# Disrupt 2026 Day 2: AI and robotics take center stage > TechCrunch's flagship conference continues with 10,000 attendees exploring AI, robotics, and startup investment across stages, pitches, and networking. - Title: Disrupt 2026 Day 2: AI and robotics take center stage - Summary: TechCrunch's flagship conference continues with 10,000 attendees exploring AI, robotics, and startup investment across stages, pitches, and networking. Day… - Keywords: techcrunch disrupt, san francisco, robotics, startups, venture capital, moscone west, startup battlefield 200, technology, Disrupt, 2026, Day, take - Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/14/techcrunch-disrupt-2026-day-2 - Author: TechCrunch Events - Published: 2026-10-14T14:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: techcrunch disrupt, san francisco, ai, robotics, startups, venture capital, moscone west, startup battlefield 200, technology ## Day two begins at Moscone West TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Day two is underway at San Francisco's Moscone West. Ten thousand plus founders, investors, startup teams, and technology leaders are exploring innovative startups and emerging technologies through live pitches and AI-powered matchmaking. ## Today's focus: AI and robotics Day two speakers include leaders from Nvidia, Waabi, Flock Safety, and Ricursive Intelligence, alongside Benchmark's full partnership. Conversations span robotics, AI hardware, public safety, and venture investment. ## Expo Hall opens with three hundred plus startups The Expo Hall is open eight am to five pm on Level two.Explore three hundred plus startups alongside tech partners and solution providers.See products in action and speak directly with the teams behind them. ## Pitch Showcase Stage features enterprise fast pitches Catch today's enterprise fast pitches to discover emerging startups and see how founders make their case. Note the companies and approaches that stand out, take fresh ideas back to your team, and meet founders afterward. ## Disrupt Stage covers AI and public safety Disrupt Stage sessions include AI, Surveillance, and the Future of Public Safety with Garrett Langley from Flock Safety. What We Believe Now features Benchmark's Jack Altman, Peter Fenton, Chetan Puttagunta, Everett Randle and Eric Vishria. ## AI hardware design gets its own session When AI Starts Designing Its Own Hardware features Anna Goldie and Azalia Mirhoseini from Ricursive Intelligence. The session explores how artificial intelligence is now designing its own hardware systems. ## Startup Battlefield 200 continues with one hundred thousand dollars at stake Startup Battlefield continues with healthtech, life sciences, enterprise and security contenders. Winners pursue a place in the final and one hundred thousand dollars in equity-free funding. ## Builders Stage explores funding and growth Builders Stage sessions help founders sharpen their plans and investors compare perspectives on what makes a business fundable. ## Non-AI builders get their own session How to Win When You're Not Building AI features Yuri Sagalov from General Catalyst, Shan Shan from Baillie Gifford, and Chris Yu from ALSO. The session addresses building successful companies outside the AI space. ## Real World AI Stage features live robot demonstration Real World AI Stage explores how AI is moving into physical products and environments. Building AI Systems When Failure Is Not an Option features Nathan Michael from Shield AI, Mikell Taylor from General Motors, and… ## Hello Robot's Stretch gets live stage demonstration Come, Meet Stretch. The Robot Built for Real Life, Not a Demo Reel features Aaron Edsinger from Hello Robot. The session includes a live robot demonstration on stage. ## Humanoid robots take the stage live Humanoid Robots Have Arrived: Live and On Stage features Jonathan Hurst from Agility Robotics and Digit, a humanoid robot. The session demonstrates humanoid robotics technology in real time. ## AI Stage covers security and business models AI Stage sessions include The Agent Security Problem Nobody Is Talking About with Gavriel Cohen from NanoCo and Ric Smith from Okta. ## Storage and enterprise AI get dedicated sessions The sixty three billion dollar case for Storagemaxxing Your AI Stack features Pinaki Mukherjee from Wasabi Technologies, Stephanie Walter from HyperFRAME Research, Kevin Cochrane from Vultr, and Jake Lee from L two Point Management. ## Breakout sessions offer small-group discussions Breakout sessions include Building Then vs Now with Payal Kadakia from ClassPass, Dr.Rumman Chowdhury from Humane Intelligence, Cassie Kozyrkov from Kozyr, and Holly Ransom from Emergent. ## Networking Lounge powered by Signify Business Cash The Networking Lounge powered by Signify Business Cash World Elite Mastercard by Wells Fargo is open nine am to five pm. ## Deal Flow Cafe for founders and investors only The Deal Flow Cafe is available only to Founder Pass and Investor Pass holders for dedicated networking. ## StrictlyVC session for investor pass holders For Investor Pass holders only, StrictlyVC offers conversations on IPOs, family offices, and limited partner priorities. The New Rules of Going Public features Ryan Flanagan from ICR. ## Side events continue networking after hours Side events tonight include Ecosystem Mixer hosted by Peak XV, Liquid Assets hosted by Augment and Mintz, and The Afterburn hosted by Backblaze and Flamethrower.Check individual listings for entry requirements and RSVP before heading over. ## Passes available at fifty percent off walk-up rate Get your Disrupt pass at fifty percent off the walk-up rate and join ten thousand plus tech leaders for the next two days. ## Key takeaway Day two of TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 at San Francisco's Moscone West features AI and robotics sessions, three hundred plus startups in the Expo Hall, and Startup Battlefield 200 contenders competing for one hundred thousand dollars in equity-free funding.