which shows the practical stakes. Register before September 25 to save up to $200, and explore these critical discussions while you still can.
Unlock Transformative Innovation: Secure Your Disrupt 2026 Access Now
The countdown to Disrupt 2026 is on, with a $200 discount expiring September 25. That is real momentum for founders and investors heading to Moscone West. We see this gathering as a direct line to the transformative tools reshaping how we work, especially in AI. If you are curious how far this technology can go, our piece on AI designing its own hardware offers a compelling preview. Secure your pass now and join the conversation.
Forge Connections: Founders Find Value in Offline Community Building
Brynn Putnam and Tristan Walker have already achieved what most founders only dream of: building companies compelling enough to attract acquirers. Putnam, a trained ballerina, sold her connected-fitness company Mirror to Lululemon for $500 million in cash less than three years after launch. Now, both are turning their attention to something less flashy but arguably more vital: offline community building. It's a smart bet, reminding us that meaningful connections still drive enduring value.
Secure your place among 10,000 tech leaders at Disrupt 2026
The final 24 hours are here. If you've been weighing the decision, today, September 18, is the last day to book your exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. That means securing your place in front of more than 10,000 founders, investors, and operators gathering October 13-15. The energy there is tangible, and the connections are direct. We've also been covering how major players are doubling down on AI infrastructure, like Anthropic's recent cloud commitment, so you know the momentum is real.
Secure Your Spot: Last Chance for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Exhibit
The clock is ticking for startups eyeing Disrupt 2026. September 18 is the final day to book your exhibit table, with just two days left to secure your spot. That is a tight window, but the payoff is clear: direct access to over 10,000 founders, investors, and operators this October. If you are still weighing the leap, consider the momentum shared in our piece on Wahlberg and Lee joining the agenda. This is a practical move for visibility, so do not let the deadline pass.
How human-led teams can thrive with AI agents as collaborators
The next teammate on your startup's roster might not be human. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Gusto, Insight Partners, and Leland will break down how early-stage companies are building teams where humans and AI agents work side by side. The focus is practical: how do you do it without losing speed, accountability, or culture? That's the right question to ask. For more context on who else is shaping the conversation, check out our piece on Mark Wahlberg joining Disrupt to talk investing.
Secure your spot among 10,000 tech leaders at Disrupt 2026.
The deadline is real, and it's moving fast. With just four days left to secure your exhibit space at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the final call is September 18. This is your chance to put your startup in front of more than 10,000 founders, investors, and operators this October 13-15. The energy there is unmatched, and the connections are tangible. If you are ready to accelerate your trajectory, do not let this window close.