TechCrunch has published an investor-focused guide to its Disrupt 2026 conference, taking place 13–15 October at Moscone West in San Francisco. The guide sets out how investors at different stages, from angels to growth-stage funds, should navigate the event, framing it as a chance to source deals and meet founders before rivals do. The piece is timed around a ticket promotion, with savings of up to $300 ending on 21 August.

The event will host over 20,000 curated meetings across three days, alongside more than 10,000 attendees including founders, investors and operators. A central draw is Startup Battlefield 200, described as a pre-vetted shortlist of 200 pre-Series A startups selected by TechCrunch's editorial and events teams. Confirmed speakers include Rivian's RJ Scaringe, Amazon's Panos Panay, Replit's Amjad Masad and Cerebras' Andrew Feldman, with the guide also noting past appearances by investors such as Elad Gil and Vinod Khosla.