TechCrunch’s Founder Summit will be a full‑day event in Boston on November 4, 2026, designed for founders at every stage to meet top venture capitalists and seasoned entrepreneurs. The summit offers practical advice on hiring, product‑market fit, fundraising, leadership and more, making it a crash course for anyone planning their 2027 strategy. Tickets are available with a $100 discount for investors and founders, and a BOGO promotion gives a free extra pass when you buy a second ticket. Students, aspiring founders and investors looking to discover East Coast talent also have dedicated options.
The summit targets founders who must navigate fundraising, hiring, legal, marketing, PR and leadership while investors seek ways to evaluate and support emerging teams. By bringing together people who have experienced both failure and success, the event promises real‑world answers to the toughest questions.
The gathering will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the SoWa Power Station in Boston. The venue is a short walk from the Back Bay and Tufts Medical Center stops on the Orange Line and from the Broadway stop on the Red Line, making public transit convenient.
The agenda focuses on fundraising, AI‑native building and leadership. Highlights include:
– “Building a Company That Keeps Reinventing Itself” with Toast co‑founder and director Steve Fredette, who will discuss staying relevant amid shifting technology and customer expectations.
– “The Boston Founder Playbook” featuring HqO co‑founder and CEO Chase Garbarino, who will share how his company raised $200 million and expanded to more than 30 countries outside Silicon Valley.
– “Finding Product Market Fit Before You Scale” with Kent Bennett of Bessemer Venture Partners, covering demand validation and avoiding premature scaling.
– “Built for AI From Day One” with 7AI co‑founder and CEO Lior Div, exploring the impact of making AI the core of a business rather than an add‑on.
– “Not Every Dollar Is Equal” with Cogent Security co‑founder and CEO Vineet Edupuganti, examining investor and cap‑table considerations beyond valuation.
– “How to Spot the ‘King of the Hill’ Company” with TDK Ventures investment director Tina Tosukhowong, presenting a framework for assessing startups on economics, scalability and timing.
– “Your Pitch Has to Near the Next Conversation” with TrueVentures partner and Edisyl CEO Dave Balter, emphasizing the need for pitches that spark ongoing dialogue.
A pitch competition, “So You Think You Can Pitch?” will return, giving three early‑stage startups four minutes each to impress a panel of judges and receive feedback useful for refining their own presentations.
Formerly known as Early Stage and All Stage, the event retains its original mission under the new Founder Summit name. The program goes beyond panels, offering breakout sessions with intimate discussions, networking through the Braindate app, and a week‑long series of side events from November 1 to 7. Participants can even apply to host a side event.
Ticket pricing is tiered and increases after October 16. Current rates are $499 for investors, $299 for founders and $149 for students. Purchasing a second ticket triggers the BOGO offer, and groups of four or more receive additional discounts.
Free admission is available for volunteers who help staff the summit; they gain behind‑the‑scenes access and full programming privileges. The volunteer program closed to new applicants on October 19.
For a complete overview of speakers, the agenda, logistics and registration, visit the official TechCrunch Founder Summit page.