TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 AI Stage to Feature Leading Innovators

The AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 brings together the visionaries charting the course for technology, creativity, and security. Leading venture capitalists reveal what it takes to secure funding in today's fast-changing market as they invest in the next generation of AI innovators. Gain exclusive insights from top executives at forward-thinking companies including Apptronik, ElevenLabs, Hugging Face, Runway, Wonder Dynamics, Writer, and Wayve — all pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

These thought leaders, along with many others featured here, represent the vanguard of AI’s expanding influence. At the AI Stage during Disrupt, discover how emerging breakthroughs are revolutionizing entire industries and user interactions, plus what startups and investors need to do to maintain a competitive advantage.

Additional sessions and speakers will be announced in the near future. In the meantime, reserve your pass for Disrupt 2025 and prepare to engage with lively discussions on the AI Stage, alongside four other dedicated stages — Space, Builders, Going Public, and Disrupt — from October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Save as much as $675 if you register before the July deadline. Click here to register and secure your discount.

Discover the AI Stage Lineup

Investing in the Future: What Venture Capitalists Look for in AI Startups

Speakers to be announced.

Across model infrastructure and specialized applications, AI is creating a new class of entrepreneurs and shifting investor priorities. In this open discussion, prominent VCs share what captures their attention, how they evaluate competitive moats in an era of AI giants, and the key metrics founders must demonstrate to secure funding.

Creative Machines: Exploring the Intersection of AI and Imagination

Nikola Todorovic, co-founder and CEO, Wonder Dynamics; and more speakers to be announced

AI is no longer just a tool for streamlining workflows; it is actively co-creating art, media, and immersive experiences in ways we are only starting to grasp. Wonder Dynamics CEO Nikola Todorovic joins a panel of creative technology experts to examine how AI is transforming creative workflows, blurring distinctions between human artists and algorithms, and unlocking new possibilities for storytellers, designers, and innovators.

Top Tech and VC Leaders Join the Disrupt 2025 Agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, and Sequoia Capital are among the industry giants confirmed for the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They will share critical insights to accelerate startup growth and sharpen your competitive strategy. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt — this is your opportunity to learn from the best in the business. Book your pass today to save up to $675 before rates increase.

Top Tech and VC Leaders Join the Disrupt 2025 Agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, and Sequoia Capital are among the industry giants confirmed for the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They will share critical insights to accelerate startup growth and sharpen your competitive strategy. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt — this is your opportunity to learn from the best in the business. Book your pass today to save up to $675 before rates increase.

Crafting the Future with AI

May Habib, co-founder and CEO, Writer

What unfolds when AI learns to write with clarity, personality, and persuasive power? Writer CEO May Habib discusses the evolving synergy between language and technology, exploring the implications of generative content for brands, enterprises, and society.

Search: The Next Frontier

Edo Liberty, founder and CEO, Pinecone

In an age of information overload, pinpointing relevant data is crucial. Pinecone founder Edo Liberty explains why advanced infrastructure, rather than algorithms alone, could be the key to unlocking AI's potential, and what developments are emerging to enable smarter, large-scale applications.

Intelligent Motion: The Future of Embodied AI

Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO, Apptronik; and Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO, Waabi

AI in the physical world hasn't yet had its breakthrough moment, but it's getting closer. Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun and Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas join us to examine and showcase the engineering required to embed intelligence into moving systems, from autonomous vehicles to humanoid robots. Covering simulation, sensor technology, and safe deployment, this session delves into the innovations powering the next wave of physical machines.

AI for Modern Defense: Building Intelligent Systems

Ethan Thornton, founder and CEO, Mach Industries

After emerging from stealth, Mach Industries is integrating AI into one of the world's most intricate and debated fields: defense. CEO Ethan Thornton discusses the challenges of developing technology for high-risk environments, where speed and autonomy are critical, and why next-generation infrastructure requires a fundamental rethink.

The Intelligence of Motion

Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO, Wayve

From autonomous driving to adaptive learning systems, Alex Kendall is reimagining how machines perceive and interact with their surroundings. The Wayve CEO explores how real-world autonomy is influencing the next phase of AI development, and why advances in transportation could catalyze progress across numerous other domains.

From Advertising to Film: The Art of Code-Driven Creation

Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, co-founder and chief design officer, Runway

Creative professionals are not being displaced; they are being empowered with new tools. Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, Runway co-founder, explains how machine learning is revolutionizing creative workflows, what AI-native platforms mean for visual narrative, and why we are only at the dawn of a new artistic epoch.

Designing the AI Technology Stack

Thomas Wolf, co-founder and CSO, Hugging Face

From models and datasets to ethical standards and infrastructure, Hugging Face is helping define responsible AI development. Co-founder and CSO Thomas Wolf discusses the evolving power structures within the AI ecosystem, the growing impact of community-driven innovation, and how to balance openness with rapid advancement.

Synthetic Speech and Its Real-World Applications

Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and CEO, ElevenLabs

Synthetic voice technology is rapidly gaining traction across audiobooks, virtual assistants, and digital avatars. ElevenLabs is at the forefront of this shift. CEO Mati Staniszewski explores the process of developing AI that mimics human speech and how voice synthesis is transforming creative sectors, enhancing accessibility, and redefining entertainment.

Love, Deception, and Algorithms: AI's Role in Modern Relationships

Mark Kantor, head of product and Innovation, Match Group; Eugenia Kuyda, CEO, Replika; and more speakers to be announced.

AI is altering how we connect, find partners, and experience love, often in subtle ways. This conversation investigates how technology is reshaping modern romance, examining both the positive and negative consequences. From algorithm-based dating apps to AI companions, we explore emerging trends and their potential effects on human connection.

AI and National Security: The High-Stakes Innovation Race

Sri Chandrasekar, managing partner, Point72; Justin Fanelli, CTO, The Navy; and Kathleen Fisher, director, DARPA

From defense research and financial markets to naval strategy, AI is redefining national security and global influence. DARPA’s Kathleen Fisher, Point72’s Sri Chandrasekar, and Navy CTO Justin Fanelli examine the frontier AI developments driving security innovation. They'll analyze the implications for business leaders, investors, and international stability.

Experience the Future of AI at Disrupt 2025

Join the pivotal discussions that will define the next chapter of AI at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Over two and a half days, the AI Stage will host continuous presentations from visionary founders, top investors, and industry pioneers — alongside four other specialized stages: Space, Builders, Going Public, and Disrupt — from October 27 to 29 at San Francisco's Moscone West.

Book your ticket today to save up to $675 before the July price increase, and prepare to engage with the next era of AI innovation that is redefining technology, creativity, security, and countless other fields.