Gratitude overflows for everyone who contributed to making this year’s San Francisco gathering an extraordinary celebration of innovation and collaboration. Each participant—numbering more than ten thousand—played an essential role in energizing the halls, forging professional connections, and departing richer in knowledge, insight, and opportunity than when they first arrived. For those unable to attend in person, the images below capture fragments of the experience, reflecting moments of vision, curiosity, and human connection. We look forward to reconvening next year for another landmark occasion in the ever-evolving world of technology and entrepreneurship.
One of the event’s most compelling voices, Vinod Khosla, took to the stage to counter the increasingly common narrative that artificial intelligence will inevitably undermine global climate initiatives. With conviction, he asserted that sustainable solutions such as geothermal energy are close to commercial realization, while the promise of nuclear fusion remains further in the distance. Khosla also shared candid reflections on his nuanced political stance, noting his alignment with former President Trump on reducing business regulations but expressing firm opposition to the administration’s immigration policies. Flashing a characteristic grin, he reminded listeners that every administration, regardless of ideology, is temporary.
Another moment that drew palpable attention was Roelof Botha’s appearance before an audience hanging onto every word. The Sequoia Capital partner detailed the rigorous methodology his firm employs to identify promising investments, while also examining the broader implications of potential government ownership stakes in startups. He urged founders to resist the temptation of strategic timing gimmicks, bluntly advising them to raise capital ahead of need rather than courting disaster by waiting too long—because, as he cautioned, market bubbles inevitably burst.
The spirit of competition and mentorship was well embodied by Kevin Damoa of Glīd Technologies, victor of the year’s prestigious Battlefield contest. Standing beside Battlefield chief Isabelle Johannessen, he celebrated the culmination of months of meticulous preparation and collaborative guidance. Johannessen, along with TechCrunch’s own Michael Schick, had tirelessly coached dozens of startups, shaping their pitches into world-class presentations. The brief embrace captured in one photograph eloquently symbolized an earned moment of triumph following immense effort.
Roy Lee, the charismatic founder of Cluely—an app infamous for its provocative tagline “cheat at everything”—brought his signature irreverence to the stage. In a candid talk laced with colorful language, he offered his unfiltered perspective on modern marketing, asserting that in a world where outrageous ideas dominate attention, success demands an even bolder approach. Meanwhile, nearby, Maxwell Zeff stood confidently engaged, underscoring the unique mix of humor and audacity that defines startup culture.
Former NBA champion Tristan Thompson made a notable impression as well, offering insight into his post-basketball ventures and entrepreneurial ambitions. Far from nostalgic about his time on the court, Thompson displayed an analytical curiosity about the business dimension of professional sports, including blockchain-based platforms such as Basketball Fun, which transform players into tradable digital tokens. When asked whether such systems could be manipulated, he drew a provocative parallel: “It’s the same question we ask about referees—are they not gaming the system?” When pressed to clarify, he merely shrugged, emphasizing the importance of questioning accepted norms.
In a quieter yet equally intriguing exchange, TechCrunch’s Sean O’Kane shared a candid moment with Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Wayve. Kendall’s optimism was unmistakable—his U.K.-based autonomous driving company, often referred to as building the “brains for cars,” was reportedly in discussions with global tech giants SoftBank and Microsoft about a multibillion-dollar investment round valuing the startup at $8 billion.
TechCrunch Disrupt’s return to San Francisco, scheduled for October 27–29, 2025, promises to build on the energy of this remarkable year.
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, co-founders of Phia, an AI-powered shopping assistant dedicated to reimagining secondhand fashion, energized the audience with their conviction that sustainability and style can harmoniously coexist. Gates, the daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates, displayed both charm and self-awareness when asked what her parents had learned from her. With lighthearted laughter, she quipped that perhaps she had influenced their sense of style—though she quickly added that her true passion lies in building within the consumer technology space.
Elsewhere, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana joined journalist Kirsten Korosec to tackle one of the most profound ethical and societal questions surrounding self-driving vehicles: will the public ultimately accept the deaths that may occur as an inevitable consequence of autonomy? Mawakana expressed cautious optimism that society would reach that point, provided that stringent safety standards remain firmly enforced across the industry.
The conversation turned perceptive once again with Kevin Rose speaking about the relaunch of Digg and reflecting on the shifting landscape of venture capital. A general partner at True Ventures, Rose balanced candor and discretion—especially when pressed about an undisclosed wearable startup named Sandbar, which remains shrouded in secrecy. There will be more to share in due time, he hinted.
Hugging Face co-founder Thomas Wolf captured the audience’s attention as he discussed his company’s pioneering work in accessible artificial intelligence and robotics. Between sips of water, he articulated an inspiring vision for LeRobot, a project designed to democratize robotics by combining open-source tools, affordable hardware, and shared datasets to make the technology broadly attainable.
On the competition’s final stage, judges Marlon Nichols of MaC Venture Capital and Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures deliberated with intense focus as the last Startup Battlefield contenders presented their pitches—some likely sweating under the spotlight of ambition and opportunity.
Box CEO Aaron Levie, a recurring presence on the Disrupt stage over TechCrunch’s two-decade legacy, engaged Russell Brandom in a lively conversation that reaffirmed his reputation as one of the event’s most dynamic voices. Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone followed with insights into the streaming giant’s evolution beyond passive viewing toward interactive, participatory entertainment experiences such as audience voting and mobile-based gaming. As she assured, although formats evolve, storytelling itself remains unchanged at the narrative core.
Later, Dominic-Madori Davis of TechCrunch led a thoughtful panel discussion with Tage Oyerinde of Campus and Teddy Solomon of Fizz, exploring how digital communities for students can both thrive and court controversy—occasionally facing bans that ironically serve as proof of their cultural penetration and relevance.
An intriguing relic of past networking methods also made an appearance: a whiteboard scribbled with hiring notices, contact offers, and proposed deals, a reminder that sometimes the simplest analog tools remain timelessly effective.
In another session, David George of Andreessen Horowitz shared insights with Julie Bort about the weighty decisions startups must consider when approaching public markets. The auditorium turned celebratory when it was revealed that it was his birthday, prompting spontaneous applause and a shared moment of levity.
San Francisco’s recently inaugurated mayor, Daniel Lurie, joined the discussions as well, recounting a recent phone conversation with President Trump regarding a proposal—initially suggested by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff—to deploy the National Guard to the city. With quiet composure, Lurie reiterated his steadfast messaging: San Francisco is a city on the rise. Gesturing toward the very event around him, he added, “Three days of Disrupt here should prove that.” When asked whether political bargaining had influenced the exchange, he responded firmly: “No, absolutely not. No ask.”
Behind the scenes, few moments embodied the collective relief and exhilaration quite like the post-show glow of Jessica Barrera from the TechCrunch team, who flawlessly managed ticketing operations for ten thousand attendees and, as colleagues fondly remarked, routinely saves the event from chaos.
For those wishing to relive the week’s most inspiring interactions and moments, a comprehensive gallery of photographs awaits on TechCrunch’s Flickr page. Complete video coverage of all sessions is also available—offering a second chance to experience the excitement of Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. When the lights dimmed and the last conversations lingered in the air, it was clear that TechCrunch Disrupt had once again distilled the spirit of innovation, proving that San Francisco remains a crucible where bold ideas, challenging debates, and enduring partnerships take form.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/30/scenes-from-techcrunch-disrupt/
