Only 7 days left to save on TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 tickets

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TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 1 week left of Regular Bird

We’re entering the final week of discounted rates for TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Save up to $600 on select individual ticket types until August 23.

Join a dynamic crowd of over 10,000 attendees, startup founders and VC investors at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30.

Here are just a few big reasons to attend Disrupt 2024.

Gain insight from top industry leaders

Explore six industry-specific stages and learn from the best in the industry. Our speakers are cutting-edge innovators and recognized experts in their domains.

AI Stage presented by Google Cloud

Amit Jain, CEO, Luma AIAravind Srinivas, Co-Founder & CEO, PerplexityIrene Solaiman, Head of Global Policy, Hugging FaceSee the rest of the AI Stage speakers.

Builders Stage

Corinne Riley, Partner, GreylockMartin Casado, General Partner, Andreessen HorowitzSpenser Skates, CEO and Co-Founder, AmplitudeSee the rest of the Builders Stage speakers.

Fintech Stage

Itai Damti, Co-Founder & CEO, UnitJesse Pollak, Creator of Base, BasePeter Hazlehurst, CEO & Co-Founder, SyncteraSee the rest of the Fintech Stage speakers.

SaaS Stage 

Christina Cacioppo, Co-Founder and CEO, VantaDenise Dresser, CEO, Slack from SalesforceScott Johnston, CEO, Docker, Inc.See the rest of the SaaS Stage speakers.

Space Stage presented by Aerospace

Bridgit Mendler, CEO, Northwood SpaceEvan Rogers, CEO and Co-Founder, True AnomalyPeter Beck, Founder & CEO, Rocket LabSee the rest of the Space Stage speakers.

Startup Battlefield 200

A highlight of Disrupt 2024 is the Startup Battlefield, where a few chosen startups pitch to a panel of top VC leaders. The winner will earn a $100,000 equity-free prize and the coveted Disrupt Cup.

The judging panel includes industry heavyweights like Sharon Winter, vice president at Atomic; Sangeen Zeb, general partner at Google Ventures; Jon Rosenbaum, managing director at Insight Partners; Victor Lazarte, general partner at Benchmark; and many more.

Their feedback offers valuable insight into what makes a startup successful. Get a front-row seat to this expert evaluation and discover the qualities that drive success, only at Disrupt 2024.

Roundtables and Breakout Sessions

Participate in a 30-minute collaborative conversation in an intimate setting, led by an industry expert.

You can also join a 50-minute Q&A session, offered on a first-come, first-served basis. This is your chance to dive deep with industry leaders, addressing the pressing challenges faced by today’s entrepreneurs.

Networking and Braindates

Building strong connections is crucial for the growth and funding of any startup. Disrupt 2024 offers numerous opportunities to network and expand your Rolodex.

ScaleUp Startup Exhibitor Program

Series A and B startups can showcase their brand at the heart of Disrupt’s bustling foot traffic. The ScaleUp Startup Exhibitor Program offers a prime opportunity to enhance your brand’s visibility and enjoy exclusive benefits. You get:

Four tickets for your team.Access to lead generation and the Disrupt press list.Exhibit for one day at Disrupt at a discount.Branding on the Disrupt website and table signage.10 Expo+ passes for your network.And so much more.

Braindates

Access the exclusive Disrupt investor attendee list, comprised only of those who opt in, ensuring targeted and effective networking.

With the Disrupt event app, you can easily arrange 1:1 meetings or join small group sessions with like-minded founders, investors, and industry leaders.

Side Events

Amplify your brand’s presence during “Disrupt Week” by organizing a Side Event that we’ll help promote.

From industry meetups and VC office hours to workshops, happy hours, or fun runs, you can tailor the event to align with your brand. Applying is free of charge.

Secure your Disrupt 2024 discount

There are countless other reasons to attend one of the year’s most anticipated tech events, but it’s best to experience it for yourself.

Save on your tickets by registering for Disrupt 2024 before August 23. Grab your discounted tickets here.

4 days left to save big on TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 tickets

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 4 days left of Regular Bird

The countdown continues! You have 4 days left to lock in your TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 tickets at the discounted rate. Don’t miss the chance to save up to $600 — offer ends August 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Join 10,000+ enthusiastic startup leaders, founders, and investors from October 28-30 at Moscone West in San Francisco.

Why you should join

Participate in the 300+ Roundtable and Breakout Sessions designed to foster engagement and collaboration with your fellow attendees.

Learn from industry leaders in the startup and VC world across six dynamic stages covering AI, SaaS, fintech, startups, venture capital, space, and more.

Take advantage of multiple networking opportunities, including the bustling Expo Hall, 1:1 or small group Braindates, and Side Events happening all throughout “Disrupt Week.”

Don’t miss Battlefield Startup

And of course, don’t miss one of the highlights at every Disrupt: Battlefield Startup. Watch as the few selected pre-Series A startups pitch their ideas onstage to a panel of elite VC judges. The winner will claim a $100,000 equity-free prize and the prestigious Disrupt Cup.

Our panel of judges features prominent VC leaders who will offer expert feedback based on their criteria to assess a company’s viability.

Ana Leyva, Pear VCErin Harkless Moore, Managing Director, Pivotal VenturesEylul Kayin, Partner, Gradient VenturesJonathan Rosenbaum, Managing Director, Insight PartnersSangeen Zeb, General Partner, GVSharon Winter, Vice President, AtomicShravan Narayen, Partner, IVPVictor Lazarte, General Partner, Benchmark And many more

The intense Q&A with our judges will delve into each startup, revealing key factors that contribute to their success. Gain exclusive insights from their expert evaluations only at Disrupt 2024.

Secure your savings

There are countless reasons to attend Disrupt 2024, but nothing compares to experiencing it firsthand. Save up to $600 with these substantial discounts — available only until August 23. Reserve your discount today.

Students and Recent Grads: Save on Disrupt 2024 tickets

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 Student Pass discount

It’s back-to-school season, and that often means a surge in expenses. Or perhaps you’ve recently graduated and are navigating the job hunt. Either way, your wallet might be feeling the pinch.

We’re here to help with a limited-time offer: $200 off the Student Pass for TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Don’t miss out — this discount is valid until September 6 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

With more than 10,000 tech leaders attending Disrupt 2024 from October 28-30 at Moscone West in San Francisco, this is your perfect opportunity to maximize your chances of making valuable connections and landing your first job after college.

Grab your Student Pass savings here.

Why attend Disrupt 2024?

Expert insights from industry giants

Gain insights from leading innovators and thought leaders across diverse industries, including AI, SaaS, fintech, startups, VCs, space and more:

Alex Pall and Drew Taggart from The Chainsmokers, Partners and Co-Founders, MANTIS Venture CapitalBridgit Mendler, CEO, Northwood SpaceDenise Dresser, CEO, Slack from SalesforcePeter Beck, Founder & CEO, Rocket LabPeter Hazlehurst, CEO & Co-Founder, SyncteraMartin Casado, General Partner, Andreessen HorowitzMary Barra, Chair and CEO, General MotorsVinod Khosla, Founder and Partner, Khosla VenturesView the full agenda.

Over 300 Sessions

Participate in more than 300 Roundtable and Breakout Sessions hosted by industry leaders, crafted to spark meaningful discussions. Take this chance to gain firsthand insights from experts and entrepreneurs on achieving success and tackling today’s challenges.

Unmatched networking

The best way to accelerate your success and secure your first big job is by connecting with key industry players in your field. Make the most of the numerous networking opportunities available throughout “Disrupt Week.”

With options ranging from personal 1:1 and small group Braindates, exploring the buzzing Expo Hall, attending receptions and joining various Side Events hosted by companies, you’ll find ample opportunities to connect with the right experts and enhance your career path.

Accelerate your success for less

Jump-start your success journey! Secure your discounted Student Pass for Disrupt 2024 by September 6 and save $200. Claim your discount now.

Farmers walk through a field being irrigated.

Exclusive: Kilimo helps farmers save water and get paid for it

by with No Comment Tech

Farmers walk through a field being irrigated.

Image Credits: ridvan_celik / Getty Images

When people think about the water they use, they tend to think about drinking water out of the tap or maybe their daily shower. But about 70% of the water we use goes toward growing the crops that feed us, a number that swells to as high as 90% in low-income countries. Finding water for other uses can be a tough row to hoe.

In many areas, though, farmers are incentivized to use as much water as they think they need, even in excess to ensure a successful crop. “Governments want to produce their own food. They don’t want water to be expensive,” Jairo Trad, co-founder and CEO of Kilimo, told TechCrunch.

“But if farmers under-irrigate, there’s a huge risk of losing production and losing money and losing more food,” he added. “There’s an imbalance in the risk.”

Cheap irrigation has transformed many regions around the world into breadbaskets, but it also means that there can be little left for other uses.

For companies, water shortages can be an existential threat. “If you have a $200 million bottling plant and you don’t have water next week, there’s a lot of money at risk,” Trad said. “So we started talking with people and trying to put a value on water.”

What Trad and his colleagues at Kilimo devised can best be thought of as a risk management tool. So far, the company has taken around 100,000 soil samples across 45 different crop types in a number of different countries, mostly in South America. From there, it uses those samples to connect soil moisture to satellite imagery of farm fields, which is far easier to acquire. 

“You have to sit close to the ground to understand how things behave in that specific soil in that specific country,” Trad said.

Kilimo can then remotely monitor farm fields and advise farmers on their water use. It charges farmers a fee for the service, and if they’re able to successfully cut their water use, Kilimo can sell the surplus water to a company that needs it in the same watershed, sharing a portion of the proceeds with the farmer. In the end, farmers that trim their water use end up netting 20% to 40% more than they paid Kilimo. Everything is verified by third parties following the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting standard.

Though the startup has been around for about a decade, it’s working to expand its operations as water scarcity rises to the top of executives’ lists of concerns. It currently works throughout South America, including in Argentina, where it is based, and Mexico. Next up is the Southwestern United States and Europe. To support the growth, Kilimo recently raised a $7.5 million Series A, the company exclusively shared with TechCrunch. The round was led by Emerald Technology Ventures with participation from iThink VC, Kamay Ventures, Salkantay Ventures and the Yield Lab Latam.

Kilimo is working with Microsoft, Intel and Coca-Cola, all of which have announced water pledges. (Data centers are large water consumers, as are beverages.) Trad hopes to sign more. “Each company alone is not going to make a difference. But if you can leverage corporations plus government plus development bank entities, there you start making a difference,” he said.

silhouette of super businessman

Hero wants to save the day for companies facing a working capital crunch

by with No Comment Tech

silhouette of super businessman

Image Credits: RyanKing999 / Getty Images

Hero, a new fintech startup based in Paris, is announcing an €11.3 million all-equity funding round led by Valar Ventures ($12.2 million at today’s exchange rate). For the past couple of years, the company has been quietly building an ambitious banking product for small companies that can essentially replace everything you’d expect from a traditional bank, from managing money to accepting payments and getting a credit line.

When you start a company in France, it has become quite easy to register it and get a bank account under your company’s name. At the same time, a bank is so much more than just an IBAN and a debit card.

Running a company often means that you also need to accept payments in one way or another. And if things are going well — especially if you’re selling goods — you might need to finance your next inventory purchase and pay your suppliers in advance.

The result is that small business owners often have to deal with myriad fintech products. They also have to find a revenue-based company that is willing to provide short-term loans to small companies — in France, there are Silvr, Defacto, Karmen, Unlimitd, etc. Alternatively, they can negotiate with a traditional bank to get a loan.

Hero wants to aggregate those tech and financial services into a single product. Customers can use the product to send, receive and hold money with multiple accounts and IBANs. The startup also offers payment cards.

The company has built its own core banking system. While many fintech startups partner with Swan for the financial infrastructure, Hero doesn’t rely on a banking-as-a-service partner.

Retailers can choose Hero as their payment solution using an API, a plugin for an e-commerce platform or payment links. On this front, the startup is relatively attractive compared to Stripe as transaction fees start at 0.4% + €0.15 per transaction.

Hero mostly plans to make money with its credit offering. You can submit a supplier invoice to Hero so that they pay it for you right away. You then have up to 90 days to pay the bill.

Similarly, you can submit your own invoices that you’ve already sent to your clients and get the money in advance. You don’t have to worry if your client is going to pay you next week or next month. In both cases, Hero customers will have to pay interest on these credit products.

Hero’s founder and CEO Roland Jais-Nielsen already knows why cash flow issues can really hurt a business as he previously founded Merci Handy, a brand of fancy hand sanitizers and cosmetics.

The startup has developed its own risk scoring engine to assess a client using both public and private data. Hero decides whether it wants to provide financing to its customers, but the startup has created a debt fund with a financial partner — unfortunately it isn’t sharing more on this front.

Hero had previously raised a €7 million funding round in 2022. SquareOne, an investor in this initial funding round, is also participating in today’s new funding round.

It’s going to be interesting to see if Hero’s focus on building everything in-house will provide an edge compared to other financial companies. It also creates some challenges. For instance, the company is still waiting for the regulator’s approval from the ACPR for its payment services.

Save Big With Disrupt 2024 Deal Days

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 - Disrupt Deal Days

Image Credits: TechCrunch (opens in a new window)

Get ready for a prime week of savings at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 with the launch of Disrupt Deal Days! From now to July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT, we’re going back to early-bird ticket prices, allowing attendees to save up to $800 on their passes. This limited-time offer is the perfect opportunity to secure your spot at one of the most anticipated tech events of the year.

Grab your passes here.

Why attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2024?

Whether you’re looking to learn, share, or grow, TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 offers unparalleled opportunities to expand your knowledge and network:

Connect with 10,000 startup leaders through 1:1 or small-group Braindates.Get your questions answered in one of the 300+ sessions, roundtables or breakouts.Rub elbows with Silicon Valley’s best at one of the 100+ Side Events happening during Disrupt Week.And so much more.

Also, we’re hosting some of the top thought leaders at Disrupt, offering you the chance to gain insights from a few of the most influential figures in the tech industry.

Alex Pall, Producer, The Chainsmokers and Investment Partner, Mantis Venture Capital.Arian Simone, CEO and Founding Partner, Fearless Fund.Dayna Grayson, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Construct Capital.Denise Dresser, Chief Executive Officer, Slack.Mary Barra, Chair and CEO, General Motors.Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner, Mayfield Fund.Peter Beck, Founder and CEO, Rocket Lab.Vinod Khosla, Founder and Partner, Khosla Ventures.

Don’t miss out, and book your pass today during our Disrupt Deal Days event and pocket some major ticket savings.

Few Days Left to Save Big on TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 - Disrupt Deal Days

Image Credits: TechCrunch (opens in a new window)

Only a few days left — until July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT — to save up to $800 on ticket prices for TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 through this week’s Disrupt Deal Days. Secure your spot at this year’s most anticipated tech events with this limited-time chance to save on tickets as we rollback to early bird prices.

Grab your tickets here.

What awaits you at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 provides unmatched opportunities to learn, share, and expand your network. Discover why thousands of startup leaders choose Disrupt 2024:

Connect directly with 10,000 startup leaders through 1:1 or cohort Braindates.Dive deep into 300+ sessions, roundtables, and breakouts, where your questions find answers.Network at 100+ Side Events, rubbing shoulders with Silicon Valley’s finest during Disrupt 2024.

Additionally, Disrupt 2024’s diverse stages will feature discussions on entrepreneurship, AI, SaaS, fintech, space, and other pivotal topics led by influential thought leaders in tech that you won’t want to miss.

Investment Strategies: Join Alex Pall and Drew Taggart from The Chainsmokers as they discuss adding substantial value to B2B startups through their strategic investment approach.

The Business of Artificial Intelligence: Gain visionary perspectives on AI’s transformative impact and its future direction from Vinod Khosla, founder and partner at Khosla Ventures, and Alexandr Wang, CEO and co-founder of Scale AI.

The Evolution of Cryptocurrency: Discover strategic insights from Jesse Pollak, the creator of Base, on why Coinbase will launch its own Base blockchain.

Explore the Future of Space Companies: Get a full forecast of the dominance of vertically integrated space companies in the evolving space economy with Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.

And much more awaits.

Don’t wait — snag your tickets before the Disrupt Deal Days event ends this Friday to enjoy these remarkable savings.

Last Day to Save with Disrupt 2024 Deal Days

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 - Disrupt Deal Days

Image Credits: TechCrunch (opens in a new window)

Today is the final chance to save up to $800 on TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 tickets. Disrupt Deal Days event will end tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to save big on the tech conference of the year.

Book your last-minute ticket savings here.

Why attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2024?

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, share and expand your network.

Connect with 10,000 startup leaders through 1:1 or small-group Braindates. Get your questions answered in over 300 sessions, roundtables, or breakouts. Network with Silicon Valley’s finest at any of the 100+ Side Events during Disrupt Week. And so much more.

For over a decade, TechCrunch Disrupt has been one of the most anticipated tech conferences of the year. Bringing together thousands of startup heads, investors, tech thought leaders, and visionaries. 

Disrupt 2024 will showcase numerous influential thought leaders who will share their invaluable insights. Here’s a glimpse of some of the speakers who were featured in last year’s Disrupt.

Anamitra Banerji, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Afore CapitalAsh Jhaveri, Vice President of Partnerships, MetaCathy Gao, Partner, Sapphire VenturesDan Roesbery, VP, Fintech Business Development, VisaJen Carter, Global Head of Technology, Google.orgNaba Banerjee, Head of Trust and Safety, AirbnbSherrod DeGrippo, Director Threat Intelligence, MicrosoftS. Ko-yung Lee, Investor and Coach, Launch Lab/Fika VenturesThomas Dohmke, CEO, GitHubThomas Kurian, CEO, Google CloudAnd much, much more.

Hurry — these are the final hours to save big on TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 tickets. Grab yours today before prices go back up.

Groups save big at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Planning to attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 with your team?

Maximize your team-building time and your company’s impact across the entire conference when you bring your team. Groups of 4 to 9 save 15% on passes, and if you have a group of 10 or more, you can save 30%.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the incredible content you and your team can dive into:

What You Need to Raise a Series A Today: Essential tips and strategies to secure your next round of funding.How to Find, and Keep, Product-Market Fit: Learn the secrets to identifying and maintaining the right market fit for your product.Family Offices Want Startup Exposure, but What Are They Looking For?: Discover what family offices seek in startups and how to attract their interest.

Plus, don’t miss out on these opportunities:

Divide and conquer the expo hall, connecting with hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest in tech.Attend over 300 sessions packed with insights and innovation, and share your insights with your team members.Spread out and network at one of the 100+ Side Events to source valuable leads.Attend or host your own company Braindate session to engage in meaningful, one-on-one conversations on topics.

Bring the team, save, and make the most of your TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 experience!

About TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

TechCrunch Disrupt is where you’ll find innovation for every stage of your startup journey. Whether you’re a budding founder with a revolutionary idea, a seasoned startup looking to scale or an investor seeking the next big thing, TechCrunch Disrupt offers unparalleled resources, connections and expert insights to propel your venture forward. Over 10,000 startup leaders will be attending this year’s event on October 28-30 in San Francisco. Learn more.

Hero wants to save the day for companies facing a working capital crunch

by with No Comment Tech

Image Credits: RyanKing999 / Getty Images

Hero, a new fintech startup based in Paris, is announcing an €11.3 million all-equity funding round led by Valar Ventures ($12.2 million at today’s exchange rate). For the past couple of years, the company has been quietly building an ambitious banking product for small companies that can essentially replace everything you’d expect from a traditional bank, from managing money to accepting payments and getting a credit line.

When you start a company in France, it has become quite easy to register it and get a bank account under your company’s name. At the same time, a bank is so much more than just an IBAN and a debit card.

Running a company often means that you also need to accept payments in one way or another. And if things are going well — especially if you’re selling goods — you might need to finance your next inventory purchase and pay your suppliers in advance.

The result is that small business owners often have to deal with a myriad of fintech products. They also have to find a revenue-based company that is willing to provide short-term loans to small companies — in France, there are Silvr, Defacto, Karmen, Unlimitd, etc. Alternatively, they can negotiate with a traditional bank to get a loan.

Hero wants to aggregate those tech and financial services into a single product. Customers can use the product to send, receive and hold money with multiple accounts and IBANs. The startup also offers payment cards.

The company has built its own core banking system. While many fintech startups partner with Swan for the financial infrastructure, Hero doesn’t rely on a banking-as-a-service partner.

Retailers can choose Hero as their payment solution using an API, a plugin for an e-commerce platform or payment links. On this front, the startup is relatively attractive compared to Stripe as transaction fees start at 0.4% + €0.15 per transaction.

Hero mostly plans to make money with its credit offering. You can submit a supplier invoice to Hero so that they pay it for you right away. You then have up to 90 days to pay the bill.

Similarly, you can submit your own invoices that you’ve already sent to your clients and get the money in advance. You don’t have to worry if your client is going to pay you next week or next month. In both cases, Hero customers will have to pay interests on these credit products.

Hero’s founder and CEO Roland Jais-Nielsen already knows why cash flow issues can really hurt a business as he previously founded Merci Handy, a brand of fancy hand sanitizers and cosmetics.

The startup has developed its own risk scoring engine to assess a client using both public and private data. Hero decides whether it wants to provide financing to its customers, but the startup has created a debt fund with a financial partner — unfortunately it isn’t sharing more on this front.

Hero had previously raised a €7 million funding round in 2022. SquareOne, an investor in this initial funding round, is also participating in today’s new funding round.

It’s going to be interesting to see if Hero’s focus on building everything in house will provide an edge compared to other financial companies. It also creates some challenges. For instance, the company is still waiting for the regulator’s approval from the ACPR for its payment services.