TechCrunch Disrupt is a startup and technology conference run by TechCrunch, held in San Francisco; the 2026 edition runs Oct 13-15 at Moscone West and expects more than 10,000 founders, investors and tech leaders. Recent coverage includes talks and Startup Battlefield entries: Mark Wahlberg on AI in film, Cal AI's $30M revenue and acquisition by MyFitness, Flock's gunshot-detection microphones, and startups such as Blueprints AI, DetectifAI and ScrollEd.
Mark Wahlberg on using AI in film the right waySpeaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, actor and angel investor Mark Wahlberg said AI belongs in filmmaking when used to enhance rather than replace real creation, and he is open to an AI likeness carrying on his legacy. He may use AI to enhance stadium settings in his upcoming Pete Rose biopic, while stressing storytelling must remain the heart of film.
Cal AI hit $30M revenue in two years, acquired by MyFitnessAI calorie-tracking app Cal AI generated over $30M in revenue in two years and was acquired by MyFitness in March for an undisclosed amount. Its 19-year-old founder Zach Yadegari said at TechCrunch Disrupt that growth came from recruiting a large army of influencers paid by reach, forming a repeatable linear formula.
Flock CEO says mics detect 'just gunshots,' site says otherwiseFlock CEO Garrett Langley said at TechCrunch Disrupt that its gunshot-detection microphones detect 'just gunshots,' but the company's website says the audio system can also identify car crashes, fireworks and street takeovers, drawing criticism from privacy advocates after earlier changes over detecting human voices.
Floqer's AI agents research sales prospectsFloqer offers an autonomous customer knowledge platform that continuously collects and updates customer data for B2B sales and marketing teams. It says ARR has surpassed $1.2M and overall revenue grew about tenfold in a year, and plans to open-source its database in early 2027.
Michigan spinout red-teams robots with AI simulationUniversity of Michigan spinout Laplace Intelligence uses AI agents and interactive simulation to stress-test robots and self-driving vehicles before deployment. The profitable startup is competing at TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield.
Blueprints AI generates permit-ready blueprints in minutesSanta Monica startup Blueprints AI uses AI to turn 2D sketches or PDFs into code-compliant, permit-ready construction blueprints in minutes; founder Al Drams said ChatGPT made the idea feasible, and the 2025-founded company was picked for the 2026 Startup Battlefield 200.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to spotlight AI infrastructure boomAt TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Ambrosia Energy CEO Ben Longmier and Bloom Energy SVP Bill Thayer will speak on 'Where the AI Infrastructure Boom Is Creating Winners,' discussing how physical constraints like power and data centers create durable business opportunities.
Last day to book exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs Oct 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, expecting 10,000+ founders, investors and tech leaders; today is the last day to book an exhibit table.
Founder launches DetectifAI after grandfather fooled by deepfake voiceAfter her grandfather was scammed by a deepfake voice impersonating his brother, Tarini Padmanabhuni founded DetectifAI, a San Francisco startup building small AI models that run on smartphones to flag fake voices in real time. It is competing in Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt.
StrictlyVC joins TechCrunch Disrupt 2026StrictlyVC will host a session at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 on how AI is reshaping venture capital, from funding sources to deployment and IPO paths. The event runs Oct 13-15 in San Francisco; an Investor Pass is required, with $200 savings before Sept 25.
ScrollEd turns textbooks into TikTok-style feedsPalo Alto startup ScrollEd has built an app that converts text files and textbooks into TikTok- or Instagram Reels-like feeds with AI-generated video, audio, text, and interactive quizzes. Founded by student co-founders Utsav Gupta and Rebecca Neff, it is pitching at TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield 200.
Robinhood executive to speak on AI finance at DisruptRobinhood VP of Product Management Abhishek Fatehpuria will speak on "Winning the Modern Financial Consumer" at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco on October 13-15. Robinhood has expanded from commission-free trading into banking, credit, crypto, retirement and prediction markets, plus AI-powered trading. It reported 28.6 million funded customers and $384 billion in platform assets at the end of August 2026.
Nvidia: robots await a ChatGPT momentLes Karpas of Nvidia explained at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 that robotics lacks an internet-scale physical dataset analogous to language models, hindering a ChatGPT-style breakthrough; the conference runs Oct 13–15 in San Francisco.
Take startups from prototype to production at Disrupt 2026TechCrunch says Disrupt 2026 will cover scaling startups from prototype to production, with speakers Adrian Macneil (Foxglove), John Mackey (MBRYONICS), and Boris Sofman (Bedrock Robotics). Register before September 25 to save up to $200 on passes.
One week to book Disrupt exhibit tableTechCrunch warns that exhibit table bookings for Disrupt 2026 close Sept 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT; tables are limited and include a demo table, team passes, and promotional benefits. Missing the deadline risks losing on-site exposure.
Final call: Disrupt side events tonightTechCrunch says the final deadline to apply to host an official Disrupt 2026 Side Event is tonight (Sept 11) at 11:59 p.m. PT; approved events receive promotion and can offer ticket discounts to attendees.
Mark Wahlberg to appear at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026Actor and investor Mark Wahlberg will join Bruce K. Lee on the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to discuss investing, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and wellness. Wahlberg has expanded his activities beyond acting into production, restaurants, apparel, fitness, and angel investing.
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