TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026: Six Roundtables to Address Startup Strategy in Boston

Six small-group roundtables will anchor the TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 at SoWa Power Station in Boston on November 4. The event brings together founders, investors, and operators for a full day of practical sessions, live pitching, and networking. Organizers designed these smaller forums to allow for more detailed discussion than the main stage programming permits.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own specific questions and share what they observe inside their companies. They will work through shared challenges with experts and fellow founders. Topics range from enterprise sales and vertical strategy to artificial intelligence and creating entirely new market categories.

Alexandra Ames, founder and chief event strategist at Blueprint Lab, opens the roundtable series at 10:45 a.m. Her session addresses how early-stage companies can approach events strategically before they can afford a full-time events team. The discussion covers choosing the right opportunities, defining success, and stretching limited resources.

Two sessions run simultaneously at 11:30 a.m. Chirag Shah, a partner at Define Ventures, addresses the difficulties of entering markets with high potential but complex buyers, such as regulated industries. Shishir Tewari, head of enterprise data engineering at Procore Technologies, discusses how knowledge graphs and GraphRAG can make AI systems more reliable in real-world organizations.

The afternoon schedule begins at 1:15 p.m. with Merve Kitapci, managing partner and CGO of ADIN.AI. She will examine how founders can win major enterprise customers early, referencing the experience of closing L'Oreal and Vodafone before a Series A. At 1:55 p.m., Andy Tang, a partner at Draper Associates, leads a conversation for founders whose products do not fit established categories. He will cover how to explain, sell, and attract investment for these novel offerings.

Linden Tibbets, CEO and founder of IFTTT, closes the roundtable series at 2:35 p.m. He explores how smaller teams can use AI to increase speed and output without adding headcount. The session focuses on hiring, efficiency, and structuring an AI-enabled company.

The broader program includes sessions on the Build and Impact Stages covering product-market fit, hiring, and fundraising. Toast co-founder Steve Fredette is among the leaders scheduled to share perspectives. Founders will also test their stories in a live competition called So You Think You Can Pitch. A Networking Lounge with Braindate and a closing reception presented by Fidelity Private Shares provide additional connection opportunities. TechCrunch is currently offering 25% off tickets and a buy-one-get-one deal for a limited time.