What if your first ten team members aren’t humans at all? At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, set for October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, we’ll explore the latest trend of startups using AI agents to fill early roles. Imagine automating outbound sales, invoicing, and customer service from the very beginning.
On the Builders Stage, this panel brings together technical founders and experienced leaders who are actively implementing these changes, discussing where the boundary between people and AI should be set—and how much automation is too much.
Introducing the speakers
Caleb Peffer, founder and CEO of Firecrawl, is enabling more than 350,000 developers—and companies like Shopify and Zapier—to connect AI directly to the live web. His developer-focused platform is transforming how AI agents engage with the internet and scale using clean data.
Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of Artisan, made headlines with his “Stop Hiring Humans” initiative—and he means business. His company has secured $35 million to develop AI-powered employees, starting with sales roles. Expect provocative perspectives on swapping traditional go-to-market teams for software.
Sarah Franklin, CEO of Lattice and former president and CMO at Salesforce, brings deep expertise in scaling impactful organizations. She has led high-performing teams at the top level and understands precisely where AI can be a benefit—and where it can be a drawback.
Why you should care about this session
Whether you’re already integrating AI into your workflow or just experimenting with prompts in your product group, this discussion goes beyond the buzz. It’s a candid look at ROI, trust, team culture, and what it means to build a company that accelerates with fewer people involved.
Want to gain a competitive advantage?
Be part of Disrupt this October alongside over 10,000 founders, investors, and trailblazers. Regular Bird discounts of up to $668 end at 11:59 p.m. PT on September 26—secure your ticket today to guarantee your place.