TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 arrives at San Francisco’s Moscone West from October 27–29, expecting to draw more than 10,000 venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and tech industry leaders to discuss and explore the future directions in tech innovation.
On October 27, David George, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), will take the stage for a special fireside chat titled “Going Public,” dedicated to one of the critical yet commonly misunderstood milestones in a company’s journey—the decision to launch an initial public offering.
David George spearheads the growth investing team at a16z, where he has backed some of tech’s most significant late-stage opportunities. His investment insights contributed to the success and trajectory of industry-defining companies such as Airbnb, Slack, Uber, Opendoor, and AppDynamics, marking him as a pivotal figure behind the tech IPO boom of the past decade.
Prior to joining Andreessen Horowitz, George gained extensive experience focused on consumer internet and enterprise software investments during seven years at General Atlantic. Coupled with his early-career stints in investment banking and private equity, George now sits at the heart of scaling technology startups, offering seasoned perspectives on the challenges businesses face as they grow and mature towards public markets.
During his session at TechCrunch Disrupt, George intends to unravel what the current generation of future IPO contenders must understand—covering factors such as the evolving timing of public market debuts, the growing role and influence of secondary markets, and the increasingly sophisticated expectations investors hold for startup founders long before companies approach the IPO stage. His talk highlights the necessity of strategic foresight, meticulous planning, and disciplined execution in navigating markets where outcomes, though potentially rewarding, carry few guarantees.
Disrupt 2025 attendees will gain practical strategies and critical insights from George’s extensive experience, enabling founders and executives to prepare effectively and confidently for their companies’ futures in public markets.
