Building Startups with AI Hires First: Human vs Machine on the Builders Stage at Disrupt 2025

What Happens When Your First 10 Hires Aren’t People at All?

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27–29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, a new trend is taking center stage: startups starting with AI agents instead of human employees. Roles like outbound sales, billing, and customer support are being automated from day one, changing how early teams are built.

This panel, held on the Builders Stage, brings together technical founders and experienced operators who are actively using AI agents as their first hires. They discuss where to draw the line between human and machine, and explore how far automation should go.

Meet the Speakers

• Caleb Peffer, founder and CEO of Firecrawl, supports over 350,000 developers and companies like Shopify and Zapier by helping them connect AI directly to the live web. His developer-focused platform is redefining how AI agents interact with online data and scale efficiently.
• Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of Artisan, is known for his “Stop Hiring Humans” campaign. His company has raised $35 million to build AI employees, starting with sales teams. Expect straightforward insights on replacing go-to-market roles with AI code.
• Sarah Franklin, CEO of Lattice and former Salesforce president and CMO, brings real-world experience in scaling companies. She shares practical views on where AI adds value and where it can create challenges within teams.

Why This Session Matters for Operations Professionals

Whether you’re already integrating AI into your workflow or just experimenting with prompts, this discussion goes beyond hype. It focuses on real returns, building trust, managing team dynamics, and running businesses faster with fewer human hands.

If you want to stay competitive and find new efficiencies in your operations, this session is a must-attend. It’s one of many at Disrupt 2025, featuring panels, breakouts, and roundtables across five industry stages.

Tickets are available now, with prices increasing in mid-September. Secure your spot and explore how AI can reshape your team’s approach to growth and execution.

For those interested in learning how to work effectively with AI tools and automation, check out Complete AI Training’s automation courses. They offer practical skills to help you implement AI in real business processes.