TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs October 13-15 in San Francisco, but its surrounding week of side events extends from October 10 through October 16. These gatherings bring together founders, investors, and technologists from diverse regions for informal meetings, demos, and cultural exchanges.

Poland’s innovation sector engages Silicon Valley through a waterfront evening aboard the Historic Klamath, organized by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and Upper Silesian Fund. The event features a discussion followed by networking among Polish founders and investors.

Pakistan’s Software Export Board hosts a series of receptions highlighting cross-border collaboration. One such event, Pak-US Tech Connect, runs through October 16 and connects Pakistani tech firms with U.S. partners, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders to discuss market entry, outsourcing, and joint ventures.

AI Barmen hosts a robotic cocktail experience on October 11, offering personalized drinks through an interactive bar setup. Meanwhile, EPIC Connector facilitates a demo night where early-stage startups present their products to venture investors, followed by an open networking session.

On October 12, onSpark runs The Partnership Exchange, a live matchmaking session where founders identify potential partners and are paired with others in attendance. The session includes a curated list of growth opportunities and is part of a broader Disrupt Week spotlight series.

A range of industry-specific mixers take place midweek. NMI hosts a discussion on embedded payments for SaaS leaders, while Ontology of Value explores robotics and agentic AI through startup pitches and demonstrations. Syntro organizes a hardware-focused happy hour for engineers and founders working in robotics, chips, and aerospace.

Security and AI ethics are addressed in events hosted by Trotta and SLI.pro. The former covers social engineering and deepfake risks, while the latter examines challenges in identifying authentic talent amid AI-generated résumés and profiles.

Cultural and regional groups also host receptions. The Irish Shark Tank, organized by Enterprise Ireland, offers a networking hour for Irish startups. The South Asian Investor Founder Connect, led by the American South Asian Network, facilitates introductions between founders and investors from that community.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs hosts a session on real-world AI applications, highlighting robotics and intelligent hardware developed on the island. Similarly, KOTRA Silicon Valley organizes a Korea-U.S. networking night to support Korean startups entering the American market.

On October 14, TradeIL hosts an invitation-only Israeli tech gathering, while Fynex and Orion VC co-host a rooftop event focused on AI infrastructure. Worldmodels, hosted by NLINK INC, showcases 4D spatial intelligence and physical AI demos in a public session.

The week concludes with events on October 15 and 16. NachoThursday, hosted by NachoNacho, offers a screened rooftop happy hour for SaaS and AI founders and investors. The RUNWAY, organized by Handler, begins with a waterfront run followed by coffee and founder networking at the Ferry Building.

Funded Founders @ Alchemy Springs, hosted by Press Club, combines wellness experiences with startup discussions. Startup Oasis hosts a session where attendees evaluate pitch presentations and explore cofounder opportunities.

Event details, including times and RSVP requirements, are subject to change. Registration links are available through each host organization’s official channels.