Set your coordinates for the Space Stage on September 19, Day 1 promptly at 0800 hours of TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. You’ll find sessions featuring some of the industry’s leading founders, investors, NASA researchers, Department of Defense officials, military commanders and national security experts.
Launch into the future of space at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023
These leaders will delve into the challenges of interstellar travel, commercial and government collaboration, the next space age and more. Take a look at the many topics and speakers awaiting you in San Francisco. Then go ahead and explore the full event agenda.
The Most Exciting Time in Space: How We Got Here and What Comes Next
Speakers:
Steve Isakowitz, President and CEO, The Aerospace Corporation
Brian Weeden, Director, Program Planning, Secure World Foundation
Susan Karlin, Regular Contributor, Fast Company
Peter Wegner, Chief Strategy Officer, BlackSky
Presented by The Aerospace Corporation
The Future of Sending Human Beings Into Space
Speakers:Laura Crabtree, Co-founder & CEO, Epsilon3
Jared Isaacman, Astronaut & Commander, Inspiration4 & Polaris Program
Dave Korsmeyer, Deputy Center Director (Acting), NASA Ames Research Center
Aaron Stein, Chief Content Officer, War on the Rocks
Commercial Space Power and the Next Space Age
Speakers: General James Dickinson, Commander, U.S. Space Command
Ryan Evans, CEO, Bedrock Learning
John Plumb, Assistant Secretary Defense, Space Policy, Department of Defense
Mandy Vaughn, CEO and founder, GXO.
Quantum and a New Age of Espionage
Speakers:
Debra L. Emmons, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, The Aerospace Corporation
Herbert Lin, Senior Research Scholar, Hank Holland Fellow, Stanford University
Laura Thomas, Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives, Infleqtion
Andrew Wilson, Quantum Physics Division Chief, National Institute of Standards & Technology
Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025
Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668.
Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025
Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668.
San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025 REGISTER NOWAI and Warfare
Speakers:
Rajeev Chand, Partner & Head of Research, Wing Venture Capital
Craig Martell, U.S. Dept. of Defense Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, U.S. Department of Defense
Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO, Govini
Torsten Reil, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Helsing
Why Is Venture Capital So Uneasy with the World’s Largest Customer?
Speakers:
Morgan Beller, General Partner, NFX
Ryan Evans, CEO, Bedrock Learning
Dan Gwak, Managing Partner, Point72 Private Investments
Tess Hatch, Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners
Dave Tremper, Deputy Assistant Secretary Defense, Acquisition Integration and Interoperability, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
The Space Domain Awareness Challenge Pitch-off
Don’t miss the five startups that made finals and will compete in the Space Domain Awareness Challenge Pitch-off! Each team will pitch live on the Space Stage to our panel of judges: Tess Hatch (Bessemer Venture Partners) and Ian McCubbin (JPL). Stick around to see which finalist wins a customer roadshow and expert-led concept feedback.
Learn more about the Space Domain Awareness Challenge Pitch-off finalists:
- Spaceflux
- Vyoma GmbH
- SaraniaSat
- O Analytics
- Cognitive Space
All five startups will be exhibiting in the Space Startup Pavilion in the Expo Hall for all three days of the show, so be sure to go meet them and learn more about their space tech prowess.
Can’t get enough space-related sessions? Head to the second-floor breakout rooms for two more out-of-this-world presentations.
Breakout: The Hardest Problems in Space Presented by The Aerospace Corporation
Speakers: Tanya Pemberton, VP, National Systems Group, The Aerospace Corporation
Al Tadros, Chief Technology Officer, Redwire
Colonel Wallace Turnbull, Deputy Director, Space Systems Integration Office, Space Systems Command
Peter Wegner, Chief Strategy Officer, BlackSky.
Breakout: So, You Want to Work in Space? Presented by The Aerospace Corporation
Speakers:
Tess Hatch, Vice President, Bessemer Venture Partners
Rachel Morford, Principal Director, The Aerospace Corporation
Aine Nakai, Atlas Deputy Director, Space System Command
Will Pomerantz, Executive Consultant, Aerospace, Space Workforce 2030
TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 takes place September 19–21. You have just one week to avoid paying full price. Buy your pass before full-fare pricing kicks in September 15 at 11:59 p.m. PDT — you’ll save up to $400.
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