Should You Build to Get Acquired? Planning for M&A From Day One

As exits shift and capital tightens, understanding M&A early has become a competitive advantage rather than an afterthought. This TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 session brings together an investor, a startup lawyer, and a founder to explain how to build the possibility of an acquisition into your strategy from the very start. The panel examines why founders who treat M&A as a distant concern may be leaving value on the table, and how early structural and strategic decisions can shape a company's attractiveness to acquirers. Each speaker brings a distinct vantage point — capital, legal structure, and lived founder experience — to the question of whether to build with acquisition in mind. For founders navigating a tougher funding environment, the discussion offers a practical framework for thinking about exits before they become urgent, and for aligning day-one decisions with long-term optionality.