TechCrunch Disrupt is where the tech community comes together to build, debate, and connect. And during Disrupt Week, that conversation doesn’t stop when the doors to Moscone West close.
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.
Whether you’re 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’s a lot happening beyond the show floor.
Explore the 2026 Side Events, and find your people.
Featured Side Events
Born2Global Founder Networking Night
October 13 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
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.
Hosted by:WayFounder
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SafetyWing Happy Hour at Harrington’s
Head to Harrington’s 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’s approach to health coverage for remote and global teams.
Hosted by:SafetyWing
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The Irish Shark Tank
October 13 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Meet and mingle with Ireland’s hottest startups! Enterprise Ireland is BACK at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, and we’re excited to reconnect with old friends and welcome new faces to The Irish Shark Tank at Ireland House for Happy Hour. Availability is limited!
Hosted by: Enterprise Ireland
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Korea–US Startup & Investor Networking Night
October 14 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PT
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’s 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.
For those without a ticket to attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, KOTRA is offering complimentary Expo+ passes to qualified applicants.
Hosted by:KOTRA Silicon Valley
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Vault & Verify: An Evening of Ping Pong, Cocktails & Conversation
Join Skyflow and Descope for an evening of food, cocktails, friendly competition, and conversation with San Francisco’s 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.
Hosted by:Descope
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More Side Events
Pursuit of Happiness: Revolutionary Demonstration of Whitney Electrolarynx by Uhura Bionics
October 7 | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. PT
Experience a live demonstration of voice-restoration technology as Uhura Bionics co-founder Konrad Zieliński 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.
Hosted by:Uhura Bionics
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Find the 10x Opportunity Hiding in Your Product
October 10 | 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PT
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.
Hosted by:PrincipiumX
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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.
Hosted by:Syntro
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Real World AI: Connect, Invest & Scale in Taiwan
Explore Taiwan’s emerging AI ecosystem through startup pitches and conversations spanning robotics, intelligent hardware, and advanced manufacturing. Meet founders and investors working across Taiwan’s technology landscape and learn more about opportunities to connect, invest, and build.
Hosted by:Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs
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Pets of Disrupt: Founders, Investors & Their Pets
Step away from the conference crowd for an informal evening with founders, investors, operators, builders, creators, and the pets that make San Francisco’s startup community a little more human.
Hosted by:Omelo
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EdgeM8: B2B Partnership Mixer
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.
Hosted by:EdgeM8
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Fynex x Orion VC | Curated Rooftop Party
October 14 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PT
Join founders, operators, and AI-focused investors for a rooftop evening centered on networking, food, drinks, and conversations around AI and infrastructure.
Hosted by:Fynex
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Watch It Run: Live Automation Dinner with Bolter
See business automation happen live as Bolter turns attendees’ 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.
Hosted by:Improbable
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The Rooftop Pilaf: An Evening for Tech Founders and Investors
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.
Hosted by:INNOVA × BeGlobe PR Agency
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SQLDoom Deathmatch Night at Disrupt, hosted by CedarDB
October 14 | 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. PT
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.
Hosted by:CedarDB
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Korea Emerging Tech Showcase
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.
Hosted by:Brinc
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J-StarX Silicon Valley Extended Program Startup Showcase
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.
Hosted by:500 Global
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The Runway 🛫 A Morning Founder Run
October 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Start the day with a casual waterfront run along the Embarcadero, complete with startup-themed “runway” markers. After the run, head to the Ferry Building for coffee and networking with fellow founders and members of the tech community.
Hosted by:Handler
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Founders @ Alchemy Springs
October 16 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT
Combine sauna and cold-plunge experiences with conversations and networking around the startups competing in this year’s Startup Battlefield 200. Connect with founders and members of the Startup Battlefield community in a more relaxed setting after Disrupt.
Hosted by:Press Club
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Find a Co-founder, Help or Join a Startup
Hear startup pitches before joining breakout groups where attendees can offer feedback, make connections, or explore opportunities to work with the presenting teams. It’s an evening built around meeting founders and finding ways to get involved with early-stage startups.
Hosted by:Startup Oasis
RSVP
Check the chronological schedule regularly as new Side Events are added weekly.
While you’re in San Francisco…
If you’re building your Disrupt Week calendar, don’t forget the main event.
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’t know you needed to meet.
Tickets are still available. Come be part of it.
Source: techcrunch.com
