TechCrunch Disrupt: Surviving When OpenAI Copies You

AI startups face a growing existential threat: the platforms they build on keep shipping features that eliminate their competitive edge. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, running October 13-15 in San Francisco, will tackle this directly with a Builders Stage session featuring Airbyte CEO Michel Tricot, Webflow CEO Linda Tong, and Radical Ventures partner Rob Toews. The session explores how founders can build defensible businesses when foundation models rapidly absorb their innovations. Key themes include proprietary data, embedded workflows, domain expertise, and customer trust as lasting differentiators. Passes are available with up to $200 savings before September 25.