Breaking into an industry dominated by established giants is an enduring struggle for many new ventures, particularly within the ever-expanding landscape of artificial intelligence. Addressing precisely this challenge, the upcoming TechCrunch Sessions: AI, scheduled for June 5 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, will present insights from an accomplished lineup of industry veterans—including Cristina Cordova, COO of Linear.
Cordova will join fellow panelists Oliver Cameron, CEO of Odyssey, and Ann Bordetsky, Partner at NEA, on the conference’s main stage for an in-depth discussion of strategies that startups can leverage to compete effectively against entrenched incumbents. With powerful influences such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic also taking part, attendees can expect a comprehensive examination of competitive strategies and effective practices that empower younger entrants seeking to carve out their place in the AI domain.
Cordova herself possesses extensive experience navigating challenging competitive environments. Before occupying her current role at Linear, she spent seven pivotal years as Stripe’s 28th employee, scaling key operations and spearheading the formation and growth of their partnerships team. Following that tenure, she led Platform & Partnerships at the rapidly growing productivity software firm Notion, significantly boosting their market presence, particularly in self-serve segments. Cordova also actively serves as an angel investor and advisor to promising early-stage tech startups, positioning her uniquely to understand and advise founders on how to effectively establish themselves amid formidable industry players.
Participants in this year’s TechCrunch Sessions will not only walk away equipped with valuable strategic insights from global AI leaders, but will also benefit from an opportunity to forge meaningful connections with peers and proven innovators. Practical, actionable knowledge is the hallmark of this gathering, positioned distinctly to offer impactful solutions and real-world scenarios that drive business innovation.
Linear’s Cordova and her fellow speakers are set to unpack the complex reality of competition in the AI industry, revealing ways that less-established players can strategically disrupt markets and seize meaningful opportunities. Such conversations are crucial for startups, entrepreneurs, or anyone invested in the evolving, fast-paced AI marketplace.
The event offers participants timely and compelling programming that directly addresses prevalent industry challenges, emphasizing innovation, disruption, and collaboration. From seasoned executives to ambitious entrepreneurs, attendees will find TechCrunch Sessions: AI an essential event for gaining insights, exchanging ideas, and making critical connections that could shape their venture’s future trajectory.
