TechCrunch has revealed a highly anticipated session for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: a joint conversation between Jason Citron—founder and CEO of Discord, the community platform with over 200 million monthly active users—and Tade Oyerinde—founder of CampusWire, the education-focused community tool used by 5 million students and professors globally. The pair will dive into the art of building lasting communities and scalable companies, a topic that resonates deeply with startups, creators, and industry leaders alike. The exclusive session will take place during the three-day event, running October 27–29 in San Francisco.

Both Citron and Oyerinde have built businesses centered on fostering meaningful connection—yet their approaches reflect distinct niches, making their dialogue a unique opportunity to explore community-building across industries. Citron’s Discord began as a platform for gamers in 2015 but has evolved into a hub for every community imaginable, from book clubs and tech meetups to professional networks and hobbyist groups. Its success lies in features like customizable servers, voice chat, and moderation tools that balance freedom with safety—elements that have helped it retain users even as social media giants like Meta and X launch competing products.

Oyerinde’s CampusWire, meanwhile, targets a more specific audience: the education sector. Founded in 2019, the platform replaces outdated tools like email threads and generic forums with a community-driven space where students can ask questions, share notes, and collaborate on projects—all while professors maintain oversight. What sets it apart is its focus on “intentional community”: unlike broader social platforms, CampusWire is designed to solve a clear pain point (disconnected learning environments) and has grown primarily through word-of-mouth among universities, including Stanford, MIT, and the University of Lagos.

At Disrupt 2025, the two founders will be joined in conversation by TechCrunch’s Senior Writer for Social Tech, Sarah Perez. The discussion will cover actionable insights for building communities that stand the test of time, including:

• Balancing growth and intimacy: How to scale a community without losing the “small-group feel” that keeps users engaged. Citron will share lessons from Discord’s 2023 “Server Essentials” update, which gave small community leaders tools to manage growth, while Oyerinde will talk about CampusWire’s “micro-community” feature for individual classes.
• Monetization without alienation: Strategies for turning community into a sustainable business without compromising user trust. Discord has succeeded with subscription tiers (Nitro) and server boosts, while CampusWire uses a freemium model for individual users and enterprise licenses for universities—both avoiding the ad-driven approach that has alienated users on other platforms.
• Navigating crises and conflict: How to handle moderation challenges, user backlash, and external pressures. Citron will reflect on Discord’s 2024 response to misinformation on political servers, while Oyerinde will discuss addressing academic integrity concerns (e.g., preventing cheating) on CampusWire.
• Building for longevity: Why focusing on “problem-solving” over “trends” leads to enduring companies. Both founders will share how they avoided chasing short-term fads (like the 2023 “metaverse rush” for Discord, or the 2024 “AI chatbot hype” for CampusWire) in favor of deepening their core value proposition.

“Jason and Tade are rare leaders who’ve built communities and companies that last—no small feat in a world where apps rise and fall overnight,” said TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Matthew Panzarino. “Their conversation won’t just be about social tech—it’ll be about the fundamentals of building something people care about, which applies to every startup, regardless of industry. This is a session no founder should miss.”

In a preview of the discussion, Citron emphasized the importance of prioritizing community needs over growth metrics. “Too many companies build communities to serve their business—we built Discord to serve the community first,” he said. “When users feel like the platform is theirs, they’ll stick around for years.” Oyerinde echoed that sentiment, adding, “In education, trust is everything. CampusWire works because we don’t treat students like users—we treat them like partners in solving a problem they care about.”

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 tickets—including general admission, VIP passes, and exhibition slots—are still available, though early-bird pricing will end on September 15. Attendees can also register for a pre-event workshop titled “Community-Building 101,” led by members of Discord’s and CampusWire’s community teams, which will offer hands-on tips for launching and managing user groups.

With this session, Disrupt 2025 continues to solidify its role as a hub for actionable, real-world insights. For founders, creators, and anyone looking to build something that lasts, the conversation between Citron and Oyerinde promises to be a highlight—offering a masterclass in turning connection into a sustainable, impactful business.