At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Cerebras Systems CEO Andrew Feldman said some AI industry leaders should rethink their public commentary, arguing that warnings about AI risks have overshadowed its potential benefits, such as curing cancer. He acknowledged that powerful technology carries risks of misuse and said the industry needs thoughtful, reasonable regulation, while also noting the sector has handled local community relations around data center buildouts poorly.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
Licube, a startup licensing lithium separation technology from Hirosaki University in Japan, is presenting at TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield. The company aims to purify lithium-6, a rare isotope that fusion reactors need to breed tritium fuel on site, since it makes up only about 7.5% of naturally occurring lithium. CEO Yohei Kiguchi told TechCrunch he expects the lithium-6 market to reach $50 billion by 2040 if fusion power becomes commercially viable.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 that Doug Field, formerly Ford's EV chief and a veteran of Tesla, Apple and Segway, has joined Mind Robotics as president. Field will oversee product, engineering and operations at the industrial AI and robotics startup, which Rivian founded a year ago and has raised over $1 billion for from investors including Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, and Volkswagen and Salesforce's venture arms.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
Alameda-based startup Longshot Space Technology, led by CEO Mike Grace and CTO Nato Saichek, is developing a multi-stage gun system that accelerates projectiles toward orbit instead of using rockets. The company has raised roughly $20 million from venture investors and is currently testing a 70-foot, six-inch-diameter gun that has fired projectiles at speeds up to Mach 4. Longshot plans to present its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
TechCrunch has selected its Startup Battlefield Top 20 for the 2026 Disrupt conference, chosen from thousands of applicant founders. The finalists will pitch on the Disrupt Stage in six-minute sessions beginning October 13, competing for a $100,000 prize and the Disrupt Cup. Companies in the group span space logistics, physical AI, biotech, robotics, and fraud detection, including Longshot Space's hydrogen-powered cargo launcher and Veritas's brand-authentication microchips.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 kicked off at Moscone West, drawing more than 10,000 founders, investors and tech leaders. Day 1 features Startup Battlefield, six industry stages covering scaling, AI, fintech and climate tech, over 300 exhibiting startups, and 250+ speakers.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
Honeyjar, a startup appearing at TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield 200, is building an AI-driven communications platform that automates writing announcements, identifying journalists to pitch, and finding speaking opportunities for companies. It was founded by Michelle Masek and Nadia Jamshidi, both veteran PR professionals who previously worked in-house and at agencies, with Masek having led marketing and communications at Obvious Ventures.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-12
Blueprints AI, a Santa Monica startup founded by Al Drams and Coco Cao, is showcasing a new version of its software that converts 2D sketches or PDFs into code-compliant, permit-ready construction blueprints within minutes. The company, incorporated in 2025, was selected for TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Battlefield 200 cohort, where it is presenting this week in San Francisco.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-12
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 begins tomorrow at 8 a.m. PT and runs through three days at San Francisco's Moscone West, with over 10,000 founders, investors and tech operators expected to attend. Organizers say this is the last day to buy tickets at a discount of up to $100, with additional offers including 50% off a second pass and a $75 Expo+ Pass for people who have been laid off.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-12
TechCrunch's Disrupt 2026 conference begins in two days, running October 13-15 at Moscone West. Organizers expect more than 10,000 attendees, over 250 speakers across 200+ sessions, and 300+ startups exhibiting, including the 200 companies selected for Startup Battlefield.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-11
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a five-year exemption letting self-driving truck operators Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI use cab-mounted warning beacons instead of physically placed reflective triangles when a truck breaks down. The change addresses a rule that assumed a human driver would exit the vehicle to set out warning devices within 10 minutes of a breakdown, something autonomous trucks without drivers cannot do. Aurora had previously sued over the requirement and appealed to the D.C. Court of Appeals after an earlier denial.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-11
Startup Efferon has developed a blood-purification device called Efferon NEO that absorbs both endotoxins and cytokines to treat pediatric sepsis, which kills about 3 million children under five each year. The device received CE mark approval in April, making it the first multimodal blood purification device built specifically for children, and is now used in ICUs across 30 countries including parts of Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. Efferon is preparing an FDA submission and expects to reach $2 million in annualized revenue by the end of 2026.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-11
GoKawiil