Discover how to take your startup from prototype to production at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 features sessions on moving AI prototypes to production. John Mackey, Boris Sofman, and Adrian Macneil share insights.
Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 includes sessions on transitioning AI prototypes to production, with speakers sharing their experiences.
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, three speakers share their experiences moving AI prototypes to real-world products. They help startups understand the challenges and steps needed to make their ideas work outside the lab.
Analysis
John Mackey: Building Manufacturing Capability for Space Communications
John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of MBRYONICS, discusses transforming a photonics spinout into a leader in space-based optical communications. He explains how startups can build manufacturing capability alongside technology development to scale from prototypes to products.
Boris Sofman: Scaling Autonomy in Real-World Environments
Boris Sofman, co-founder of Bedrock Robotics, shares his experience leading autonomous systems from testing to deployment. He highlights the challenges of ensuring consistency and reliability in real-world environments and offers insights for scaling production.
Adrian Macneil: Engineering for Production
Adrian Macneil, co-founder of Foxglove, discusses the importance of engineering systems for complex technologies. His work at Cruise demonstrates how infrastructure and data platforms support autonomous vehicles at scale, and he emphasizes the need for robust engineering systems to move from experimentation to everyday use.
Key points
- John Mackey discusses transforming a photonics spinout into a leader in space-based optical communications.
- Boris Sofman shares his experience leading autonomous systems from testing to deployment.
- Adrian Macneil emphasizes the importance of engineering systems for complex technologies.
By learning from these speakers, startups can better prepare for the challenges of moving from prototypes to production, increasing their chances of success.
If startups do not prepare adequately, they may face significant challenges in scaling their technologies from prototypes to real-world products.



