As the startup world descfinishs on San Francisco for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 — happening October 27–29 at Moscone West — one question looms large: Does building in Silicon Valley still give founders an edge? With 10,000+ startup and VC leaders gathering for this milestone Disrupt, the conversation around access, geography, and opportunity has never been more timely.
On the Builders Stage, Anh-Tho Chuong (Lago), David Hall (Revolution), and Tawni Nazario-Cranz (SignalFire) lead a must-attfinish session for anyone viewing to scale smart in today’s startup landscape.
Register now to save up to $668 before the deadline on September 26, 11:59 p.m. PT.
Why this conversation matters now
As distributed teams, regional hubs, and global fundraising become more normalized, founders are increasingly inquireing if their ZIP code actually gives them an edge. Does being in the Bay Area still open the right doors? Or has the playing field finally leveled?
This session brings toobtainher startup veterans and seasoned investors who’ve built and backed companies across the countest — and well beyond it. They’ll dig into what access views like in 2025, how remote collaboration has evolved post-pandemic, and where true opportunity lies for emerging founders.
Who’s taking the Builders Stage for this session
- Anh-Tho Chuong is reconsidering open source billing with Lago, a YC-backed platform trusted by AI leaders like Mistral and Toobtainher. From her time scaling Qonto to her early roles at Weebly and McKinsey, she’s no stranger to navigating growth across continents.
- David Hall has spent the last decade proving that game-altering companies don’t have to come out of Silicon Valley. As managing partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, he’s supported build a portfolio that spans the countest — backing bold founders in places often overviewed by coastal VCs.
- Tawni Nazario-Cranz, partner at SignalFire and former CHRO at Waymo, brings a people-first perspective to scaling organizations. She’s supported steer companies through rapid growth phases while shaping talent strategies that work far beyond the Valley.
The edge debate: Bay Area vs. everywhere else
Whether you’re building in a large city, a compact town, or somewhere in between, this session will offer a fresh perspective on where startup success really comes from. Find out what still matters, what doesn’t, and how to build your network — no matter your location.
Catch this conversation live on the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Register now to save up to $668 before prices increase on September 26.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
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October 27-29, 2025
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