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With TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 just days away, we’re gearing up for an incredible three-day event packed with interactive sessions! From October 28-30 at Moscone West in San Francisco, dive into dynamic conversations around the most pressing issues and cutting-edge tech innovations to help empower your growth, facilitated by an industry leader.
Don’t miss your chance to pocket ticket savings and participate in these Roundtables! Register now to lock in up to $400 in savings on individual ticket types before door prices go up. These rates are valid only until October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Scroll down for the complete lineup of Roundtable Sessions, spread across three separate rooms during Disrupt 2024.
Roundtable Session Agenda
How to Build & Run Your Board
Led by Mike Seckler, Justworks
Join Justworks’ CEO Mike Seckler for a discussion on how to build and run a high-performing board of directors. For many founders, board meetings can feel like a massive suck of time, focus, and resources. What if your board gave you energy instead? As a founder, you have the opportunity to set a foundation and approach that leads to more productive board conversations that make you and your company better. Participants will leave this session with multiple ideas for building a high-performing board from Mike’s experience as a two-time founder and board member, and from his own journey at Justworks (from early investor/board member to CEO).
Led by Gargi Kand and Nicolas Khonaysser, Vently
This session will highlight the network effects driving consumer social platforms. After scaling Fizz and Nearby to 14 million users, a key insight emerged: Communities are using a fragmented stack of tools — WhatsApp for communication, Partiful for event notifications, Venmo for payments, and Instagram for updates. Vently solves this by being the all-in-one platform that unifies these functions. It enables communities to engage, grow, and monetize in a single space, creating seamless experiences for both hosts and participants. Now Vently is raising capital to scale these efforts and redefine how communities manage and engage. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of consumer social networks and the potential of Vently to redefine social commerce.
Berkeley Connect: Experience the World’s #1 Startup Ecosystem
Led by Harsha Gundala, Moonshine; Amy Jain, Swipefund; Jai Williams, OptiGenix; and Kate Sullivan, Uncracked
Join us for an exclusive opportunity to engage with the innovative minds behind UC Berkeley’s top-ranked startup ecosystem. Recently named No. 1 by PitchBook for producing the most venture-backed companies and female founders, UC Berkeley is shaping the future of entrepreneurship. At this interactive Roundtable, visionary students from the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) will showcase their cutting-edge ventures in rapid demo pitches. Explore the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship (BMoE), SCET’s unique, journey-based approach to fostering entrepreneurial success, and discover the “secret sauce” that propels Berkeley’s entrepreneurial leaders to the forefront of innovation.
Shoppertainment 2024: The Future of Consumer and Commerce
Led by Khanh Ngo, TikTok
Uncover new insights that decode consumer behavior. What this means for businesses and how you can thrive in this $1 trillion Shoppertainment space?
Consumer AI Startups
Led by Sara Deshpande, Maven Ventures
Maven Ventures general partner Sara Deshpande has been investing in the consumer tech space for a decade. Join me to discuss the current consumer landscape, novel startup ideas, fundraising, and why it’s a great time to be building in consumer AI.
Winning at Startup PR Without Paying for an Agency, with ex-TechCrunch editor Josh Constine
Led by Josh Constine, SignalFire
Sick of emailing reporters with no response and don’t want to cough up $15,000 per month for a PR agency? Lesson one: It’s about what audiences want to hear, not what you want to say. With the right mix of concise storytelling and data-driven content, you can learn to pitch press by yourself. In this roundtable session led by former TechCrunch editor-at-large turned VC Josh Constine, you’ll get the playbook for how to teach readers something while you boost your fundraising, recruiting, and sales. Ask your biggest questions about how PR works, and hear what red flags are getting your pitches deleted.
Successfully Raising Your Seed or Series A in 2024
Led by Brian Rothenberg and Medha Agarwal, defy.vc
In today’s fundraising environment, securing seed or Series A funding requires a solid strategy, a compelling pitch, and a deep understanding of current market dynamics. This session from two former founders turned VCs will provide startup founders with actionable insights on what investors are looking for in 2024, from market fit to financial metrics, and guide you toward raising capital successfully.
Next-Gen Medicine: AI Simulation Generating New Data to Accelerate Drug Discovery
Led by Marianna Bonanome, SandboxAQ
AI models require huge amounts of data to complete a given task — but what if this data doesn’t exist? Marianna Bonanome, PhD, Head of Education Outreach, SandboxAQ and Jim Breyer from Breyer Capital will discuss how AI and quantum-powered simulation generate the missing data AI models need to accelerate drug discovery — leading to breakthroughs for challenging conditions like Alzheimer’s while reducing the time, cost, and risk of developing new drugs. Marianna and Jim will showcase how UCSF, Riboscience, and other biopharma researchers are using simulation to turn molecules into medicine, and recent findings show how simulation data is performing beyond our wildest expectations.
Tackle Every Challenge Head-on with Affiliate Marketing
Led by Adam Weiss, Awin
Affiliate marketing is just bottom-of-the-funnel, discount-focused, spammy content sites, right? Wrong. With an influx of innovative strategic partners and e-commerce technologies emerging in the channel, online brands can solve any marketing challenge far beyond that traditional advertising funnel.
Need to drive more traffic to your store? Want to convert more shoppers into buyers? Looking to encourage repeat business and referrals? There’s an affiliate solution for these obstacles and more.
We will discuss how today’s affiliate channel offers a kaleidoscope of partners helping online brands enhance their sales and marketing efforts.
Leverage Data Standards to Accelerate Your Startup
Led by Qi Li and Nicholai Mitchko, InterSystems
What is the big deal with standards like FHIR? Why should I care when I am trying so hard to build an innovative solution and look for early customers? What would investors think? Does it allow my competitors to copy my offering easily? These are important questions for healthcare startups. InterSystems has been supporting global data standards for decades. We will share our experience to help you answer these questions and leverage the standards to your advantage, not just technically, but also in sales and marketing.
Creating Inclusive Hiring Practices in Fast-Growing Companies
Led by Lori Lizotte, WomenTech Network
In the fast-paced and dynamic tech industry, establishing inclusive hiring practices is essential for fostering innovation, enhancing team performance, and reflecting the diverse user base. This roundtable discussion will delve into strategies for attracting diverse talent, methods to remove bias from the recruitment process, and the role of technology in inclusive hiring.
AI Outlook: Where VCs Are Placing Their Bets in AI Today — and Where We Go Next
Led by Kevin Dunlap, Calibrate Ventures
After more than a year of frenzied investment into AI, investors are recalibrating. Instead of throwing money at any startup that claims to be AI, VCs are tightening their belts. Hear from a leading early-stage AI investor about what VCs are looking for in AI startups today. Find out why applied AI — “putting AI to work — is the next frontier in investment, with VCs looking for companies that can prove their technology can scale to disrupt established industries such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and financial services. Walk away with practical tips to get your AI startup funded!
Refining Pre- and Post-training Data Strategy for LLM Success
Led by Ian McDiarmid, Siddharth Mall and Kaushik PS, TELUS Digital
LLMs have revolutionized AI, but their success hinges on the quality and strategy of the data used.
This roundtable dives deep into the critical role of data throughout the LLM life cycle.
Join us to explore best practices for:
1. Pre-training: Learn how to curate diverse, high-quality datasets that fuel robust and unbiased LLMs.
2. Post-training: Discover techniques like reinforcement learning and active learning to continually enhance LLM performance and address limitations.
3. Ethical considerations: Navigate the complex landscape of data privacy, bias, and fairness in LLM development.
Whether you’re building foundational models or leveraging LLMs for specific applications, this session offers insights to optimize your data strategy and unlock the full potential of these powerful AI tools.
Led by Michelle Lawson, Computer Science Girlies
In today’s digital landscape, Gen Z holds unprecedented influence over market trends and online engagement. How can startups effectively connect with this savvy generation to drive growth and brand loyalty? Join us for an insightful roundtable led by the founder of Computer Science Girlies, a thriving online community that has successfully tapped into the Gen Z zeitgeist. We’ll explore proven strategies for building and leading online communities that resonate with Gen Z users.
Discover how to leverage platforms like TikTok and Instagram to create authentic connections, foster active engagement, and expand your startup’s reach. Attendees will gain actionable insights into cultivating a loyal Gen Z user base, enhancing brand presence, and fueling sustainable growth through community-driven initiatives.
Enterprise GTM Is Broken — Here’s How to Fix It
Led by SC Moatti, Mighty Capital
The old tactics don’t work anymore. In an era where machines are bombarding inboxes with emails thousands of times a week, how do you break through the noise to make sure the right decision-makers are getting the message at a target enterprise company? Based on expertise and learnings from helping over half a million product leaders hone their GTM strategy, SC Moatti will lead this collaborative session exploring the challenges and opportunities of the enterprise GTM space. Founders and operators will walk away with the tools they need to start making real headway toward their enterprise ambitions.
Scaling Startups with Strong Leadership — Developing a Founding Team that Thrives
Led by Clayton Bryan, Global 500 + TBA
As the startup ecosystem grows increasingly competitive with AI democratizing startup creation and increased investor due diligence, the need for strong leadership extends beyond the CEO to the entire founding team. This roundtable explores the critical role that leadership development plays in scaling successful startups. Learn from seasoned investors and entrepreneurs who have cultivated the right leadership qualities across their teams, creating a foundation for sustained growth and innovation. We’ll discuss the strategies and resources available to help a founding team develop the skills needed to navigate challenges, inspire their teams, and drive long-term success.
Maximizing Prospective + Existing Investor Relationships
Led by Brent Murri, M13
This panel dives into the often-underutilized dynamics between founders and investors, debunking myths that can undermine these relationships. We’ll discuss how founders can filter the flood of advice, position themselves to best utilize board and investor resources, and create partnerships that fuel long-term success. Leading the conversation is Brent Murri, partner at M13, who brings a sharp perspective on venture.
Visionary Companies Embrace Innovation to Thrive in the Fast-Paced Economy
Led by Meredith Roemer and Patrick Maroney, SAP America, Inc.
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, forward-thinking companies are leveraging innovation and modernization to stay competitive. By embracing new tools, trends, and strategies, they position themselves to lead in the fast-paced global economy, setting new benchmarks for efficiency, customer engagement, and sustainable growth. Join this session to learn how these visionary organizations are leveraging technological advancements to compete in today’s market and driving transformative changes across industries.
From Experimental to Essential: Achieving Reliability with AI Agents in Mission-Critical Tasks
Led by Mike Carter, founder of Vooma AI
The “happy path” brings imagination to life, but it’s the “unhappy path” that makes the product. AI agents promise to revolutionize nearly every industry, yet the journey to reliability in real-world applications is fraught with challenges. Errors can snowball when agents make multiple decisions in sequence, especially in mission-critical real-world tasks where consistency is nonnegotiable. In this session, Mike Carter, founder of Vooma, will lead a discussion of practical approaches for building AI agents that excel in the edge cases. Drawing from his experience launching the AI agent for logistics and building self-driving vehicles, Mike will explore strategies to overcome technical hurdles, enhance agent reliability, and ensure AI agents make correct decisions when the wrong ones are costly.
AI Infra, DevOps and the Back-End Tooling Stack of the Next Generation of B2B Software Winners
Led by Ben Fu, Justin Ouyang, Eugene Lee and Julianna Vitolo, OMERS Ventures
This roundtable explores investment strategies in AI infrastructure software, DevOps, and B2B infrastructure. As AI continues to reshape industries, the demand for robust, scalable infrastructure has never been greater. Participants will discuss emerging trends in cloud computing, containerization, and edge computing tailored for AI workloads. The conversation will delve into the challenges of developing and deploying AI models at scale, examining how DevOps practices are evolving to meet these demands. Additionally, the roundtable will address the growing market for B2B infrastructure software that enables AI integration across various sectors. By analyzing current gaps in the ecosystem and projecting future needs, this discussion aims to identify key areas for strategic investment that will shape the next generation of AI infrastructure.
Is LLM the Future to AGI? Where VCs Can Look for Meaningful Investments
Led by Gayatri Sarkar, Advaita Capital
Detailed discussion on LLM, the future of AI is human, and how cognitive science and reasoning will play a big role in finding the right founders for strong ROI. What is the role of VC funds, especially growth equity to scale such frontier tech?
Building Hybrid Teams of Tomorrow
Led by Haseeb Khan, Tkxel
1. Best practices for building and managing remote and hybrid teams
2. Leveraging AI for recruitment and performance management
3. How hybrid models are reshaping company culture and employee engagement
4. The future of workforce collaboration tools and platforms
AI Innovation, Product-Market-Fit, and GTM Best Practices in Startups
Led by Aishwarya Srinivasan, Microsoft for Startups
Join me for an open and interactive discussion focused on the real challenges and opportunities of building AI-driven startups. We’ll dive into how founders are applying AI in innovative ways, tackling scalability issues, and navigating the ethical considerations that come with it. We’ll also explore the journey to finding the right product-market fit, along with practical go-to-market strategies that have worked for other startups. Whether you’re a founder or an AI professional, this roundtable is a chance to share experiences, learn from each other, and spark new ideas.
Evolution of a Consumer AI Startup
Led by Angela Du, SoftBank Investment Advisers
The metric for startup success has shifted, and the debate has grown around topics such as which metrics matter and balancing growth and profitability. Join SoftBank Vision Fund partner and LTK and Misfits Market board member Angela Du for a lively discussion on the key challenges that consumer AI startups are facing, including evaluating product-market fit, scalability and monetization, and how to run the new playbook that startups need to succeed in today’s market.
Don’t miss these dynamic, deep-dive discussions
The only way to participate in these exclusive Roundtable Sessions is by registering for Disrupt 2024. Any pass, except the Expo+ Pass, grants you full access to these sessions. Register today and save up to $400 before prices rise at the door. Lock in your discounted ticket here.
