TechCrunch has announced that Astro Teller—renowned for leading Alphabet’s X (formerly Google X), the moonshot factory behind breakthrough innovations like Waymo (self-driving cars) and Project Loon (internet-beaming balloons)—will be a headline speaker at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. The event is set to take place October 27–29 in San Francisco, and Teller’s appearance is expected to draw heavy interest from startups, investors, and tech leaders eager to glean insights from his decades of experience scaling high-risk, high-reward “moonshot” projects.
As the CEO of X, Teller has spent over a decade overseeing a portfolio of ventures focused on solving global challenges through radical technological innovation. Under his leadership, X has shifted from a experimental lab to a pipeline for scalable, real-world solutions—including recent advancements in carbon removal (via Project Heirloom) and AI-driven climate modeling. His track record of turning seemingly unfeasible ideas into viable businesses has made him a leading voice on innovation strategy, risk tolerance, and building cultures that prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains.
At Disrupt 2025, Teller will participate in a fireside chat moderated by TechCrunch’s Senior Editor for Deep Tech, Darrell Etherington. The conversation will dive into topics like how startups can balance ambition with practicality when pursuing “moonshot” goals, the role of AI in accelerating breakthrough innovation, and how to navigate the regulatory and ethical challenges of developing transformative technologies. Teller is also expected to share lessons from X’s failures—including canceled projects like Project Wing’s early drone delivery experiments—and explain how setbacks fuel future success.
“ Astro Teller is one of the tech industry’s most forward-thinking leaders when it comes to reimagining what’s possible,” said TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Matthew Panzarino. “Disrupt is all about celebrating the startups and ideas that push boundaries, so having someone who’s built a career on turning ‘impossible’ into ‘inevitable’ feels like the perfect fit. Whether you’re a founder working on a deep-tech startup or an investor looking for the next big opportunity, his insights will be invaluable.”
Teller’s appearance adds to an already stacked lineup of speakers at Disrupt 2025, which includes other tech luminaries like Box CEO Aaron Levie, Lattice CEO Sarah Franklin, and renowned investor Elad Gil. The event will also feature its signature Startup Battlefield competition, where early-stage startups pitch to a panel of top investors for a chance to win $100,000 and global media exposure.
For attendees, Teller’s session will offer a rare glimpse into the mindset that drives X’s success—including how the company vets potential moonshots (a rigorous process that evaluates technical feasibility, market impact, and ethical alignment) and how it supports teams through the inevitable hurdles of developing unproven technologies. He has previously emphasized the importance of “productive failure” in innovation, arguing that startups and large companies alike need to embrace setbacks as data points rather than roadblocks.
In a brief statement ahead of the event, Teller expressed enthusiasm for connecting with the Disrupt community. “Startups are the lifeblood of technological progress—they move faster, take bolder risks, and see gaps in the world that larger organizations often miss,” he said. “I’m excited to share what we’ve learned at X, but more importantly, to listen to the founders and builders who are shaping the future. Disrupt has always been a place where great ideas collide, and I can’t wait to be part of that.”
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 tickets—including general admission, VIP, and startup exhibition passes—are still available, though organizers note that early-bird pricing will end on September 15. Attendees can also register for exclusive workshops and networking sessions, including a pre-event deep dive on “Moonshot Leadership” hosted by Teller’s team at X.
With Teller’s addition, Disrupt 2025 solidifies its position as a must-attend event for anyone invested in the future of tech—whether they’re building the next breakthrough startup or simply eager to learn from those who have already done it.