TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Blackstone’s Jas Khaira on building the next generation of AI giants
Blackstone executive Jas Khaira is set to discuss the challenges of scaling AI companies at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The session will focus on the massive capital requirements for AI infrastructure and how investors distinguish between companies with long-term potential and those with short-term hype.
Why it matters
As AI development becomes increasingly capital-intensive, understanding the investment criteria of major asset managers is crucial for the future of the tech industry.
AI startups can grow at a speed that would have been difficult to imagine a generation ago. But rapid growth comes with another reality: scaling AI can require enormous amounts of capital, and founders have to make financing decisions long before they know whether early momentum will turn into an enduring business.
So what separates the AI companies built to last from those simply growing fast?
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 , Jas Khaira, global head of Blackstone N1, will take the Builders Stage for “Building the Next Generation of AI Giants.” He’ll share what Blackstone looks for when backing category-defining companies, how founders should think about capital as they scale, and what distinguishes lasting businesses from early traction.
The right capital can fund the infrastructure, talent, and expansion needed to compete. But raising more money isn’t the same thing as building a stronger company.
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