TechCrunch Unveils Founder Summit Agenda

Unlock Your Startup’s Potential at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026

On November 4, TechCrunch’s Founder Summit arrives at Boston’s SoWa Power Station, offering a crucial, one-day intensive on startup entrepreneurship. Don’t learn the hard way—this event is crafted to simplify the challenges of launching your own company and elevate your chances of success.

Skip the months of uncertainty. Gain invaluable insights directly from seasoned founders and investors who have navigated the same decisions you’re facing today. Topics covered include fundraising, talent acquisition, AI strategies, and achieving excellence in your market.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out the full list of speakers and sessions planned for the Founder Summit below, and secure your spot at the best price before tickets sell out.

Introducing the Official TechCrunch Founder Summit Agenda

Here’s the agenda you’ve been waiting for. Dive deeper into each session and speaker on our event agenda page.


TechCrunch Founder Summit breakout audience
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Mastering Capital Raising: New Strategies for Founders

Fundraising may be daunting, but the landscape is evolving. Brian Devaney, a partner at Underscore, will guide you on what investors seek today and how to differentiate yourself in a saturated market. Discover the common pitfalls that can derail your fundraising efforts, from initial checks to term sheets.

The Evolving Role of the CEO: Adapting Through Growth

While your title remains the same, your responsibilities change with each growth phase. Join Brian Halligan, co-founder of Sequoia, as he shares invaluable lessons from guiding startups through intense growth, tough decisions, and reinvention.

This session will help you navigate your evolution as a CEO, sidestep common challenges, and build companies that thrive beyond their inception.

AI: The Core of Your Startup from the Ground Up

Integrating AI is one thing; establishing an AI-native company is on a different level. Lior Div, co-founder and CEO of 7AI, will discuss the significant shifts needed to make AI the backbone of your startup, affecting everything from team structure to market strategies.

Not All Capital is Created Equal

While raising money is viewed as a pivotal milestone, the right investors can influence your company’s trajectory well beyond the financials. Vineet Edupuganti, co-founder and CEO, shares insights from his experience raising $11 million for Cogent Security. Learn how to evaluate potential partners and make informed decisions beyond simple valuation while constructing your cap table.

Identifying Category Kings: The Signals of Success

Innovation drives solutions to critical challenges, but not every company can achieve category-defining status. Tina Tosukhowong of TDK Ventures unpacks their “King of the Hill” framework, exploring economics, scalability, and timing to identify potential market leaders.

You’ll leave equipped with actionable strategies to assess startup readiness and competitive positioning based on real-life examples, including discussions around the significance of timing, talent, and technology.

Building a Strong Foundation: The Importance of Hiring

Key hiring choices can shape your startup’s culture and operational efficiency. Melissa Taunton, partner at NEA, will advise on the essentials of assembling high-performing teams during times of rapid growth.

Discover how to identify the right early hires and dodge common recruitment pitfalls to create an agile, resilient organization ready for the future.

The Boston Advantage: Insights from a Local Innovator

While Silicon Valley grabs attention, Chase Garbarino has been crafting category-defining companies in Boston for over ten years. As co-founder and CEO of HqO, he’s raised $200 million and scaled across 30+ countries without relocating.

He’ll share the unique advantages and challenges of building outside conventional startup hubs and essential lessons for founders in all locales.

Achieving Product-Market Fit: A Prequisite for Scaling

Every founder seeks product-market fit, but recognizing when it’s achieved is complex. Kent Bennett, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, breaks down how to validate demand, create an effective MVP, and delay scaling until the fundamentals are solid.

This session reveals vital signals, misleading metrics, and decisions that separate thriving companies from costly missteps.

What to Expect Beyond the Founder Summit Sessions

The programming offers incredible value, but it’s just the beginning. You’ll connect with fellow founders facing similar challenges and network with industry veterans who’ve successfully navigated their own entrepreneurial journeys.

Experience a day packed with insightful discussions that can transform into lasting action in your startup. Join us and the vibrant Boston startup community on November 4. Register now to enjoy ticket savings and participate in the ultimate founder bootcamp!


TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 Braindate networking
Image Credits:Halo Creative

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The TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 is scheduled for November 4, 2026, at the SoWa Power Station in Boston, Massachusetts. (techcrunch.com)

2. What is the focus of the TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026?

The summit is designed to provide founders with practical insights and strategies for building and scaling startups. It covers topics such as fundraising, hiring, AI integration, and achieving product-market fit. (techcrunch.com)

3. Who are the key speakers at the summit?

The summit features a lineup of experienced founders and investors, including:

  • Brian Devaney, Partner at Underscore, discussing "The New Rules of Raising Capital."

  • Brian Halligan, HubSpot Co-founder and Sequoia Partner, presenting "The CEO Job Never Gets Easier."

  • Lior Div, CEO & Co-founder of 7AI, speaking on "Built for AI From Day One."

  • Vineet Edupuganti, Co-founder and CEO of Cogent Security, addressing "Not Every Dollar Is Equal."

  • Tina Tosukhowong, Investment Director at TDK Ventures, leading "How to Spot the ‘King of the Hill’ Company — Hidden Signals That Define Category Winners."

  • Melissa Taunton, Partner at NEA, presenting "Your Company Is Who You Hire."

  • Chase Garbarino, CEO & Co-founder of HqO, discussing "The Boston Founder Playbook."

  • Kent Bennett, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, speaking on "Finding Product Market Fit Before You Scale."

(techcrunch.com)

4. What is the agenda for the summit?

The summit includes various sessions throughout the day, such as:

  • 9:15 AM – 9:50 AM: "How To Spot the ‘King of the Hill’ Company – Hidden Signals That Define Category Winners"

  • 9:15 AM – 9:50 AM: "The New Rules of Raising Capital"

  • 10:45 AM – 11:20 AM: "The CEO Job Never Gets Easier"

  • 10:45 AM – 11:20 AM: "Your Company Is Who You Hire"

  • 11:30 AM – 12:05 PM: "Built for AI From Day One"

  • 1:30 PM – 2:05 PM: "Not Every Dollar Is Equal"

  • 2:15 PM – 2:50 PM: "The Boston Founder Playbook"

  • 3:00 PM – 3:35 PM: "Finding Product Market Fit Before You Scale"

  • 3:40 PM – 4:20 PM: "So You Think You Can Pitch?"

(techcrunch.com)

5. How can I register for the TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026?

You can register for the summit by visiting the official TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 website. Early Bird pricing has ended, but tickets are still available. For more information and to secure your spot, please visit the registration page. (techcrunch.com)

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From Teen Hacker to Iron Dome Researcher: How This Founder Raised $28M to Combat AI Phishing

From Hacker to Cybersecurity Pioneer: Shay Shwartz’s Journey

Shay Shwartz, a former teenage hacker, has turned his expertise into a powerful force against email phishing attacks. After being caught at 16, he pivoted from launching attacks to preventing them, leading him to a successful career in cybersecurity.

The Rise of a Cybersecurity Expert

Spending nearly a decade in elite cybersecurity roles, Shwartz led crucial projects for Israel’s defense and intelligence sectors, including contributions to the Iron Dome initiative, before co-founding Axis, a startup that was later acquired by HPE.

Launching Ocean: A New Frontier in Email Security

After years of anticipation, Shwartz launched his own startup, Ocean, an innovative email security platform designed to combat AI-driven attacks. The company recently emerged from stealth mode, securing $28 million in funding, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, along with participation from Picture Capital and Cerca Partners. Notable angel investors included Wiz co-founder and CEO Assaf Rappaport, as well as Yevgeny Dibrov and Nadir Izrael, co-founders of Armis.

Facing AI-Powered Threats

While established players like Proofpoint and Mimecast address standard phishing threats, Shwartz emphasizes that AI necessitates a fresh defensive strategy. Previously, sophisticated spear-phishing attacks demanded extensive time and research, but now AI automates the process, making it easier for attackers to scale their efforts.

Revolutionizing Email Defense with AI

“AI has made the entire process automatic, significantly increasing the scale of attacks,” Shwartz explained to TechCrunch. Advanced AI tools can rapidly gather public information to craft precisely targeted phishing attempts.

Ocean’s AI meticulously analyzes the context of incoming emails, aiming to pinpoint fraud and impersonation attempts.

Positive Impact on Security

With clients like Kayak, Kingston Technology, and Headspace, Ocean processes billions of emails monthly. The startup has developed a specialized language model designed to quickly assess emails, understand the sender’s intent, and align it with the user’s organizational context.

A New Standard for Email Safety

“This is like having a guard at every door,” Shwartz remarked. “We’re committed to making inboxes safe and maintaining high hygiene.”

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Here are five FAQs based on the topic of a founder who transitioned from being a teen hacker to an Iron Dome researcher and raised $28M to combat AI phishing:

FAQ 1: Who is the founder mentioned in the context of fighting AI phishing?

Answer: The founder is an individual who initially gained attention as a teenage hacker and later worked on the Iron Dome missile defense system. They have leveraged their unique background and expertise to develop solutions that combat AI-driven phishing attacks.

FAQ 2: What is the significance of raising $28M for combating AI phishing?

Answer: Raising $28 million signifies strong investor confidence in the approach and technology being developed to counter AI phishing threats. This funding will enable the company to enhance its resources, improve its technology, and expand its reach in protecting individuals and organizations from increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks.

FAQ 3: How does the founder’s experience as a teen hacker contribute to their current work?

Answer: The founder’s experience as a teenage hacker provides a deep understanding of cyber threats and vulnerabilities. This background helps them foresee potential phishing techniques and develop innovative solutions to counteract them, leveraging insights that traditional researchers might overlook.

FAQ 4: What is AI phishing, and why is it a concern?

Answer: AI phishing refers to cyber attacks that use artificial intelligence to create highly convincing fraudulent messages aimed at tricking individuals into revealing sensitive information. This is a significant concern because AI can produce tailored and believable content rapidly, making it harder for people to discern legitimate communications from malicious ones.

FAQ 5: What strategies are being developed to combat AI phishing?

Answer: The strategies being developed include advanced machine learning algorithms to detect and filter out phishing attempts, enhanced user education programs to raise awareness about recognizing such attacks, and robust authentication mechanisms to ensure secure communication channels. The aim is to create a comprehensive defense system against AI-driven cyber threats.

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The OpenAI Trial Concludes as the Musk Founder Machine Continues to Turn

The Musk v. Altman Trial: Trust in AI Leadership Under Scrutiny

This week marked the conclusion of the highly publicized Musk v. Altman trial, which repeatedly centered on a critical question: Can we really trust those leading AI advancements? As the trial unfolded, SpaceX was simultaneously gearing up for what could potentially be one of the largest IPOs in U.S. history, producing a wave of new entrepreneurs emerging from the Musk business ecosystem.

Insights from the Equity Podcast Team

In this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane analyze the trial’s closing arguments and shed light on the evolving landscape of Elon Musk’s entrepreneurial universe, alongside other noteworthy deals from the week.

Topics Covered in This Episode

  • A deep dive into the Anthropic report that discusses incidents of AI agents reportedly attempting to blackmail developers, highlighting the ongoing debate about the influence of sci-fi narratives on AI behavior.

Stay Connected with Equity

Don’t miss out! Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Follow Equity on X and Threads at @EquityPod.

Here are five FAQs inspired by the topic of "The OpenAI trial wraps up, and the Musk founder machine keeps spinning":

FAQ 1: What was the primary focus of the OpenAI trial?

Answer: The OpenAI trial primarily focused on the legal and ethical implications of AI technology, scrutinizing its impact on society, data privacy, and the responsibilities of AI developers.

FAQ 2: How does Elon Musk’s involvement influence AI development?

Answer: Elon Musk’s involvement in AI development encourages innovation and raises awareness about potential risks. His perspective often emphasizes the need for responsible AI usage and regulation to prevent misuse.

FAQ 3: What are the implications of the trial’s outcome for AI companies?

Answer: The trial’s outcome could lead to clearer regulations and guidelines for AI companies, prompting them to prioritize ethical considerations and transparency in their developments.

FAQ 4: How can the public stay informed about AI developments after the trial?

Answer: The public can stay informed through reliable news sources, official updates from organizations like OpenAI, and participating in discussions about AI ethics in community forums.

FAQ 5: What future trends might emerge in AI following this trial?

Answer: Following the trial, we may see an increase in regulatory frameworks, heightened emphasis on AI ethics, developments in transparency measures, and a continued push for collaboration between tech companies and regulators.

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Cluely’s ARR Surges to $7M in Just a Week, Founder Roy Lee Warns of Rising Competition.

Cluely’s Revenue Soars to $7 Million in ARR After Launching Innovative Enterprise Product

Cluely’s revenue has skyrocketed to about $7 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) since launching its new enterprise product a week ago, founder Roy Lee shared with TechCrunch. “Every single person who has a meeting or an interview is testing this out.”

Introducing Cluely: Revolutionizing Communication with AI

Cluely, a standout in Silicon Valley, utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze online conversations. The platform delivers real-time notes, context, and question suggestions, keeping the information discreetly visible only to the user.

Rapid Growth and Profitability: Cluely’s Emergence

Leading up to the product launch, Lee had proudly announced that the company had exceeded $3 million in ARR and was already profitable.

Consumer and Business Interest Surge

Lee noted that both consumers and businesses are showing significant interest in Cluely’s offerings.

A Controversial Beginning: From Suspended Student to Startup Success

Cluely’s origin is rooted in controversy; Lee claimed on X that he was suspended from Columbia University for creating a tool intended to cheat in job interviews for software engineers. This incident fueled the startup’s launch, embracing the cheeky tagline of “cheat on everything.”

From Controversy to Credibility: Backed by Major VCs

With backing from notable investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Abstract Ventures, and Susa Ventures, the messaging has shifted to “Everything You Need. Before You Ask. … This feels like cheating.”

Cluely’s Growing Reputation in Silicon Valley

Despite its controversial background, businesses continue to engage with Cluely, with Lee revealing that a public company recently doubled its annual contract to $2.5 million.

Expanded Features for Enterprise Users

The enterprise version of Cluely’s product resembles the consumer application but includes added features like team management and enhanced security settings. Key business applications include sales calls, customer support, and remote tutoring.

Real-Time Note-Taking: A Game Changer for Users

Lee highlights that Cluely’s real-time note-taking capability is particularly appealing to customers. “Meeting notes have proven to be a crucial use case for AI. The challenge with competitors is that they only provide post-call summaries,” he remarked. “With our service, you can refer to notes during the meeting.”

Facing Competition: The Rise of Free Alternatives

However, Cluely’s real-time notetaker might face stiff competition. Recently, Pickle—a company branding itself as a digital clone factory—claimed to have developed Glass, an open-source tool with similar features to Cluely. Garnering over 850 stars and nearly 150 forks within hours on X, the developer community’s response indicates a significant interest in this free alternative.

Looking Ahead: Can Cluely Sustain Its Success Amid Competition?

As competition from free products like Glass emerges, the future of Cluely’s remarkable ascent remains to be seen.

Sure! Here are five FAQs based on the announcement regarding Cluely’s ARR:

FAQ 1: What does it mean that Cluely’s ARR doubled to $7M?

Answer: ARR stands for Annual Recurring Revenue, which is a metric used to assess the revenue generated from subscriptions or long-term contracts on an annual basis. Cluely’s ARR doubling indicates significant growth in its subscription-based revenue, reaching $7 million within one week.

FAQ 2: Who is Roy Lee, and what role does he play at Cluely?

Answer: Roy Lee is the founder of Cluely. As the founder, he plays a crucial role in the company’s strategic direction, growth initiatives, and overall leadership, overseeing operations and ensuring the business meets its objectives.

FAQ 3: What factors contributed to the rapid growth in Cluely’s ARR?

Answer: While specific details were not provided, factors could include increased customer acquisition, successful marketing strategies, launching new products or features, or enhanced customer retention efforts. These elements often drive substantial growth in subscription-based business models.

FAQ 4: What does Roy Lee mean by "rivals are coming"?

Answer: Roy Lee’s mention of "rivals are coming" suggests that the competitive landscape is evolving, with potential competitors looking to enter the market or existing competitors likely to improve their offerings. This indicates a need for Cluely to maintain its competitive edge to sustain its growth.

FAQ 5: How might Cluely respond to the competitive pressure from rivals?

Answer: Cluely might respond to competitive pressure through various strategies, such as innovating its product features, enhancing customer service, adjusting pricing strategies, or increasing marketing efforts to strengthen brand loyalty. The company may also focus on market research to understand competitors better and identify areas for differentiation.

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