Power up your AI infrastructure! A first look at the Smart Systems Stage agenda at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

AI doesn’t run on code alone — it requires massive amounts of power, and that demand is increasingly becoming a critical bottleneck. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the Smart Systems Stage will be where energy, infrastructure, and technology collide, covering everything from fusion breakthroughs to the grid strain AI is putting on the entire economy. From October 13-15 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center, join leaders from Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Helion, Inertia, Bloom Energy, and more as they dig into what it actually takes to power the next decade of innovation. We’re tackling everything from commercial fusion’s path, to the grid and why utilities and startups are racing to modernize aging infrastructure, to how data center operators are scrambling to secure the electricity that AI’s growth depends on. We’re also closing in on the end of our current pricing window, so this is your chance to save on all of our tickets for founders, investors, and more — grab your ticket here before our current discounts are gone! As for the agenda at hand, let’s explore the Smart Systems Stage lineup so far: Bringing Fusion to the Grid Leaders from Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Helion break down the breakthroughs driving commercial fusion forward, the challenges still ahead, and what it will take to get fusion power onto the grid at scale. With David Kirtley, CEO, Helion, and Brandon Sorbom, Chief Science Officer, Commonwealth Fusion Systems How Twilio’s Founder Is Tackling the Power Problem Inertia CEO Jeff Lawson joins for a candid fireside chat on his path from founding Twilio to leading one of the best-funded fusion power startups in the world — and how scaling Twilio is shaping his approach to talent, timelines, and the hard engineering questions ahead. With Jeff Lawson, CEO, Inertia  var playerInstance_jwplayer_6a683b6f1727d = jwplayer( "jwplayer_6a683b6f1727d" ); playerInstance_jwplayer_6a683b6f1727d.setup({ playlist: "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/nsQAyeWN", }); Rewiring the Grid for the Electric Age Electricity demand is growing faster than the infrastructure built to support it. This panel explores what it takes to modernize the power system, where investment is flowing, and how utilities, startups, and technology providers are building a more resilient, flexible grid. With Drew Baglino, Founder & CEO, Heron Power; Apoorv Bhargava, CEO and Co-founder, WeaveGrid; and more speakers to be announced AI’s Power Problem As compute demand skyrockets, data center operators and energy companies are racing to secure power and expand infrastructure before it becomes the bottleneck that slows AI’s next wave. Hear how leaders across both industries are tackling it. With Sara Spangelo, President & Co-Founder, Ambrosia Energy; Bill Thayer, SVP, Head of Datacenter Solutions, Bloom Energy; and more speakers to be announced Whether you’re building the next energy breakthrough, rethinking grid infrastructure, or just trying to understand what’s really constraining AI’s growth, the Smart Systems Stage is built for founders and operators who need the full picture — not just a headline and an LLM summary. Plus, joining us at Disrupt 2026 means you can get access to every other stage, all of the networking, every side event, and the rest of our full speaker lineup. It’s a three-day deep dive in the heart of the startup community you’ll never forget, so register today!