Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsJas Khaira, Global Head of Blackstone N1, is scheduled to discuss how investors assess AI businesses and how founders can finance growth at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The session is upcoming: the published preview and agenda describe its planned themes, not Khaira’s remarks.
When and where is Jas Khaira speaking?
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is scheduled for October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, according to TechCrunch’s October 2, 2026 event preview.
The agenda lists Khaira’s Builders Stage conversation, “Building the Next Generation of AI Giants,” for 11:10–11:40 AM. It does not specify a timezone. The speaker directory and event agenda identify him as Global Head of Blackstone N1.
What is the conversation expected to cover?
TechCrunch frames the central question as what distinguishes AI companies built to last from those that are simply growing quickly. The preview and agenda say the session is expected to address:
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- What investors look for in category-defining AI businesses.
- How founders should think about financing as their companies scale.
- How to distinguish durable companies from those showing early momentum.
- How compute, data centers and other infrastructure can add to a growing AI company’s capital needs.
The agenda describes AI startups as scaling faster and demanding more capital than previous generations. That is event copy, not a direct statement from Khaira. Because the session has not yet taken place, the cited materials do not establish his views, investment criteria or advice to founders.
Why infrastructure and financing feature in the preview
Building an AI company can involve capital needs beyond developing a product and acquiring customers: compute capacity, data centers and related infrastructure may also require funding. TechCrunch uses two transactions to illustrate different kinds of AI-related capital commitments. The figures below are examples selected by the event preview, not market-wide totals or amounts Khaira is reported to have discussed.
| Example | Context described by TechCrunch | Reported amount |
|---|---|---|
| Neysa | Indian AI infrastructure company; Blackstone and co-investors agreed to invest primary equity. | Up to $600 million in primary equity; Neysa also planned to raise an additional $600 million in debt financing. |
| Ode with Anthropic | AI implementation company backed by a joint venture involving Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, Goldman Sachs and others. | $1.5 billion for the joint venture. |
These descriptions point to different contexts—AI infrastructure financing and a joint venture backing an implementation company. The preview does not provide comparable valuations, investment terms or expected returns, so the amounts alone do not establish which commitment is larger in economic value or more attractive as an investment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the preview does—and does not—tell readers
For founders, the announced agenda makes capital planning a central theme, particularly where scaling requires costly infrastructure. For personal investors, the cited event materials are not a basis for assessing the value of Blackstone, the named companies or AI investments generally. They provide neither Khaira’s completed remarks nor an investment recommendation.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe useful distinction is between what has been announced and what remains unknown: Khaira is scheduled to speak, and the session has stated themes; his conclusions and any specific guidance will not be known from the preview and agenda alone.
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