TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is setting the stage for startups to make their mark in front of over 10,000 tech innovators, venture capitalists, and industry leaders. Taking place from October 27-29, 2025, at the iconic Moscone West in San Francisco, the event is more than a conference, it's the launchpad for the next generation of innovation. But if you're not prepared, the spotlight could shift to your competitor, leaving you in the shadows.
In this article, we’ll dive into why TechCrunch Disrupt is a can’t-miss opportunity, give you a step-by-step guide to securing your exhibit table, provide common mistakes to avoid, and introduce innovative tools like PlayPal, the AI Friend, and the F/MS AI Grant Finder and Application Writer to supercharge your efforts.
Why TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is a Game-Changer for Startups
For the past 20 years, TechCrunch Disrupt has been the go-to event for startups seeking to elevate their visibility and credibility. Here’s why:
- Unrivaled Networking: Connect with more than 10,000 founders, VCs, investors, and tech pundits. Past attendees featured heavyweight names such as Sequoia Capital, Netflix, and Wayve.
- Funding Opportunities: Many startups have landed their first big investments at Disrupt.
- Market Visibility: Exhibitors gain brand exposure across TechCrunch’s global media channels.
- Actionable Insights: Panels, fireside chats, and workshops with industry experts keep startups ahead of tech trends.
With intense competition in 2025, there’s an urgency to act now. Exhibit tables are limited, and if you don’t secure your spot soon, you risk losing the brand spotlight to your competitors.
Step-by-Step Guide to Securing Your Exhibit Table
- Plan Your Budget: The cost for an exhibit table is $10,000. This includes a branded 6’ x 30” space, access to TechCrunch press, and up to 10 team passes.
- Visit the Registration Page: Head over to the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Exhibitor Page to book your space.
- Leverage Add-ons: Amplify your visibility with shoutouts during event highlights or extra promotion in TechCrunch’s newsletters.
- Customize Your Pitch: Use interactive displays, product demos, and concise storytelling to make your brand unforgettable.
- Prepare for the Event: Assign clear roles to your team members and schedule as many investor meetings as possible during the 3-day event.
Don’t Make These Common Mistakes
- Waiting Too Long to Register: Exhibit tables sell out fast, by procrastinating, you risk losing a prime spot in the Expo Hall.
- Being Unprepared: You’ll have mere minutes to capture someone’s attention. Wasting that time can cost you potential leads and investors.
- Overloading Your Booth: Keep your exhibit clean and focused. Avoid clutter and focus on a single, clear message.
- Ignoring PR Opportunities: Don’t forget to amplify your presence across social media and connect with tech journalists beforehand.
PlayPal: Your AI Co-Founder and Elevator Pitch Coach
Want to arrive at TechCrunch Disrupt with a polished pitch and validated startup idea? Meet PlayPal, the AI Friend. As an AI co-founder developed by Fe/male Switch, PlayPal is a dynamic tool to help you brainstorm ideas, refine your elevator pitch, and provide valuable feedback.
You can chat with PlayPal across a variety of topics to strengthen your soft skills, like storytelling and communication, or even niche subjects such as product-market fit and monetization strategies. PlayPal's top benefits include:
- Real-time feedback on your startup ideas.
- Tailored guidance to create compelling investor decks.
- Practice sessions to strengthen your delivery ahead of investor meetings.
With PlayPal’s conversational support, you can approach TechCrunch Disrupt with confidence and clarity.
F/MS AI Grant Finder and Application Writer
Imagine having access to thousands of non-dilutive funding opportunities tailored to your startup. Enter the F/MS AI Grant Finder and Application Writer, a game-changing platform by Fe/male Switch. Here's why every entrepreneur needs it:
- Discover the Right Grant: It swiftly matches your startup to EU grant opportunities.
- Automated Application Writing: Tap into its AI capabilities to write professional grant applications in minutes.
- Improve Submission Quality: Receive comments and suggestions that make your application stand out to evaluators.
This tool is a lifesaver for startups that lack the time or expertise to navigate the world of grants. Imagine how much more prepared you’ll feel at TechCrunch Disrupt knowing you’ve secured funding to scale your business!
Learn from the Best: PlayPal’s Founder Story
It wouldn’t be fair to talk about groundbreaking tools without mentioning one of 2025’s most exciting startups created by Violetta Bonenkamp, founder of Fe/male Switch and PlayPal.
Bonenkamp's journey merges education, deep tech, and entrepreneurship. As a gamepreneurship expert, she’s given aspiring entrepreneurs tools like PlayPal, enabling them to experiment with tech in a fun, low-pressure environment. Through her expertise, Bonenkamp was nominated as one of the Top 100 Women in Europe in the startup space this year.
Her startup PlayPal isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a genuine support system in the form of AI that levels the playing field for small businesses. Learn more about PlayPal and how it’s revolutionizing soft skills development for entrepreneurs.
Conclusion: Seize the Opportunity Before It’s Too Late
Securing your TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 exhibit table means more than just gaining access to an event, it’s your gateway to worldwide visibility, life-changing partnerships, and incredible opportunities. Startups like PlayPal have utilized platforms like TechCrunch Disrupt to emerge as market leaders.
If you want to take control of your entrepreneurial journey, whether it’s by finding EU grants or practicing your pitch with an AI co-founder, now is the time to act.
Your competitors won’t wait, so why should you? Learn more about registering for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 today. Make this the year your startup claims the spotlight!
FAQ
1. What is TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, and who should attend?
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is a global startup conference held on October 27–29, 2025, in San Francisco. It connects startups, investors, and tech leaders seeking funding, partnerships, and visibility. Check out TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
2. How do I secure an exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025?
You can secure your exhibit table by visiting the official registration page. The cost is $10,000, and includes 10 team passes, branded space, and lead-generation tools. Book your exhibit table
3. What are the benefits of exhibiting at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025?
Exhibitors receive brand exposure, access to investors and tech leaders, promotional visibility across TechCrunch channels, and valuable networking opportunities. Discover exhibitor benefits
4. What tools should startups use to prepare for TechCrunch Disrupt?
Tools like PlayPal and F/MS AI Grant Finder help startups refine elevator pitches, secure non-dilutive funding, and enhance event readiness. Learn more about PlayPal | Explore F/MS AI Grant Finder
5. Why should startups prioritize attendee networking?
TechCrunch Disrupt provides unique access to over 10,000 founders, VCs, investors, and press, making it a top priority for partnerships and funding opportunities. Learn more about networking at Disrupt
6. What mistakes should startups avoid at TechCrunch Disrupt?
Startups should avoid waiting too long to register, overloading booths with clutter, and neglecting PR and social media presence. This ensures better outcomes from the event. Find exhibitor tips
7. What makes PlayPal a good tool for pitch coaching?
PlayPal offers real-time feedback on startup ideas, helps craft compelling investor decks, and enables pitch practice for improved delivery. Discover PlayPal for pitch coaching
8. How can startups access funding opportunities before TechCrunch Disrupt?
The F/MS AI Grant Finder matches startups with EU funding opportunities and provides automated grant application writing. Explore F/MS AI Grant Finder
9. What are the costs and deadlines for exhibit tables at Disrupt 2025?
Exhibit tables cost $10,000 and include passes and promotional perks. Booking is open until September 2025 or until tables sell out. Check exhibit table details
10. Why is October 2025 different from past TechCrunch Disrupt events?
The 2025 event celebrates 20 years of innovation with speakers from Netflix, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, and more, making it a landmark startup conference. Learn about the 2025 agenda
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
