From October 13-15, industry leaders from Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Helion, Inertia, Bloom Energy, and other pioneering firms will convene at San Francisco’s Moscone Center to explore the critical elements required to fuel the next decade of innovation. Discussions will encompass a wide spectrum of topics, including the trajectory of commercial fusion, the imperative for utilities and startups to modernize aging grid infrastructure, and the urgent efforts by data center operators to secure the escalating electricity demands driven by AI's expansion.
Attendees are encouraged to capitalize on the current pricing window, which is nearing its close, offering a final opportunity for founders, investors, and other participants to secure discounted tickets. A detailed look at the Smart Systems Stage agenda, featuring prominent speakers, is outlined below:
Executives from Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Helion will dissect the pivotal breakthroughs propelling commercial fusion, address the remaining hurdles, and outline the strategic path to integrate fusion power into the grid at a substantial scale.
Featuring insights from David Kirtley, CEO of Helion, and Brandon Sorbom, Chief Science Officer of Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
Jeff Lawson, CEO of Inertia, will participate in an engaging fireside chat, sharing his journey from founding Twilio to spearheading one of the globe's most well-capitalized fusion power startups. He will also discuss how his experience scaling Twilio influences his strategies for talent acquisition, project timelines, and addressing complex engineering challenges.
With Jeff Lawson, CEO, Inertia.
As electricity demand outpaces existing infrastructure capabilities, a dedicated panel will delve into the requirements for modernizing the power system. This session will highlight current investment trends and showcase how utilities, startups, and technology providers are collaboratively constructing a more resilient and flexible electrical grid.
Panelists include Drew Baglino, Founder & CEO of Heron Power; Apoorv Bhargava, CEO and Co-founder of WeaveGrid; with additional speakers to be announced.
With computing demands escalating dramatically, data center operators and energy companies are engaged in a critical race to secure adequate power and expand infrastructure. This proactive approach aims to prevent energy supply from becoming a bottleneck that could impede the next phase of AI innovation. Leaders from both sectors will share their strategies for addressing this challenge.
Featuring Sara Spangelo, President & Co-Founder of Ambrosia Energy; Bill Thayer, SVP, Head of Datacenter Solutions at Bloom Energy; and further speakers to be revealed.
The Smart Systems Stage is meticulously designed for founders and operators who seek a comprehensive understanding, beyond superficial headlines or LLM summaries, whether they are developing the next energy breakthrough, reimagining grid infrastructure, or investigating the genuine constraints on AI's growth.
Furthermore, attending Disrupt 2026 provides complete access to all other stages, extensive networking opportunities, every side event, and the entirety of our comprehensive speaker lineup. This three-day immersive experience, situated at the core of the startup community, promises to be unforgettable. Register today to secure your participation.
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