Early-stage founders to receive M&A playbook from Coinbase and M13 leaders at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Leaders from Coinbase, M13, and Mignano Law Group are set to convene for a dedicated panel on merger and acquisition strategies at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The session, scheduled for the Builders Stage at Moscone West in San Francisco from 13 to 15 October, targets early-stage founders seeking clarity on exit routes. The discussion aims to provide a practical framework for creating optionality for potential sales and enhancing a startup's appeal to prospective buyers.

The panel will draw upon the extensive corporate development experience of Aklil Ibssa, who leads acquisition strategy at Coinbase. Ibssa has overseen more than 14 acquisitions and nearly 50 investments, contributing to a corporate development program that has completed over 40 deals in the crypto sector. His perspective will focus on how strategic buyers evaluate young companies, covering factors such as technology, talent, licenses, and product velocity.

Rounding out the expert lineup is Lindsey Mignano of Mignano Law Group, who specialises in representing seed through Series B companies. Her practice encompasses the legal and structural nuances of early-stage transactions, including cap tables, contracts, and asset sales. Mignano will ground the conversation in the realities of deal execution, ensuring founders understand the necessary groundwork required to navigate the acquisition process successfully.

Karl Alomar, managing partner at M13, brings operator-level insight from building DigitalOcean to a $15 billion valuation and subsequent IPO. His background includes personal experience with the acquisition of China Export Finance and Clearview Networks. Alomar will address the core strategic dilemma facing founders: determining when to continue building versus when an acquisition path offers the best outcome for the company, team, and investors.

The timing of the panel aligns with a notable surge in M&A activity within the artificial intelligence sector. Recent transactions include OpenAI acquiring Hiro, Anthropic acquiring Vercept, Google taking the team behind Hume AI, and Databricks purchasing two security-focused startups. These developments underscore the growing viability of acquisitions as a strategic component of early-stage growth.

Organisers are promoting the event with a limited-time ticket offer for attendees who register by 11:59 p.m. PT on 8 May. This promotion allows for a 50 per cent discount on a second pass of the same ticket type, encouraging founders to bring colleagues, co-founders, or investors to share the insights. The event promises to equip participants with the knowledge needed to navigate the complex realities of the modern acquisition landscape.