On November 4, TechCrunch\u2019s Founder Summit<\/strong><\/a> will bring a vital one-day crash course on startup building to Boston\u2019s SoWa Power Station. Founders shouldn\u2019t have to learn the hardest lessons the hardest way, and this event is designed to make the challenges of starting a company easier and the highs that much greater.<\/p>\n Instead of months of trial and error, you get direct access to the investors and founders who\u2019ve already made the calls you\u2019re now facing. We\u2019re talking everything from fundraising and hiring to AI strategy, and topping your category.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t take our word for it. Explore the full agenda of speakers and sessions we have planned for Founder Summit below, and lock in your spot at the event. All tickets are available for the lowest prices you\u2019ll see, so now\u2019s the best time to act<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Without further ado, here\u2019s the official agenda. Get to know each session and speaker on the event agenda page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Fundraising has never been easy, but the playbook keeps changing. Brian Devaney<\/a>, partner at Underscore<\/a>, will break down what investors are looking for now, how founders can stand out in a crowded market, and where founders often lose leverage without realizing it. Expect a candid look at today\u2019s fundraising environment, from first checks to term sheets, and the mistakes that can make or break a round.<\/p>\n The title may stay the same, but the job changes with each stage of a company\u2019s growth. HubSpot <\/a>co-founder and Sequoia <\/a>partner Brian Halligan<\/a> will share the lessons he\u2019s learned from building and advising startups through rapid growth, tough decisions, and constant reinvention. \u00a0<\/p>\n This session explores how founders can evolve as CEOs, avoid common leadership pitfalls, and build companies that can thrive well beyond the early days.<\/p>\n Adding AI features is one thing. Building an AI-native company is something else entirely. Lior Div<\/a>, co-founder and CEO of 7AI<\/a>, will explore what changes when AI becomes the foundation of a startup rather than a product enhancement. From team structure and product development to operations and go-to-market strategy, this session examines what founders should rethink when building in the AI era.<\/p>\n Raising capital is often framed as a milestone, but choosing the right investors can shape a company\u2019s future long after the money arrives. After raising an $11 million round for Cogent Security<\/a>, co-founder and CEO Vineet Edupuganti<\/a> learned firsthand what separates helpful partners from costly distractions. This session explores how founders should evaluate investors, navigate trade-offs, and think beyond valuation when building their cap table.<\/p>\n Innovation is needed to solve the world\u2019s biggest challenges, but only certain companies can realistically become category-defining winners at industrial scale. In this session, TDK Ventures<\/a> investment director Tina Tosukhowong<\/a> unpacks the firm\u2019s \u201cKing of the Hill\u201d framework: the disciplined process that the best investors use to evaluate companies based on economics, scalability, and commercial timing. \u00a0<\/p>\n Through real-world examples, including Tina\u2019s exploration of fission and fusion, attendees will learn actionable frameworks for evaluating startup readiness, mapping competitive landscapes, and identifying when timing, talent, and technology align.<\/p>\n Early hiring decisions can define a startup\u2019s culture, speed, and ability to execute. Melissa Taunton<\/a>, partner at NEA<\/a>, will share lessons from working with founders as they build teams through periods of rapid growth and uncertainty. \u00a0<\/p>\n From identifying the right early hires to avoiding common recruiting mistakes, this session explores how founders can build organizations that are resilient, adaptable, and prepared for what comes next.<\/p>\n Silicon Valley gets the headlines, but Chase Garbarino<\/a> has been quietly building category-defining companies from Boston for over a decade. As co-founder and CEO of HqO<\/a>, he has raised $200 million from investors and scaled to 30+ countries without ever needing to change geographies. \u00a0<\/p>\n He\u2019ll break down the real advantages and disadvantages of building where the startup playbook wasn\u2019t written, and what every founder outside a major hub should know.<\/p>\n Every founder wants product-market fit, but knowing when you\u2019ve actually found it is far more complicated. Kent Bennett<\/a>, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners<\/a>, will unpack how founders can validate demand, build an MVP that answers the right questions, and avoid scaling before the fundamentals are in place. \u00a0<\/p>\n This session explores the signals that matter, the metrics that mislead, and the decisions that separate enduring companies from expensive experiments.<\/p>\n The programming is a huge part of TechCrunch Founder Summit<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s value, but it\u2019s not the whole deal. You\u2019ll also get the chance to mix and mingle with founders working through the same fundraising decisions and the same hiring calls as you, and then network with those who have already lived through those experiences. Or better yet \u2026 those who have funded those who have gone through the startup wringer. \u00a0<\/p>\n A day filled with discussions turns into months of action at TechCrunch Founder Summit, and we\u2019re eager for you to join us and the rest of the Boston startup community on November 4. Register now to secure your ticket savings and join the ultimate founder\u2019s bootcamp<\/a>.<\/p>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\nThe official TechCrunch Founder Summit agenda reveal<\/h2>\n
The New Rules of Raising Capital\u00a0<\/h3>\n
The CEO Job Never Gets Easier\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Built for AI From Day One\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Not Every Dollar Is Equal\u00a0<\/h3>\n
How to Spot the \u2018King of the Hill\u2019 Company \u2014 Hidden Signals\u00a0That\u00a0Define Category Winners\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Your Company Is Who You Hire\u00a0<\/h3>\n
The Boston Founder Playbook\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Finding Product Market Fit Before You Scale\u00a0<\/h3>\n
What happens beyond Founder Summit\u2019s sessions\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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