As the startup community converges on San Francisco for the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 event — set to take place from October 27–29 at Moscone West — a critical question arises: Do founders still gain an advantage from being in Silicon Valley? With over 10,000 startup and VC leaders coming together for this significant gathering, discussions about access, location, and opportunity are more relevant than ever.

On the Builders Stage, Anh-Tho Chuong (Lago), David Hall (Revolution), and Tawni Nazario-Cranz (SignalFire) will conduct a must-see session for those eager to grow wisely in the current startup environment.

Register now to save as much as $650

The significance of this discussion at the moment

As remote teams, regional centers, and worldwide fundraising become increasingly common, founders are continuously questioning whether their location truly offers them an advantage. Is staying in the Bay Area still beneficial? Or has the competition finally balanced out?

This session features startup experts and experienced investors who have built and funded businesses throughout the nation—and beyond. They will explore what access looks like in 2025, the evolution of remote collaboration since the pandemic, and where real opportunities exist for new founders.

Presenters on the Builders Stage for this session

Presenters on the Builders Stage for this session

• Anh-Tho Chuong is innovating open source billing with Lago, a YC-supported platform favored by AI innovators such as Mistral and Together. From her experience enhancing Qonto to her early positions at Weebly and McKinsey, she is well-versed in navigating growth across continents.
• David Hall has dedicated the past decade to demonstrating that transformative companies can emerge outside of Silicon Valley. As managing partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, he has cultivated a diverse portfolio that spans the country, supporting daring founders in areas frequently overlooked by coastal VCs.
• Tawni Nazario-Cranz, partner at SignalFire and former CHRO at Waymo, applies a people-centric approach to scaling organizations. She has guided companies through phases of rapid growth while developing talent strategies that are effective well beyond the Valley.

The edge discussion: Bay Area compared to elsewhere

Regardless of whether you are developing from a large urban center, a small community, or something in between, this session will provide a new viewpoint on the origins of startup success. Discover what continues to be significant, what is not, and how to expand your network — independent of your location.

Join this live discussion on the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, scheduled for October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Register now to save as much as $650 before prices rise.