Disrupt 2020
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We’re coming down to the wire folks. Disrupt 2020 officially opens its virtual doors September 14 for five super-charged days of everything the early-stage startup community needs to build better, faster, stronger. Going virtual translates into a global reach making this our largest Disrupt ever. Yowza!
There’s a lot going on during this Disrupt — talk about a vast understatement — including a jam-packed agenda (with time zone-friendly programming for attendees in Europe and Asia), a virtual venue, new events and a multitude of other moving parts. We put together this user guide to help you navigate Disrupt 2020 with maximum efficiency and minimal frustration.
Buckle up for a logistical look at Disrupt 2020.
First, Disrupt will be hosted on the virtual venue platform, Hopin, where all of the action will happen: the Disrupt Stage featuring the Startup Battlefield competition, the Extra Crunch stage, and network with CrunchMatch, access the Expo featuring hundreds of early stage startups.
For you Disrupt Digital Pro pass holders – make sure to sign into CrunchMatch, hosted on Grip, to access a list of recommended connections with other Disrupt attendees. CrunchMatch is brought to you by All Raise, Bizzabo, Invest in Canada, MongoDB, TTA, TechStars and Western Digital. Your Disrupt ticket number on your Bizzabo registration confirmation email is your key to access the platform.
In addition to the famous Startup Battlefield, we love giving startups the mic to grab the spotlight for their fledgling startups. Tune into these 5 pitch-off breakout sessions.
Monday
12PM – Taiwan Pavilion Pitch-Off pt 1
Tuesday
10AM: Belgium Pavilion Pitch-Off
12PM: Taiwan Pavilion Pitch-Off pt 2
Wednesday
10AM: Japan Pavilion Pitch-Off
11AM: Korean Pavilion Pitch-Off
Break out from the Disrupt stage content with a special breakout session:
Monday 11:am: How to Invest in Infrastructure to Deliver Experience with Adobe
Tuesday 9am: Diversity as Disruption: Create a more diverse ecosystem now, with SVB
Tuesday 9am: Taiwan Reception: Innovations and investment opportunities amid COVID19 Pandemics with Christine Tsai (500 Startups), Allan May (Life Science Angels)
Wednesday 9am: Learn from Canadian founders who will talk about their start-ups and how Canada has helped them grow and succeed globally, with the Consulate of Canada
Wednesday 12pm: Making Data Meaningful for the FinTech Ecosystem, with Yodlee
Thursday 10am: Advertising Disrupted: What User Privacy Means For Marketers with Appsflyer
Thursday 12pm: It Takes An Ecosystem To Innovate: Startups, Corporations and the Connectors that Bring Them Together with KITE
Startup Legal Advice
Perkins Coie is offering free startup legal advice to Disrupt attendees. Pop by their booth or sign up here to reserve some time with one of their industry-renowned startup lawyers.
Diversity as Disruption: Take action now to create a more diverse ecosystem presented by SVB
Tuesday, September 15th at 9:00-9:50am PST
Recent events continue to demonstrate that change is not happening fast enough. How can we ensure the current social justice momentum is more than just talk? Guided by SVB’s recent research into the “4th wave of venture capital,” learn how three industry leaders are tackling the problem with real actions. By the close of the session, leave with tangible steps you can take today – whether as an individual or as a firm — to make a meaningful, move-the-needle impact in your organization
Speed of Thought Documentary: The First 5G Visionaries
Tuesday, September 15th at 1:40pm PST
See the premiere of Speed of Thought on the DIsrupt stage, a documentary about the first wave of 5G visionaries, and hear industry leaders discuss how the need for 5G tech and solutions is more urgent than ever. Stay after the documentary to hear directly from some of the featured innovators talk about how they are using the power of 5G to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society today
Bahrain: Your gateway to the Middle East and beyond
Wednesday, September 16th from 10:00-11:00 AM PST
With its supportive ecosystem, advanced digital infrastructure, flexible and pioneering regulations; rapid growth in funding opportunities, and a liberal market, Bahrain is the ideal testbed for startups and scaleups to test their products and solutions before growing and expanding across the Middle East.
TC Include Reception – PRIVATE
TC Include kicks off this year’s founder cohort with organizational partners Black Female Founders, Female Founders Alliance, Latinx Startup Alliance and StartOut with remarks by Sootchy Founder and CEO, David Adefeso.
We’re tapping Wave technology to present Lindsey Stirling, an American violinist, songwriter, and dancer. She’s racked up tens of millions of followers worldwide and more than 3 billion total views on YouTube. Stirling is a performing powerhouse who’s latest album “Artemis” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums Chart. Check out two of her YouTube videos here and here.
TeaTime, makers of Trivia Royale, is giving Disrupt attendees a break from all the serious learnings by hosting TC trivia. Win a TechCrunch swag bag and serious bragging rights.
Close out Disrupt on Friday with a live, virtual Cocktail Party on Run the World. Run the World is the first video events platform built specifically for social interaction. Check agenda for details
TechCrunch Disrupt is using Otter.ai to transcribe all the events occurring on our Disrupt Stage and Extra Crunch Stage. Check it out for real-time transcripts of the show.
Whew…now that you have your logistical guide to all things Disrupt 2020, all that’s left is to roll up your sleeves, dive in, and discover the opportunities that can help take your business to the next level and beyond. Go get ‘em!
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Disrupt 2020 is mere days away, but we’ve added pre-Disrupt events to help startup founders up their game, increase their ROI and drive their business forward. What’s next on the agenda?
If you’re a founder with big ideas, get ready for a rare opportunity designed to help you fund your startup dreams. Thursday, September 10th at 10am PT / 1pm ET, IFundWomen, the go-to marketplace for women-owned businesses, will lead a three part workshop. The topic: Leveraging Online Fundraising for Your Business.
Note: Anyone with a Disrupt ticket can attend. Navigate to the Event Agenda section on the CrunchMatch homepage to register.
“The financial system chronically underserving women is not a new phenomenon. Last year, female-founded companies raised just 2.7 percent of the venture capital pie. For founders of color, that figure is less than 1 percent. According to DigitalUndivided, Black-founded companies have raised just .06 percent of the $424.7 billion of total tech venture funding since 2009.” — Julia Steele, Director of Marketing and Communications, IFundWomen.
IFundWomen aims to change the disheartening numbers game by, according to Steele, “working tirelessly to expand access to capital for women-owned businesses so they can launch and scale more successful, lucrative businesses.”
What can you expect from Thursday’s event? Have a look at the agenda.
Part 1: The Funding Journey Overview (15 minutes)
How you can leverage the different funding options for your business (crowdfunding, grants, raising venture capital).
Part 2: Funding Options for Women Entrepreneurs Deep Dive (45 minutes)
Attendees can select from three different sessions to learn more about the funding option that is most applicable to their stage.
Part 3: Virtual 1:1 Speed Networking (30 minutes: three 10-minute sessions)
A strong network is a key component of any strong fundraising effort. Use this time to connect with other entrepreneurs and build relationships.
IFundWomen hosts Leveraging Online Fundraising for Your Business Thursday, September 10th at 10am PT / 1pm ET. The workshop takes place on CrunchMatch. You can register here.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to explore your funding options, expand your business network and maximize your Disrupt 2020 experience. It’s a win-win-win!
IFundWomen is the go-to funding marketplace for women-owned businesses and the people who want to support them, providing access to capital, coaching, and connections critical to launching and growing sustainable businesses.
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As the Labor Day weekend winds down here in the states, so too does our flash sale and your chance to save $100 on a Digital Pro pass to Disrupt 2020. Fight off your holiday food coma long enough to buy your pass before 11:59 p.m. (PT) tonight.
Disrupt 2020 takes place September 14-18, and you can’t afford to miss this global opportunity to learn new startup skills, add to your investment portfolio, build brand awareness, expand your network and do whatever it takes to drive your business forward.
We’re also celebrating 10 years of Disrupt. How crazy is that? As part of the celebration, we formed the TC10 — a remarkable group of entrepreneurs and investors who’ve been a big part of Disrupt for the past 10 years. Meet the TC10 here.
They’ll show up throughout Disrupt 2020 and play an important role in our newest event, the Pitch Deck Teardown sessions. Throughout Disrupt, top VCs and entrepreneurs will look at submitted pitch decks, dissect them slide-by-slide and discuss what works and what doesn’t. Want the Teardown treatment? Submit your pitch deck here.
What else can you do with your Digital Pro pass? Take a deep dive into the Disrupt 2020 agenda where you’ll find an incredible line up of experts, founders, investors, tech icons and visionaries. You’ll lean in and learn from folks like Bumble CEO, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Cloudflare Co-founder, Michelle Zatlyn and Sequoia Capital’s Roelof Botha. You’ll even hear from celebrities like Kerry Washington, who’s making quite a name for herself as a tech investor.
Explore hundreds of early-stage startups — including the TC Top Picks — in Digital Startup Alley. Our virtual venue makes it easy to find them and connect.
Take your networking global. The virtual nature of Disrupt 2020 allows anyone from any location to participate, and that spells exponential opportunity. Keep organized and on schedule with CrunchMatch, our AI-powered platform that doesn’t just connect you with people, it connects you with the right people. Simply answer a few quick questions during registration, and you’re ready to schedule 1:1 virtual meetings with founders, investors or other Disrupt attendees.
There’s a metric ton more — the Extra Crunch Stage, Startup Battlefield, interactive Q&As and breakout sessions. TL;DR — you can’t afford to miss the abundant opportunities waiting for you at Disrupt 2020. Buy your Digital Pro Pass before the flash sale ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. (PT) and save $100.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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We’ve been extremely privileged to witness thousands of early stage startups launch and take flight at Disrupt over the past 10 years, and they just keep getting bettter. You’ll be hard-pressed to find more creative, game-changing startups than the ones that earned our TC Top Picks designation for Disrupt 2020.
The all-virtual nature of this Disrupt meant we received applications from startups around the world. Talk about a tough vetting process! Highly determined and highly caffeinated TechCrunch editors took on the task of narrowing the field to find the best of the best.
The TC Top Picks program showcases outstanding early-stage startups across these categories: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Biotech/HealthTech, Education/Social Impact, Enterprise/SaaS, Fintech, Mobility, Retail/E-commerce, Robotics/Hardware/IOT and Security/Privacy.
Each TC Top Pick will exhibit in Digital Startup Alley Package and have an exclusive, virtual interview with a TechCrunch writer. We record the interviews and promote them across our social media platforms. It’s terrific exposure and they make a killer long-term marketing tool, so consider applying to the TC Top Pick program next year.
It’s time to announce the Disrupt 2020 TC Top Picks cohort. Peruse these 26 impressive startups, buy your pass to Disrupt, and make a plan to connect with them in Digital Startup Alley. Opportunity knocks!
AI/Machine Learning
iLoF – Intelligent Lab on Fiber
Biotech/HealthTech
Education/Social Impact
Enterprise/SaaS
FinTech
Retail/E-commerce
Mobility
Robotics/Hardware/IOT
Security + Privacy
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Becoming a successful leader isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. Each startup — depending on the industry and internal culture — has its own needs.
The hard part is figuring out what leadership style best suits the personality of the CEO or founder as well as the needs and culture of their startup and employees who work there.
This year at TechCrunch’s virtual Disrupt 2020 on September 14-18, we’ll talk to the people who with the expertise and insight to help startup founders and other C-suite level executives — as well as those who someday hope to be in that spot — find the right leadership style for their business. We’re excited to announced that joining us on the Extra Crunch stage to discuss leadership styles is Carolyn Childers, co-founder and CEO of women leadership network Chief, Melissa Bradley co-founder of SMB networking platform Ureeka and Jerry Colonna, co-founder and CEO of executive coaching firm Reboot.io.
The three speakers will dig into what makes a successful leader and how to find the right management style as well as tackle other challenges that founders, CEOs and other executives face while building a company.
Bradley’s company Ureeka gives small business access to the expertise needed to grow their business. She is also founder and managing partner of 1863 Ventures, a business development program, and serves as advisor to the New Voices Foundation and New Voices Fund, as well as the Halcyon Fund. Bradley is the former Co-Chair, National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was recently named one of The Most Entrepreneurial Women Investors in 2018.
Chief, which Childers and partner Lindsay Kaplan launched in January 2019, is a private network to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. The organization is designed for senior women leaders. Prior to founding Chief, Childers was senior vice president of operations at Handy, led the launch of the site Soap.com (Quidsi) and acted as its GM through its acquisition by Amazon. Childers’ work landed her on Inc.’s 2019 Female Founders 100 List.
Colonna’s company Reboot.io specializes in executive coaching and leadership development. Colonna, who has experience as an executive, venture capitalist, journalist and board member, is also the author of ‘REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up.’
You may have heard that we’re taking Disrupt virtual this year, a move that lets us make the event accessible to more people than ever before while keeping everyone safe. Disrupt 2020 is scheduled to run from September 14 through September 19. Buy the Disrupt Digital Pro Pass or a Digital Startup Alley Exhibitor Package today and get access to all the interviews on our main Disrupt stage, workshops over on the Extra Crunch Stage where you can get actionable tips as well as CrunchMatch, our free, AI-powered networking platform. As soon as you register for Disrupt, you will have access to CrunchMatch and can start connecting with people now. Use the tool to schedule one-on-one video calls with potential customers and investors or to recruit and interview prospective employees.
We’ll see you there!
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No matter how you celebrate Labor Day weekend, we urge you to mask up, keep your distance when grilling burgers and dogs and — most of all — take advantage of our flash sale on Digital Pro passes to Disrupt 2020. Right now, you can save $100 on your pass — whether you observe the holiday or not. We don’t judge.
This sweet deal won’t last long. Buy your Digital Pro pass before Monday, September 7 at 11:59 p.m. (PT) when this sale disappears in, well, a flash.
A Digital Pro pass provides access to everything Disrupt 2020 offers from September 14-18. Our virtual venue makes it easy to explore Digital Startup Alley and discover hundreds of new startups from all around the world. That’s also where you’ll find this year’s TC Top Picks. TechCrunch editors hand selected this cohort of stellar startups from hundreds of applications. These startups span the tech spectrum, and you won’t want to miss an opportunity to connect and see their demos.
Don’t miss the one, the only, the always-epic Startup Battlefield. It’s the OG of pitch competitions, and we have roughly 20 international contenders ready to throw down hard. They’ll pitch and demo to this impressive list of judges until only one team remains to claim bragging rights, the storied Disrupt Cup and $100,000 in equity-free cash.
As always, we bring the top experts, leaders and visionaries to the Disrupt stages, and this year is no different in that respect. And since virtual equals global, we have time zone-friendly programming for Europe and Asia. Here’s a taste of the Disrupt 2020 agenda.
Looking into the Future: Roelof Botha is the U.S. head of Sequoia Capital. It’s a powerful position but it also comes with great responsibility, including to help steer the company’s portfolio companies through the pandemic and its ripple effects. Hear how Botha is advising founders and why, even in trying times, he expects startup founders to reshape the world.
Live Q&A with Mette Lykke: Come to this live Q&A prepared with your questions for Endomondo’s CEO and co-founder (11:00 AM, CET)
Looking Toward the Future of Tech in China and Silicon Valley: Edith Yeung, general partner at Race Capital and the creator of the China Internet Report, has invested in over 50 startups including Lightyear/Stellar, Silk Labs, Chirp and Fleksy. Join us in a conversation about which emerging technology trends in China and the United States will leave an impact (1 p.m. HKT).
We can’t fit five days of Disrupt 2020 into one post. You need to see and experience it for yourself, and this is your chance to save $100 off the price of a Disrupt Digital Pro Pass. The sale ends Monday, September 7 at 11:59 p.m. (PT) — now, go fire up that grill.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Stan Chudnovsky last spoke at Disrupt in 2016, so we’ve got a lot to catch up on.
Chudnovsky remains in charge of Facebook Messenger — his current title is VP of Messenger — so he can tell us more about how the product has evolved at this year’s Disrupt 2020 on September 14-18.
One of the biggest changes has been the launch of Messenger Rooms, a service that allows you to start and join video calls from within Facebook or Messenger (and eventually other Facebook products). The product’s appeal is pretty easy to see in a time of social distancing, but Facebook still has a long way to go if it wants to challenge Zoom.
Meanwhile, we’ve also seen increasing scrutiny about the role that messaging apps can play in spreading hate speech and misinformation. Among Facebook’s apps, WhatsApp has struggled the most visibly with these issues, but Messenger has also been adding tools to help people share accurate information about the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of all that, we can get general updates on how FB Messenger has been doing during the pandemic, and what the big priorities are moving forward. Chudnovsky might also have some thoughts to share on the messaging landscape, and on the startup world — after all, before joining Facebook, he co-founded startups including Jiff, NFX, Ooga Labs and Wonderhill.
Learn more about the future of messaging at our all-virtual Disrupt 2020, which runs from September 14-18. Get your front row seat to see this panel live with a Disrupt Digital Pro Pass or a Digital Startup Alley Exhibitor Package. We’re excited to see you there.
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We can’t help but wonder what the future of work will look like in the wake of this pandemic. That’s the timely topic of today’s interactive webinar, COVID-19’s Impact on the Startup World.
The second of three in our free series of interactive webinars — exclusively for founders exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley at Disrupt 2020 — gets underway today, August 19 at 1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. EDT. Exhibitors, be sure to register to attend.
Still on the fence about exhibiting at Disrupt? Hop off and get to it — buy a Disrupt Digital Startup Alley Package, tune in to the remaining webinars and then get ready to reap the benefits that come with introducing your startup to a global Disrupt audience. More on those in a minute.
You’ll hear from Nicola Corzine, executive director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurship Center and Cameron Stanfill, a VC Analyst at PitchBook. Jon Shieber, a TechCrunch editor who covers venture capital and private equity investments will moderate the discussion. No one can predict the future, but these three bring years of experience to the table, and they’ll offer a data-informed perspective, tips and advice on how startups can adapt and what they need to think about both during and after COVID-19. It’s interactive, folks — got questions? Get answers.
Exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley is opportunity on steroids. Network with thousands of Disrupt attendees from around the globe. Expose your tech and talent to influencers of every stripe across the startup ecosystem — investors, R&D teams, advisors, potential customers. Make and nurture connections that can result in exciting partnerships.
CrunchMatch, our AI-powered networking platform bridges the physical distance of a virtual conference. It helps you quickly find and connect with the people who can help take your business to the next level. The platform’s up and running right now. Once you register for Disrupt, you can reach out to attendees and start expanding your network immediately.
Ready to exhibit? Great — be sure to mark your calendar for the final exclusive webinar. Tune in on August 26 for Fundraising and Hiring Best Practices with panelists Sarah Kunst of Cleo Capital and Brett Berson of First Round Capital.
We can’t predict the future, but there’s one thing we do know. It’s going to take every opportunity and every advantage to survive and thrive in these tumultuous times.
Buy a Disrupt Digital Startup Alley Package and tune in. It’s worth it.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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Ready to do everything in your power to keep your startup on track for success — and keep more of your hard-earned currency in your wallet? Listen up. Early-bird pricing on passes to Disrupt 2020 ends in less than two weeks. Buy your pass before the bird expires on July 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT, and you’ll save up to $300.
Disrupt 2020 will occur on September 14-18 — five full days of exploration, exhibition, education and connection. No matter your role in the startup universe, you’ll see innovative technologies, learn new skills, discover new resources, share ideas and network with people who can help your business move to the next level and beyond. And it all happens on a global scale.
A Digital PRO Pass is your ticket to everything Disrupt offers, including CrunchMatch, our AI-powered networking platform. Based on a profile you create, CrunchMatch makes short work of finding and connecting you with people who share your business goals. The newly upgraded algorithm makes faster, more precise matches, and it gets smarter the more you use it.
It’s the perfect tool to help you meet Disrupt attendees from around the world. Use it as you explore hundreds of cutting-edge early-stage startups exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley. Meet founders, view product demos and uncover the latest innovations.
Want more? Okay — schedule 1:1 video meetings with potential investors and customers, showcase your innovative products, host private roundtable events or interview prospective employees.
I used CrunchMatch to schedule meetings, and the digital aspect made connecting easier. It helped me stay organized, meet people and still have time to take in a piece of everything at Disrupt. — JC Bodson, founder and CEO of Arbitrage Technologies.
If you like specifics, your Digital PRO Pass lets you view content from multiple stages as it happens, and it provides replays on demand. Our growing speaker roster includes top investors, founders and experts from across the startup ecosystem.
This is not a passive experience, folks. You get to engage with what’s happening while it’s happening. Ask questions and participate in polling during live-streamed sessions.
Don’t miss Startup Battlefield as this year’s cohort of extraordinary startups competes virtually for glory, massive media attention, investor affection and, of course, $100,000 in equity-free cash. Nothing virtual about those benefits, no ma’am.
Disrupt 2020 takes place from September 14-18, but you have less than two weeks to reap the lowest price. Choose the early bird’s smaller bill. Buy your pass before July 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT, and use the $300 savings to feather your nest.
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Can one minute really make a difference in your startup success? If we’re talking about your 60-second pitch (and we are), then heck yeah! A crisp, concise and compelling pitch opens doors to opportunity, and we’re here to help you pump up your pitch.
Join us online for the next Pitchers & Pitches competition on July 23 at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, where you’ll hear rapid-fire pitches from five Digital Startup Alley exhibitors who will be participating at Disrupt this year. The five early-stage startups will take the virtual stage and present their best pitch to a panel of highly qualified judges — TechCrunch editors who coach Startup Battlefield competitors and leading VCs. Seriously, who wouldn’t want feedback from pros like that?
After each pitch, the judges provide the founders with an invaluable critique, tips and advice. Even if you don’t pitch, you can apply what you’ve learned to take your elevator pitch to the next level. Plus, the viewing audience gets to choose the best pitch of the session. The winning startup gets a consulting session with cela, a company that connects early-stage startups to accelerators and incubators that can help scale their businesses.
This is also an opportunity for the TechCrunch community to try out our new virtual Disrupt platform before we go live in September.
You’ll have an opportunity to check out some of our new features, like:
Note: Anyone can attend Pitchers & Pitches, but only companies exhibiting in Digital Startup Alley during Disrupt 2020 are eligible to pitch. There’s still time to be considered for the July 23 pitch-off — if you act quickly and purchase a Disrupt Digital Startup Alley Package. We randomly select the startups that get to participate, and we’ll announce them — and the judges — on July 22.
Register here to attend for free. Help your 60-second pitch open more doors to more opportunity.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.
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