TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is coming to Moscone West in San Francisco on October 27–29, and we’re bringing the heavy hitters to the Builders Stage. On October 28, three names that helped shape the modern internet are sitting down for an exclusive fireside chat on what it takes to build, scale, and fund startups in today’s ever-shifting tech landscape.
Adam Bain, Dick Costolo, and David Fischer are now leading the charge at 01 Advisors, a venture firm investing in breakout companies like Tipalti and SpotOn. But before they were backing the next generation, they were the operators running some of tech’s most iconic companies.
Adam Bain, former COO of Twitter, helped transform the platform from a scrappy social tool into a global business. He built Twitter’s sales, product, and ad operations teams from the ground up, growing revenue from millions to billions in just five years.
Dick Costolo, Twitter’s former CEO, led the company through hypergrowth — expanding headcount by more than 400%, establishing its long-term strategy, and increasing annual revenue from $28 million to $2.25 billion. Before that, he founded FeedBurner, one of the earliest content distribution platforms, later acquired by Google.
David Fischer, former chief revenue officer at Meta, was the architect of the company’s global ad business. Over more than a decade, he scaled annual revenue from under $1 billion to over $100 billion and helped more than 200 million businesses connect with customers across the globe. He also helped build Google’s early sales engine and once served in the U.S. Treasury Department.
What to expect from this fireside chat
This session isn’t just about what these three have done — it’s about where they believe tech is headed next. From finding product-market fit to scaling with intention, they’ll share firsthand advice and stories that go beyond boardroom strategy. Expect sharp takes on fundraising in today’s market, how to build high-performing teams, and what they look for when backing founders through 01A.
If you’re building a company — or betting on one — this is your blueprint for doing it with staying power. Join 10,000 tech, startup, and VC leaders at this Builders Stage session — and every other high-impact session, networking opportunity, and bespoke activation happening at Disrupt 2025. It’s all part of our 20th anniversary celebration of innovation, ambition, and the builders shaping what’s next. Register today and save up to $675 before prices increase.
Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images
