The best connection you make at an event isn’t necessarily the person standing next to you in the coffee line. In some cases, the founders may have already solved the problem that keeps them up at night. An investor who can challenge the way you think about the next round. Or some operators have learned firsthand what happens when a company expands too quickly.
At TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 on November 4th at SoWa Power Station in Boston, networking powered by Braindate is designed to make conversations easier to find, whether it’s a one-on-one meeting or a small group on-site meeting.
The only way to make these innovative connections is by attending Founder Summit. Once you get a pass, you also get a second pass for free.
Networking with a purpose
The Founder Summit Networking Lounge will give attendees the opportunity to schedule one-on-one or small group Braindates throughout the day.
Braindate allows you to connect around topics you actually want to talk about, rather than hoping to meet the right person. Why not give it a try? Share what you learned. Ask for perspective. Please provide your own.
Whether you want to compare funding strategies, discuss hiring challenges, exchange lessons on product-market fit, get another founder’s perspective on enterprise sales, or simply meet people building in Boston and beyond, the conversation starts with what’s important to you.
Get your pass now to save up to $100 on tickets and get discounted passes for the people you want to bring with you.
Take your on-stage conversations one step further
Founder Summit is built around the questions founders already have. “How do I know when I’m ready to scale?” How can I build a stronger team? Why should investors attend your next meeting? How can you acquire enterprise customers before building a large sales organization?
This agenda will address these questions across the build and impact stages, and in small roundtables throughout the day. Braindate offers another way to keep them going.
Hear Bessemer Venture Partners’ Kent Bennett discuss product-market fit, then discover other founders tackling the same challenges.
Hear from True Ventures’ Dave Balter and Edisyl as they uncover why your pitch leads to your next conversation, and compare notes with the person preparing your own raise.
Hear directly from Toast co-founder Steve Fredette about scaling and navigating a changing market, and use the rest of the day to connect with the people who are building their own versions of that journey.
The day’s value doesn’t have to stop when the session ends.
Build the desired conversation
Founder Summit is intentionally smaller and more hands-on than larger conferences. In addition to the main stage, attendees can spend the day participating in interactive roundtables, watching founders test their proposals live, exploring exhibitors offering scaling solutions, and meeting other founders, investors, and operators.
Braindate adds a new layer by helping you transform networking from something incidental to something you can actively shape. You don’t need perfect pitch or a stack of business cards. We need questions worth asking.
Save your pass before the doors open on November 4th
TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 will be held on November 4th at SoWa Power Station in Boston. Current passes include access to breakout sessions, roundtables, Braindate networking, Expo Hall, and post-event session materials.
And now, when you buy one pass, you can bring a guest for free. Bring in co-founders, partners, or anyone else who should join the conversation. Get your Founder Summit pass and claim your free second ticket.
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