The TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 is heading to the SoWa Power Station in Boston on November 4, gathering founders, investors, and operators for a full day of candid conversations, practical sessions, live pitching, networking, and intimate roundtables. These focused sessions allow attendees to address specific hurdles, share experiences, and tackle shared pain points ranging from enterprise sales and vertical strategy to AI deployment and creating entirely new market categories.
10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Roundtable 2 (Strategic Events)
Alexandra Ames, founder and chief event strategist at Blueprint Lab, examines how early-stage companies can strategically leverage events even before securing the budget or headcount for a dedicated events team. The session offers practical insights on selecting the right opportunities, defining clear metrics for success, and maximizing limited operational resources.
11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Roundtable 1 (Complex Markets)
Chirag Shah, partner at Define Ventures, addresses the hurdles founders face when entering high-potential markets that are notoriously difficult to penetrate. Founders navigating heavy regulations, complex buyers, and specialized niches can compare notes on executing their first major vertical bet.
11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Roundtable 2 (Enterprise AI Trust)
Shishir Tewari, head of enterprise data engineering at Procore Technologies, dives into one of enterprise artificial intelligence's most stubborn obstacles: establishing trust. The discussion focuses on how knowledge graphs and GraphRAG can supply AI systems with robust context, allowing founders to build more reliable products for real-world organizations.
1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.: Roundtable 2 (Early Enterprise Sales)
Merve Kitapci, managing partner and CGO of ADIN.AI, breaks down the playbook for landing major enterprise customers early in a startup's lifecycle. Addressing long buying cycles, multiple decision-makers, and the credibility earned from marquee logos, this tactical discussion helps founders selling into large institutions without an oversized sales team.
1:55 p.m. to 2:25 p.m.: Roundtable 2 (Category Creation)
Andy Tang, partner at Draper Associates, leads a session tailored for founders building products that defy existing classifications. The discussion explores how to articulate value, sell innovation, and convince investors when the broader market lacks the vocabulary to describe the new creation.
2:35 p.m. to 3:05 p.m.: Roundtable 1 (Lean Teams and AI)
Linden Tibbets, CEO and founder of IFTTT, explores how compact teams can leverage AI tools to boost output and operational speed without expanding headcount. For founders pondering hiring strategies and organizational design, the roundtable examines what lean operations can achieve today.
Broader Summit Stages and Activities
Beyond these roundtables, the summit features Build and Impact Stages dedicated to product-market fit, hiring, leadership, fundraising, and regional scaling. Attendees can hear insights from leaders like Toast co-founder Steve Fredette and watch live startup pitches during the "So You Think You Can Pitch?" competition. Additional networking opportunities include a Networking Lounge hosted with Braindate and a closing reception presented by Fidelity Private Shares.
