AI Agent · San Francisco · TechCrunch AI
All these questions, and more, will be answered on the Builders Stage at Disrupt
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The first few hires at a startup can define the company.
Key facts
- Secure your pass now and save up to $200 before September 25 at 11:59 p.m
- Join them at Moscone West in San Francisco, October 13–15, alongside 10,000+ startups, investors, and tech decision-makers exploring what it takes to build and scale the next generation of companies
- At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Josh Reeves, CEO and co-founder of Gusto; Michelle Johnson, senior vice president at Insight Partners; and John Koelliker, CEO and co-founder of Leland, come together
- Join them on the Builders Stage, and explore what happens when AI doesn’t help your startup, but also becomes part of the team
Summary
AI agents are beginning to take on engineering, customer support, research, and operational work that would previously have been assigned to early team members. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Josh Reeves, CEO and co-founder of Gusto; Michelle Johnson, senior vice president at Insight Partners; and John Koelliker, CEO and co-founder of Leland, come together on the Builders Stage for an insightful session called “Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder.” This session will explore how early-stage companies are building teams where humans and AI agents work alongside each other, and how founders can do that without sacrificing speed, accountability, or culture. Join them at Moscone West in San Francisco, October 13–15, alongside 10,000+ startups, investors, and tech decision-makers exploring what it takes to build and scale the next generation of companies. For an early-stage company, every hire is a trade-off between capability, cost, and speed.