\n<\/p>\n
TechCrunch Disrupt<\/a> is where the tech community comes together to build, debate, and connect. And during Disrupt Week, that conversation doesn\u2019t stop when the doors to Moscone West close.<\/p>\n Our Side Events program brings founders, investors, operators, and tech leaders together across San Francisco for everything from intimate roundtables and founder gatherings to happy hours, dinners, workshops, and community meetups.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re looking to make a few new connections, find your next collaborator, go deep on a specific industry, or just get out of conference mode for a minute, there\u2019s a lot happening beyond the show floor.<\/p>\n Explore the 2026 Side Events, and find your people.<\/strong><\/p>\n October 14 | 5:30 p.m. \u2013 8:30 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Join Korean startups, U.S. investors, founders, and technology professionals for an evening of networking and cross-border connection in San Francisco. Organized by KOTRA as part of the Korea Pavilion\u2019s programming, the event brings together Korean startups entering the U.S. market with investors, founders, corporate partners, and members of the Bay Area startup ecosystem.<\/p>\n For those without a ticket to attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, KOTRA is offering complimentary Expo+ passes to qualified applicants. October 13 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Meet 18 emerging startups from the Republic of Korea for an evening of founder conversations, curated introductions, and networking with investors, operators, corporate leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs. Each founder will give a quick introduction before the evening opens up for conversations and connections across the U.S. and global startup ecosystem. October 13 | 5:00 p.m. \u2013 8:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n Meet and mingle with Ireland\u2019s hottest startups! Enterprise Ireland is BACK at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, and we\u2019re excited to reconnect with old friends and welcome new faces to The Irish Shark Tank at Ireland House for Happy Hour. Availability is limited! October 13 | 5:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Head to Harrington\u2019s Irish Pub for an evening of drinks and conversation with founders, HR leaders, and members of the startup community. Hosted by SafetyWing during TechCrunch Disrupt, the happy hour offers a casual setting to meet new people and connect with the team behind the startup\u2019s approach to health coverage for remote and global teams. October 14 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Join Skyflow and Descope for an evening of food, cocktails, friendly competition, and conversation with San Francisco\u2019s security, privacy, and identity community. As AI systems become more autonomous, the event brings together leaders working on the challenges of keeping sensitive data and identity secure, with plenty of time to connect away from the conference floor. October 7 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 10:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Experience a live demonstration of voice-restoration technology as Uhura Bionics co-founder Konrad Zieli\u0144ski showcases the Whitney Electrolarynx for a U.S. audience. The event explores how technology can help people reclaim their voices and agency following cancer treatment. October 10 | 9:00 a.m. \u2013 11:00 a.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Learn how first-principles thinking can uncover overlooked customer needs, strengthen product-market fit, and reveal opportunities for significant growth. The session will use a real-world case study to explore how founders and product teams can identify new opportunities within products they already have. October 12 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Connect with founders, engineers, and operators building robotics, chips, rockets, and other frontier hardware. This casual, presentation-free gathering offers a chance to swap ideas, share experiences, and meet others working on the challenges of building physical technology. October 13 | 5:30 p.m. \u2013 8:30 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Explore Taiwan\u2019s emerging AI ecosystem through startup pitches and conversations spanning robotics, intelligent hardware, and advanced manufacturing. Meet founders and investors working across Taiwan\u2019s technology landscape and learn more about opportunities to connect, invest, and build. October 13 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 8:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Step away from the conference crowd for an informal evening with founders, investors, operators, builders, creators, and the pets that make San Francisco\u2019s startup community a little more human. October 13 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Connect with founders, revenue leaders, and executives working across go-to-market, partnerships, distribution, and technology. The evening is designed to bring together people building relationships and creating new opportunities across the Bay Area startup ecosystem. October 14 | 5:00 p.m. \u2013 8:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Join founders, operators, and AI-focused investors for a rooftop evening centered on networking, food, drinks, and conversations around AI and infrastructure. October 14 | 5:30 p.m. \u2013 8:30 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n See business automation happen live as Bolter turns attendees\u2019 most dreaded weekly processes into working automations during dinner. Guests can describe a process in plain language and watch as it is transformed into an automation without writing code. October 14 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 10:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Gather with founders, investors, and growth leaders for a limited-seat rooftop dinner focused on deep tech conversations. The evening pairs a shared meal with an opportunity to connect with others across the technology and investment ecosystem. October 14 | 6:30 p.m. \u2013 9:30 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Put your SQL skills to the test in a night of SQLDoom deathmatch, arcade games, food, drinks, and conversation. Play alongside the CedarDB team and connect with database engineers, startup founders, and fellow tech enthusiasts. October 15 | 5:00 p.m. \u2013 8:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Discover emerging Korean startups working across AI, software, medtech, clean tech, digital platforms, and advanced industry. The evening features rapid-fire pitches and networking with founders, investors, and global partners. October 15 | 5:30 p.m. \u2013 8:30 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Meet 12 Japanese startups building for global markets across AI, enterprise software, health, biotech, defense, agtech, sports tech, and consumer technology. The showcase will feature live demos and opportunities to connect directly with the founders. October 16 | 10:00 a.m. \u2013 12:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Start the day with a casual waterfront run along the Embarcadero, complete with startup-themed \u201crunway\u201d markers. After the run, head to the Ferry Building for coffee and networking with fellow founders and members of the tech community. October 16 | 4:00 p.m. \u2013 6:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Combine sauna and cold-plunge experiences with conversations and networking around the startups competing in this year\u2019s Startup Battlefield 200. Connect with founders and members of the Startup Battlefield community in a more relaxed setting after Disrupt. October 16 | 6:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. PT<\/strong><\/p>\n Hear startup pitches before joining breakout groups where attendees can offer feedback, make connections, or explore opportunities to work with the presenting teams. It\u2019s an evening built around meeting founders and finding ways to get involved with early-stage startups. Check the chronological schedule<\/strong><\/a> regularly as new Side Events are added weekly.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re building your Disrupt Week calendar, don\u2019t forget the main event.<\/p>\n TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes over Moscone West October 13-15, bringing thousands of founders, investors, operators, and tech leaders together under one roof. Come for the programming, stay for the hallway conversations, and leave with a calendar full of people you didn\u2019t know you needed to meet.<\/p>\n Tickets are still available<\/a>. Come be part of it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\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>\nFeatured Side Events<\/h2>\n
Korea\u2013US Startup & Investor Networking Night<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> KOTRA Silicon Valley<\/strong><\/a>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBorn2Global Founder Networking Night<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> WayFounder<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe Irish Shark Tank<\/h3>\n
Hosted by: Enterprise Ireland<\/u><\/a>
RSVP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nSafetyWing Happy Hour at Harrington\u2019s<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> SafetyWing<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nVault & Verify: An Evening of Ping Pong, Cocktails & Conversation<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Descope<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nMore Side Events<\/h2>\n
Pursuit of Happiness: Revolutionary Demonstration of Whitney Electrolarynx by Uhura Bionics<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Uhura Bionics<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nFind the 10x Opportunity Hiding in Your Product<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> PrincipiumX<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nLong Lead Time: A Hardware Happy Hour<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Syntro<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nReal World AI: Connect, Invest & Scale in Taiwan<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Taiwan\u2019s Ministry of Economic Affairs<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nPets of Disrupt: Founders, Investors & Their Pets<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Omelo<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nEdgeM8: B2B Partnership Mixer<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> EdgeM8<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFynex x Orion VC | Curated Rooftop Party<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Fynex<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nWatch It Run: Live Automation Dinner with Bolter<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Improbable<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nThe Rooftop Pilaf: An Evening for Tech Founders and Investors<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> INNOVA<\/a> \u00d7 BeGlobe PR Agency<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nSQLDoom Deathmatch Night at Disrupt, hosted by CedarDB<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> CedarDB<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nKorea Emerging Tech Showcase<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Brinc<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nJ-StarX Silicon Valley Extended Program Startup Showcase<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> 500 Global<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe Runway \ud83d\udeeb A Morning Founder Run<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Handler<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nFounders @ Alchemy Springs<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Press Club<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nFind a Co-founder, Help or Join a Startup<\/h3>\n
Hosted by:<\/strong> Startup Oasis<\/a><\/strong>
RSVP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nWhile you\u2019re in San Francisco\u2026<\/h2>\n