AI doesn’t just need code. It needs electricity. And that difference is becoming a massive bottleneck.
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2046, the conversation shifts. We are moving past the hype of models and into the grit of infrastructure. The Smart Systems Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt isn’t just about chips; it’s about the wires, the fuel, and the grid holding it all together. Energy, infrastructure, and tech collide here. We are looking at fusion breakthroughs. We are looking at grid strain. We are looking at the economic shockwaves.
This happens October 13–15 in San Francisco. Moscone Center.
Come talk to leaders from Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Helion Inertia, and Bloom Energy. They aren’t selling vaporware. They are digging into the actual mechanics of powering the next decade.
Commercial Fusion and the Road to the Grid
How do you get fusion out of a lab and into a city?
This session breaks down the path for commercial fusion. We have David Kirtley from Helion and Brandon Sorbom from Commonwealth Fusion Systems on stage. They are talking about breakthroughs. They are talking about the hard challenges that still stand in the way.
It’s not theoretical. It’s about scale. How do we push power onto the grid in real numbers? That is the question.
From Twilio to Fusion: The Founder’s Pivot
Jeff Lawson founded Twilio. Now he is leading one of the most heavily funded fusion startups, Inertia.
His approach? Direct. He knows what it takes to scale. He joins us for a fireside chat. He will share how building a massive communication platform shaped his view on talent. On timelines. On the brutal engineering problems ahead.
Startups don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because of bad execution. Lawson knows that better than most.
Rewiring the Grid for an Electric Future
Demand is growing faster than our pipes can carry it. The infrastructure supporting it? Old. Slow.
This panel looks at modernization. Where is the money flowing? How do utilities and new tech providers build a flexible grid that doesn’t collapse under its own weight?
Speakers include:
* Drew Baglino, founder and CEO of Heron Power
* Apoorv Bhargava, co-founder of WeaveGrid
More names to come. But the topic is urgent. The grid cannot handle the old logic.
Who Wins the Race for Data Center Power?
Compute demand is spiking. Data center operators are scrambling. Energy companies are scrambling harder.
If you can’t get power, you can’t run AI. This sector is racing to secure capacity before it becomes the hard wall that stops growth. We have Sara Spangelo from Ambrosia Energy and Bill Thayer from Bloom Energy answering questions.
“AI’s growth is capped not by intelligence, but by electrons.”
Is that the new reality?
Secure Your Spot Before the Window Closes
The pricing window for tickets is shutting. This isn’t a gentle reminder. It’s a deadline. Founders, investors, operators—grab your ticket. Save money. Or pay later. Your choice.
The Smart Systems Stage at TechCrunch Disorient is built for people who need the full picture. Not the headline. Not the summary from an LLM. The details.
Whether you are building the next energy source or just trying to figure out what’s slowing down your deployment, be there.
The grid is changing. Are you?
