We recently unveiled the Going Public Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, a dedicated space designed to guide founders through the complexities of company building—from early traction to IPO and beyond. Today, we’re excited to announce new additions to the agenda that will bring even more valuable insights and expertise to the stage.
Joining the speaker lineup are Eric Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom Video Communications, and Santi Subotovsky, General Partner at Emergence. These visionary leaders will share candid perspectives on scaling companies, preparing for public markets, and navigating pivotal transitions.
Whether you’re just starting out or planning your long-term growth strategy, the Going Public Stage offers lessons, frameworks, and stories relevant to every phase of the founder journey. Be sure to mark your calendar — the Going Public Stage is shaping up to be a highlight of Disrupt. Secure your ticket before the end of July to save up to $675.
David George, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, will explore how long startups should remain private. Startups today can achieve enormous valuations, provide liquidity to employees, and stay private longer than in previous eras. However, this also brings new challenges for late-stage companies. George will unpack how the venture capital landscape is shifting, what the next generation of scaled startups needs to understand, and how capital deployment is evolving amid tighter financial conditions and higher expectations. This fireside chat will dive deep into IPO timing, secondary markets, growth investors’ roles, and the realities of building enduring companies in today’s market.
Santi Subotovsky and Eric Yuan will join forces to discuss what comes after breakout success. From expanding into new markets to launching new product bets, this conversation will explore how successful companies avoid becoming one-hit wonders. They will address tough decisions around focus versus diversification, sustaining innovation at scale, and what investors look for in a second act. If you are navigating the post-product-market fit phase, this panel will serve as a valuable roadmap.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will also feature heavyweight voices from Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, and Sequoia Capital, all coming together to deliver insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your competitive edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt—a unique opportunity to learn from some of the top voices in tech.
Eric Yuan stands as a perfect example of transformational leadership. At Zoom’s IPO in 2019, the company reported a net income of $7.6 million on $331 million in revenue for the year. Today, Zoom is valued at nine times the $1 billion valuation it secured just two years prior. His story exemplifies the power of scaling with vision and agility.
The event also tackles how AI is disrupting go-to-market strategies for late-stage startups. Jane Alexander, partner at CapitalG; Vanessa Larco, co-founder of Premise; and Nirav Tolia, CEO of Nextdoor, will discuss how AI is rewriting the playbook for customer acquisition and retention. They will separate hype from reality and offer practical advice on integrating AI into sales, marketing, and customer success without losing strategic focus. If you’re scaling and wondering how AI fits into your growth plans, this discussion is a must-attend.
Julie Wainwright, CEO of Ahara and founder and former CEO of The RealReal, will share her expertise on building what comes next. Known for pioneering the luxury resale market and now innovating in personalized nutrition, Wainwright will open up about starting over, scaling rapidly, and staying resilient through market shifts. She’ll discuss lessons learned from creating new categories, the risks of reinvention, and why experience might just be the ultimate startup advantage.
Exit strategy is another crucial topic at Disrupt 2025. Jai Das, co-founder, president, and partner at Sapphire Ventures, and Roseanne Wincek, co-founder and managing director at Renegade Partners, will join forces to help founders navigate their exit options—whether going public, getting acquired, or doubling down to stay private. In an unpredictable market, thinking about exit strategy early and strategically is more important than ever. This panel will unpack timing, critical metrics, investor expectations, and the realities of M&A and IPO preparation. Whether you are a year out from an exit or just beginning to scale, this conversation offers guidance on making smart moves today for whatever comes next.
The Going Public Stage at Disrupt 2025 is designed for founders ready to make bold moves. You’ll hear from leaders who have navigated the highs, the risks, and the reinventions of building successful companies. Walk away with actionable insights to sharpen your exit strategy and growth plans.
Don’t wait to secure your place. Register now for Disrupt 2025 and save up to $675 before prices increase after July. The event will take place in San Francisco from October 27 to 29, 2025.
If you’ve built a hit product and are wondering what comes next, join Eric Yuan and Santi Subotovsky as they explore how top companies plan their next moves beyond initial success, avoid complacency, and continue to innovate.
TechCrunch Disrupt remains the premier event for founders, investors, and innovators eager to learn from the best and make the bold moves that define the future of technology and entrepreneurship.