For AI founders, the biggest competitive threat may no longer be another startup. It may be the platform they’re building on. Every major release from Open AI, Anthropic, or Google raises the same question: What happens if the feature built over the last year suddenly becomes part of the platform?

That’s the challenge at the heart of “What Happens When Open AI Ships Your Roadmap,” a Builders Stage session featuring Michel Tricot of Airbyte, Rob Toews of Radical Ventures, and Linda Tong of Webflow. The event, TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, takes place October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco.

Founders will examine where defensibility still exists as foundation models rapidly evolve. The next generation of AI winners may be defined not by the smartest models, but by proprietary data, embedded workflows, customer relationships, domain expertise, and trust.

Disrupt brings 10,000+ founders, investors, and operators together for 250+ sessions. Passes offer savings of up to $200 before rates increase on September 25.