TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Offers $75 Expo+ Pass to Laid-Off Tech Workers

With tech layoffs still reshaping the job market, TechCrunch is pitching its Disrupt 2026 conference as a place to find the next opportunity. The company is offering an Expo+ Pass for $75 to people affected by layoffs, and the discount is limited to the first 100 qualifying people.

The framing is simple: a career change can start with a single conversation. Disrupt typically brings together founders, investors, and operators in one place, and the Expo+ tier is aimed at attendees who want access to the show floor and the networking that goes with it, rather than the full conference program.

For anyone recently out of work, the appeal is mostly about proximity. Startups exhibiting at an event like this are often hiring, and investors and executives who might otherwise be hard to reach are walking the same aisles. A low-cost pass lowers the barrier to showing up and introducing yourself.

There are caveats worth keeping in mind. The offer is capped at 100 people, so it will not stretch far, and applicants have to qualify as affected by layoffs. TechCrunch has not been specific in the promotional copy about how that qualification is verified, so interested people should check the terms on the event page before counting on the price.

A $75 ticket also does not cover travel, lodging, or time away from a job search, which can add up quickly. Still, for those who have been laid off and are weighing whether in-person networking is worth the effort, a heavily reduced entry price makes the decision easier. As with most conference promotions, the practical advice is to move early, since limited-quantity offers like this tend to run out before the event itself.