AI requires massive power, and that demand is already a critical bottleneck. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the Smart Systems Stage focuses on the collision between energy, infrastructure, and technology, covering everything from fusion breakthroughs to the grid strain AI is putting on the entire economy.
The event runs from October 13-15 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Leaders from Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Helion, Inertia, and Bloom Energy will discuss what is required to power the next decade of innovation. Topics include the path to commercial fusion, why utilities and startups are racing to modernize aging infrastructure, and how data center operators are securing the electricity needed for AI growth.
Tickets for founders and investors are on sale now. Current discounts end soon, so registration is required here.
Smart Systems Stage agenda
Bringing Fusion to the Grid
Leaders from Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Helion will explain the breakthroughs driving commercial fusion forward, the challenges ahead, and the requirements for getting fusion power onto the grid at scale.
Speakers: David Kirtley, CEO, Helion; Brandon Sorbom, Chief Science Officer, Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
How Twilio’s Founder Is Tackling the Power Problem
Inertia CEO Jeff Lawson joins for a fireside chat on his path from founding Twilio to leading one of the best-funded fusion power startups in the world. The discussion covers how scaling Twilio is shaping his approach to talent, timelines, and the hard engineering questions ahead.
Speaker: Jeff Lawson, CEO, Inertia.
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.
Speakers: 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. Leaders across both industries will explain how they are tackling it.
Speakers: Sara Spangelo, President & Co-Founder, Ambrosia Energy; Bill Thayer, SVP, Head of Datacenter Solutions, Bloom Energy; and more speakers to be announced.
What it means
Building the next energy breakthrough or rethinking grid infrastructure requires a full picture of the constraints, not just headlines. The Smart Systems Stage is built for founders and operators who need that detail. Registration grants access to every other stage, all networking, side events, and the full speaker lineup.
