Ryan Petersen, who built Flexport into a $2.3 billion logistics powerhouse before returning as CEO after a brief hiatus, will headline the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. The three-day conference runs October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, marking TechCrunch's 20th anniversary with insights from founders navigating volatile markets.
Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen just landed one of the most coveted speaking slots in tech. The logistics veteran will take the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, delivering what promises to be a masterclass in building resilient companies during turbulent times.
The announcement comes as TechCrunch prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary with the flagship conference running October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Petersen's session focuses on one of the most pressing questions facing today's founders: how to keep building when market rules won't stop shifting.
Petersen's credentials for tackling this topic are unmatched. Since launching Flexport in 2013, he's helped over 10,000 companies move more than $175 billion worth of goods worldwide, raising $2.3 billion in the process. The supply chain management platform has redefined how global commerce operates in an increasingly volatile, tech-driven era.
[Image placeholder: Ryan Petersen speaking at previous TechCrunch event]
But Petersen's most compelling insights may come from his recent leadership journey. After stepping down as CEO in 2022, he returned less than a year later to steady the ship and chart Flexport's next growth phase. That experience of watching from the sidelines, then jumping back into the captain's chair, offers rare perspective on leadership transitions and strategic pivots.
The timing couldn't be more relevant. Supply chains faced unprecedented disruption during the pandemic, followed by geopolitical tensions affecting global trade routes. Flexport navigated through port backlogs, shipping container shortages, and rapidly changing international regulations. Petersen emerged as a sharp voice on tariffs, trade policy, and AI's role in global commerce.
"This won't be theory — it's a masterclass in resilience and clarity under pressure," according to TechCrunch's event description. Petersen plans to share tactical insights on leading through volatility, resetting strategy midstream, and balancing long-term vision with short-term market realities.
The Builders Stage represents TechCrunch Disrupt's most intimate speaker format, designed for in-depth conversations with founders who've scaled companies through multiple growth phases. Previous speakers have included executives from , , and , making Petersen's inclusion a testament to Flexport's impact on the startup ecosystem.
