At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, the AI Stage comes alive with the voices shaping the future of technology, creativity, and security. Top VCs reveal what it takes to win funding in a rapidly evolving landscape, as they place bets on the next wave of AI founders. Hear groundbreaking insights from leaders at visionary startups like Apptronik, ElevenLabs, Hugging Face, Runway, Wonder Dynamics, Writer, and Wayve — pioneers redefining the future of tech.
These leaders, and many more below, represent the cutting edge of AI’s growing impact. On the AI Stage at Disrupt, get an inside look at how breakthroughs are transforming industries, user experiences, and what startups and investors must know to stay ahead.
More sessions and speakers are coming soon. In the meantime, secure your ticket for Disrupt 2025 and get ready to lean into dynamic conversations happening on the AI Stage, along with four other industry stages — Space, Builders, Going Public, and Disrupt — from October 27–29. Save up to $675 before prices jump after July. Register here to save big.
Introducing the AI Stage lineup
Betting on the Next Wave: What VCs Want in AI Startups
Speakers to be announced.
From model infrastructure to niche applications, AI is producing a new breed of founders and a new set of investor expectations. In this candid conversation, top VCs share what’s catching their eye (and what’s not), how they’re thinking about defensibility in a world of AI monopolies, and what founders need to show to get that next term sheet.
Creative Machines and Where AI Meets Imagination
Nikola Todorovic, co-founder and CEO, Wonder Dynamics; and more speakers to be announced
AI is no longer just optimizing workflows; it’s co-creating art, media, and experiences in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Wonder Dynamics CEO Nikola Todorovic joins a panel of creative technologists to explore how AI is reshaping the creative process, blurring the lines between artist and algorithm, and opening up new frontiers for storytellers, designers, and dreamers alike.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
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October 27-29, 2025
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 14: Nikola Todorovic speaks onstage at “Featured Session: Understanding the Role of AI in Reshaping the Film & Television Industry” during the 2023 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 14, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Diego Donamaria/Getty Images for SXSW)Image Credits:Diego Donamaria / Getty Images
Writing the Future with AI?
May Habib, co-founder and CEO, Writer
What happens when AI learns to write with purpose, personality, and persuasion? Writer CEO May Habib joins us to talk about the evolving relationship between language and machines and what the rise of generative content means for the future of brand, business, and beyond.
Why the Next Frontier Is Search
Edo Liberty, founder and CEO, Pinecone
In a world overflowing with data, finding what matters is everything. Pinecone founder Edo Liberty unpacks why infrastructure, not algorithms, might be the biggest unlock in AI, and what’s coming next in the race to power smarter applications at scale.
Intelligence in Motion and the Future of Physical AI
Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO, Apptronik; and Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO, Waabi
AI in the physical world hasn’t had its ChatGPT moment…yet. Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun and Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas join us to explore and demonstrate what it takes to bring intelligence into motion, whether it’s behind the wheel or on two legs. From simulation to sensors to scaling safely, this panel explores the breakthroughs driving the next generation of physical machines.
Image Credits:Apptronik/Mercedes
Building Intelligence for Modern Defense
Ethan Thornton, founder and CEO, Mach Industries
From stealth mode to center stage, Mach Industries is bringing AI into one of the world’s most complex and controversial sectors: defense. CEO Ethan Thornton joins us to talk about what it takes to build in high-stakes environments, where speed and autonomy matter most, and why next-gen infrastructure starts with rethinking the fundamentals.
Driving Intelligence
Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO, Wayve
From self-driving cars to self-learning systems, Alex Kendall is rethinking how machines perceive and act in the world. The Wayve CEO joins us to explore how real-world autonomy is shaping the next chapter of AI, and why breakthroughs on the road may unlock progress far beyond it.
From Ads to Films: Creating with Code
Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, co-founder and chief design officer, Runway
Creatives aren’t being replaced, they’re being rearmed. Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, co-founder of Runway, shares how creative work is being reshaped by machine learning, what AI-native tools mean for visual storytelling, and why this is just the beginning of a new creative era.
Shaping the AI Stack
Thomas Wolf, co-founder and CSO, Hugging Face
From models and datasets to ethics and infrastructure, Hugging Face is helping define what building responsibly with AI actually looks like. Co-founder and CSO Thomas Wolf joins us to talk about the shifting power dynamics in the AI ecosystem, the rise of community-led innovation, and what it takes to stay open while moving fast.
Synthetic Voices and Real Impact
Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and CEO, ElevenLabs
From audiobooks to avatars, synthetic speech is having a moment. ElevenLabs is helping lead the charge. CEO Mati Staniszewski joins us to explore what it takes to build AI that speaks like us and how voice technology is reshaping the creative industries, accessibility, and entertainment.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: Mati Staniszewski speaks onstage during “The AI Voice Revolution” panel discussion on day three of SXSW London 2025 at the Truman Brewery on June 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for SXSW London)Image Credits:Jeff Spicer / Getty Images
Love, Lies & Algorithms: The Truth About AI in Matters of the Heart
Mark Kantor, head of product and Innovation, Match Group; Eugenia Kuyda, CEO, Replika; and more speakers to be announced.
AI is changing the way we meet, match, and fall in love, sometimes in ways we don’t even notice. This panel explores how technology is reshaping modern relationships, for better or worse. From dating apps to digital soulmates, we’ll look at where things are headed and what that means for the human heart.
AI and National Security in the High-Stakes Race to Innovate
Sri Chandrasekar, managing partner, Point72; Justin Fanelli, CTO, The Navy; and Kathleen Fisher, director, DARPA
From defense labs to Wall Street and naval operations, AI is reshaping how countries protect themselves and project power. DARPA’s Kathleen Fisher, Point72’s Sri Chandrasekar, and Navy CTO Justin Fanelli dive into the cutting-edge AI breakthroughs driving security innovation. They’ll discuss what it means for entrepreneurs, investors, and the future of global stability.
Step into the future of AI at Disrupt 2025
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation shaping the future of AI at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. For over two full days, the AI Stage will feature nonstop sessions with visionary founders, top VCs, and industry leaders — alongside four other cutting-edge stages: Space, Builders, Going Public, and Disrupt — from October 27 to 29 in San Francisco’s Moscone West.
Secure your ticket now to save up to $675 before prices rise after July, and get ready to unlock the next wave of AI innovation redefining technology, creativity, security, and much more.
Image Credits:Kimberly White for TechCrunch / Getty Images
