TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: The Disrupt Stage Speaker Lineup

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe opens the programming by detailing the complexities of scaling physical hardware manufacturing. He joins a roster that includes Cerebras CEO Andrew Feldman, who will address the sustainability of the AI compute boom, and Science Corporation founder Max Hodak, who is exploring the intersection of technology and human biology. Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley will provide a candid look at public safety in an era of pervasive AI surveillance.

A rare appearance by the full partner group at Benchmark—Jack Altman, Peter Fenton, Chetan Puttagunta, Everett Randle, and Eric Vishria—will offer a collective look at the firm's current investment thesis. Following them, Ricursive Intelligence co-founders Anna Goldie and Azalia Mirhoseini will discuss the potential for AI to design its own hardware. Later in the week, Amazon’s Panos Panay will preview new hardware, while Bluesky’s Toni Schneider and Rose Wang examine the future of social media architecture. Mark Wahlberg will also appear to discuss his transition from entertainment into institutional investing alongside Keebeck’s Bruce K. Lee.

The event culminates in the Startup Battlefield finals, where participants compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding. Previous winners and alumni, including Cellino’s Nabiha Saklayen and representatives from Molecule.one, Nephrogen, and Glīd, will return to discuss the post-competition reality of scaling a startup. With over 10,000 attendees expected, the event serves as a central hub for networking and product debuts across 200 sessions.