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TechCrunch is recruiting more than 100 volunteers for Disrupt 2026, its flagship startup conference running October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Volunteers must commit at least 12 hours during the event, attend an in-person orientation on October 12, and be at least 18 years old, in exchange for free three-day admission. Applications close September 25.
An operator behind more than 22 companies at DRC Ventures argues that small, undocumented decisions—not major pivots or funding rounds—are what most often slow organizational growth. He points to Asana research showing knowledge workers lose about 209 hours annually to duplicated work caused by unclear ownership and unresolved processes.
A new piece on founder productivity argues that standard focus advice fails startup leaders because their job requires constantly switching between different types of work. It offers five tips aimed at helping founders keep their calendars aligned with their own priorities rather than being dictated by others' demands.
OOAK, a consumer brand-building company founded by Bob Verlaat, Nick Nijhof and Vince Nijhof, hosted a three-day invite-only conference at the Castelfalfi resort in Tuscany in late August. Roughly 100 founders running businesses with seven- to nine-figure revenues paid $14,000 each to attend keynotes and fireside chats aimed at scaling their companies. The event grew out of two smaller gatherings OOAK previously ran in Dubai.
A commentary piece argues that many startups prize rapid execution over clearly articulating their mission, leaving employees and stakeholders unable to explain the company's direction. It draws a comparison between effective CEOs and evangelical preachers, both of whom must communicate a compelling vision that others can repeat and rally behind, not just move fast on their own understanding.
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has publicly criticized California's Proposition 40, a proposed 5% wealth tax targeting billionaires. Cuban argues the measure would disproportionately harm startup founders whose net worth is tied up in illiquid company equity rather than cash, making it difficult for them to pay a tax based on paper wealth.
In a new essay, Paul Graham says Y Combinator's decades of experience selecting founders show that the best preparation for startup success is deep technical or creative skill, not a formal entrepreneurship curriculum. He argues universities should keep teaching subjects like computer science, engineering and molecular biology, since founders succeed by building products customers want, not by studying management or finance.