AI Takes Center Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Essential Sessions for Startup Innovators

The world of startups is converging at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco, with artificial intelligence (AI) commanding the spotlight. Thanks to the partnership with JetBrains and Greenfield, this year’s agenda features two standout sessions designed to map the future of AI innovation.

AI Disruptors 60: Defining the Next Startup Wave

On Monday, October 27, the Builders Stage will host a pivotal event: the unveiling of Greenfield Partners’ AI Disruptors 60. This exclusive list showcases early- and growth-stage startups that are reshaping AI infrastructure, applications, and their go-to-market strategies.

During the session, influential investors such as Shay Grinfeld (Greenfield Partners) and founders like Renen Hallak (VAST Data) will discuss the strategic moves that set these companies apart. Expect real talk on how these leaders are building resilient foundations for tomorrow’s AI economy, plus a firsthand look at scaling opportunities in this rapidly evolving sector. The live reveal is expected to offer fresh insight into the companies charting new territory in AI startup innovation.

AI for Developers: Beyond Speed, Toward Quality

Tuesday, October 28 shifts focus to the AI Stage, where JetBrains CEO Kirill Skrygan challenges the typical view of AI merely accelerating software development. While speed is celebrated, Skrygan’s keynote will dive deep into why sustainable growth hinges on quality code, not just rapid output. He’ll highlight how purpose-built AI tools can help developers boost reliability and precision at scale—essential traits for startups aiming for long-term success, not just quick wins.

This session is especially valuable for founders and product teams looking to distinguish their offerings in a saturated software market. As the AI wave matures, competitive advantage rests on deploying smarter, not just faster, technology.

Gratitude to JetBrains & Greenfield: Enabling the Conversation

The AI-focused sessions at Disrupt 2025 were made possible by JetBrains and Greenfield. Their commitment extends beyond sponsorship—their strategic investments and developer support are fueling vital conversations on how AI is reimagining industry standards, from infrastructure to day-to-day productivity.

Deep Founder Analysis

Why it matters

For startups, the curated spotlight on AI at Disrupt 2025 signals a profound industry pivot. As investors and founders coalesce around next-generation innovation, the event draws attention to where capital and talent are flowing. This convergence makes it clear: mastering AI and its practical applications is no longer optional, but foundational for competitive startups in every sector.

Risks & opportunities

The accelerating shift toward AI presents both opportunity and risk for new ventures. Startups that harness AI for durable value creation—focusing on core infrastructure or developer productivity—can leap ahead. However, the frenzied pace of hype also increases the risk of investing in unproven applications or overengineering solutions for problems the market hasn’t validated. Historical parallels exist in the dot-com and mobile eras, where visionary bets coexisted with speculative overreach.

Startup idea or application

Inspired by Disrupt’s emphasis on AI quality and infrastructure, one original startup avenue is a platform that audits and benchmarks AI-generated code for reliability and compliance, tailored for early and mid-stage startups. This tool could both automate due diligence for VCs and offer product teams actionable insights, bridging the gap between innovation and operational excellence as highlighted by JetBrains’ and Greenfield’s sessions.

AI TechCrunch Disrupt Startups Developer Tools Venture Capital

Related reading: For another perspective on startup AI infrastructure, check out our analysis of Maisa AI’s $25M raise to address enterprise AI’s high failure rate. Or, for broad startup trends, see The 2025 Startup Battlefield 200: Meet the World’s Most Promising Startups.

Visit Deep Founder to learn how to start your own startup, validate your idea, and build it from scratch.

📚 Read more articles in our Deep Founder blog.