Launching a new product is challenging, but doing it in a space dominated by tech giants requires bold innovation, sharp strategy, and the ability to scale quickly. TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 — taking place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30 — brings together three experts who are doing just that, while simultaneously addressing one of the world’s greatest challenges: climate change.
We’re thrilled to welcome Paul Lambert, founder and CEO of Quilt; Gurinder Nagra, CEO of Furno Materials; and Brigid O’Brien, managing partner at RA Capital Management to the Builder’s Stage lineup at Disrupt 2024. They’ll share the strategies that have allowed them to take on the incumbents.
They will also explore how startups can differentiate themselves, turn legacy players’ weaknesses into competitive advantages, and make the bold decisions necessary to scale in industries that haven’t changed in decades. This panel is a must-see for founders, investors, and senior executives looking to understand how to succeed in highly competitive markets.
Drawing on his experience building successful companies and having assembled a world-class team from Google, Nest, and Tesla, Paul Lambert is now leading the charge at Quilt in developing a design-forward, smart home climate solution. With thousands of homeowners on the waitlist and $33 million in Series A funding, Quilt is on the verge of revolutionizing a market long dominated by fossil-fuel-based systems by making sustainable home heating more intuitive and efficient.
At Furno Materials, Gurinder Nagra is reimagining cement production — one of the world’s most carbon-heavy industries. Leaning into his extensive scientific education from the University of New South Wales and Stanford University, he’s leveraging novel combustion technologies to create energy-efficient, zero-emission cement plants that are modular and compact, setting a new standard for the future of sustainable infrastructure.
Brigid O’Brien at RA Capital Management is committed to driving investments in companies focused on planetary health. With extensive experience in decarbonizing operations at BHP, the world’s largest mining company, O’Brien brings unmatched expertise in scaling technologies that address climate challenges. At BHP Ventures, she spearheaded investments in innovative areas such as biomining, green steel, and sustainable resource extraction, positioning her at the forefront of sustainable industrial transformation.
This panel offers a rare opportunity to learn how to outmaneuver established competitors, scale innovation, and deliver transformative products in legacy industries — all while framing these activities around saving the planet. Secure your seat at Disrupt 2024 today to learn how these visionary leaders are driving the next wave of market disruption.
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In a world where innovation knows no borders, a new trend is rising in the tech ecosystem: national-interest startups. From aerospace and defense to critical infrastructure, these firms are ensuring that innovation directly supports national growth, security, and prosperity. As we approach an inflection point in Silicon Valley’s evolution, the question arises: Can startups rebuild the foundations of an entire nation?
TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is excited to bring together three distinguished leaders who are making waves in the national-interest startup space. Together, they will share their insights on how new technologies can scale rapidly while serving the strategic interests of their home countries.
Rebecca Gevalt is the managing partner at Dcode Capital, a venture fund that invests in high-growth technology companies that are poised to revolutionize the U.S. government. With her deep background in both the private and public sectors — including over a decade at the CIA — Rebecca is uniquely positioned to navigate the intersection of government and cutting-edge technology. Her expertise lies in scaling commercial technologies into the federal market, a mission that began with her role at Dcode’s accelerator program and now expands to the broader reach of Dcode Capital.
Topher Haddad, co-founder and CEO of Albedo, is pioneering the commercialization of very low Earth orbit (VLEO) imagery, which will allow for unprecedented levels of resolution previously limited to government and defense. His company’s upcoming satellite launch is set to disrupt the commercial Earth observation industry, enabling new applications across sectors like defense, agriculture, and utilities. Haddad’s background as an engineer at Lockheed Martin and his technical expertise in national security space programs make him a leader in the race to leverage space for national-interest applications.
Kai Kloepfer, founder and CEO of Biofire, has brought to market the first biometric “smart gun” in the U.S., a feat that many believed impossible. His firearm, equipped with fingerprint and facial recognition, aims to prevent unauthorized access, significantly enhancing safety for users, law enforcement, and even national defense. Kloepfer’s journey from high school inventor to CEO of a venture-backed company speaks to his commitment to innovation in a highly regulated, politically sensitive space.
Join us on the Builders Stage at Disrupt 2024 and learn how these trailblazers are positioning technology at the heart of American dynamism — morphing entire industries in ways that prioritize national security, infrastructure, and economic growth. Their collective work is not just about disruptive technology; it’s about building the future of a nation.
Secure your spot today to be among 10,000 startup, tech, and VC leaders who’ll be at Disrupt 2024, taking place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30. This is your opportunity to participate in a dynamic discussion panel and experience the startup epicenter of the year. Register for your pass here.
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Startup Battlefield 200 is a major highlight at every Disrupt, and we’re thrilled to find out which of the thousands of startup applicants will get the chance to pitch to top-tier VCs at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Join us at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28–30 to witness the epic showdown where every contender is set to make a significant impact.
Get an insider’s view of what the judges look for in a viable company as they provide detailed feedback on their evaluation criteria. Don’t miss the chance to learn from their expert insights and discover the crucial traits that lead to startup success, only at Disrupt 2024.
We’re excited to introduce our next set of investors who will evaluate the startups and dive into each pitch with a thorough and probing Q&A session. Stay tuned for more big names coming your way soon!
Alice is a partner at Khosla Ventures interested in sustainability, food, agriculture, and manufacturing/supply chain. She has worked with multiple startups in robotics, IoT, retail, consumer, and STEM education and has run mechanical, electrical, and app development teams in the U.S. and Asia. She has also established and managed manufacturing operations at factories in China and Taiwan. Prior to KV, Alice was founder and CEO of Roominate, a STEM education company helping girls learn engineering concepts through play.
Mark Crane is a partner at General Catalyst, a venture capital firm that works with seed to endurance-stage founders to help build companies that can withstand the test of time. He focuses on sourcing and investing in later-stage investment opportunities such as AuthZed, Bugcrowd, Resilience, and TravelPerk. Prior to joining General Catalyst, Mark was a vice president at Cove Hill Partners in Massachusetts. Previously, he was a senior associate at JMI Equity and an associate at North Bridge Growth Equity.
Sofia partners with founders who leverage their unique perspective and personal understanding of a problem to create businesses that lead to behavioral shifts, powerful network effects, and the reshaping of entire industries, from grocery and e-commerce, to financial services and healthcare. Sofia is also one of Index Ventures’ gaming leads, working with some of the top gaming companies in Europe, creating the next generation of iconic gaming titles. She spends most of her time in the Nordics but works with entrepreneurs across the continent.
Christine Esserman joined Accel in 2017 and focuses on software, internet, and mobile technology companies. Since joining Accel, Christine has helped lead Accel’s investments in Blackpoint Cyber, Linear, Merge, ThreeFlow, Bumble, Remote, Dovetail, Ethos, Guru, and Headway. Prior to Accel, Christine worked in product and operations roles at a number of startups. Christine is from the Bay Area and graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in finance and operations.
Haomiao from Matter Venture Partners is a robotics researcher turned founder turned investor. He is particularly passionate about companies bringing digital innovation into physical economy businesses, with a focus on sectors like logistics, manufacturing, and transportation and on advanced technologies like robotics and AI. Haomiao spent four years investing in hard tech alongside Wen Hsieh at Kleiner Perkins. Prior to that he founded the smart home security startup Kuna, built self-driving cars at Caltech, and, as part of his PhD research at Stanford, pioneered the aerodynamics and control of multi-rotor UAVs. Kuna was part of Y Combinator’s Winter 14 batch.
The Startup Battlefield winner, who will walk away with a $100,000 equity-free prize, will be announced at Disrupt 2024 — the startup epicenter. Join 10,000 attendees to witness this groundbreaking moment and see the next wave of tech innovation.
Register here and secure your seat to witness this epic startup battle.
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