TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026, taking place on November 4 at SoWa Power Station in Boston, is designed to support early-stage and scaling founders by addressing critical questions beyond fundraising and AI trends. Hosted in partnership with Fidelity Private Shares, the event focuses on practical challenges like identifying true product-market fit, landing enterprise customers, building effective teams, and developing founder leadership. Attendees will benefit from a full-day agenda packed with candid conversations, interactive sessions, roundtables, live pitching, and networking opportunities.

The lineup of speakers includes notable industry figures such as Steve Fredette, president and co-founder of Toast, who will share insights on evolving a company while staying connected to customer needs as it scales. Kent Bennett, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, will discuss recognizing authentic product-market fit before accelerating growth, helping founders avoid costly premature scaling. Rudina Seseri of Glasswing Ventures will explore the delicate balance between when to scale up and when to exercise restraint to safeguard growth.

Additional highlights feature Lior Div, CEO and co-founder of 7AI, addressing the impact of building AI into a company’s foundation rather than retrofitting it as a feature. Chase Garbarino, CEO and co-founder of HqO, presents the Boston Founder Playbook, emphasizing how to succeed outside traditional startup hubs like Silicon Valley. Dave Balter from True Ventures will focus on mastering the art of pitching to secure follow-up meetings rather than immediate deals, a crucial skill for early-stage founders.

The event also includes “So You Think You Can Pitch?” where founders pitch live before an investor panel including Balter, Chirag Shah from Define Ventures, and Simran Suri of Maveron. Additional sessions will cover topics like startup distribution strategies, building high-performing teams, and identifying category winners. With a limited-time offer to save 25% on tickets and a BOGO deal, this summit presents a comprehensive platform for founders to learn, connect, and grow their companies in the current competitive landscape.