As the startup world descends on San Francisco for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening from October 27 to 29 at Moscone West, one question looms large. Does building a company in Silicon Valley still give founders an edge? With over ten thousand startup and venture capital leaders gathering for this milestone event, the conversation around access, geography, and opportunity has never been more timely.
On the Builders Stage, Anh-Tho Chuong from Lago, David Hall from Revolution, and Tawni Nazario-Cranz from SignalFire will lead a must-attend session for anyone looking to scale smartly in today’s startup landscape. Register now to save up to six hundred sixty-eight dollars before the deadline on September 26 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
This conversation matters now more than ever. As distributed teams, regional hubs, and global fundraising become more normalized, founders are increasingly asking if their ZIP code actually gives them an advantage. Does being in the Bay Area still open the right doors, or has the playing field finally leveled?
This session brings together startup veterans and seasoned investors who have built and backed companies across the country and beyond. They will dig into what access looks like in 2025, how remote collaboration has evolved post-pandemic, and where true opportunity lies for emerging founders.
Anh-Tho Chuong is rethinking open source billing with Lago, a Y Combinator-backed platform trusted by AI leaders. From her time scaling Qonto to her early roles at Weebly and McKinsey, she is no stranger to navigating growth across continents.
David Hall has spent the last decade proving that game-changing companies do not have to come from Silicon Valley. As managing partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, he has helped build a portfolio that spans the country, backing bold founders in places often overlooked by coastal venture capital firms.
Tawni Nazario-Cranz, a partner at SignalFire and former Chief Human Resources Officer at Waymo, brings a people-first perspective to scaling organizations. She has helped steer companies through rapid growth phases while shaping talent strategies that work far beyond the Valley.
Whether you are building in a big city, a small town, or somewhere in between, this session will offer a fresh perspective on where startup success really comes from. Find out what still matters, what does not, and how to build your network no matter your location.
Catch this conversation live on the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27 to 29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Register now to save up to six hundred sixty-eight dollars before prices increase on September 26.
Join over ten thousand technology and venture capital leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025. Companies and firms like Netflix, Box, Andreessen Horowitz, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, and Elad Gil are just some of the more than two hundred fifty heavy hitters leading over two hundred sessions. These sessions are designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Do not miss the twentieth anniversary of TechCrunch and a chance to learn from the top voices in technology. Grab your ticket before September 26 to save up to six hundred sixty-eight dollars. The event takes place in San Francisco from October 27 to 29, 2025.