One of the biggest startup cliches is that every other startup wants to become a platform for other startups to build on. But to Christopher Poole, the founder of Canvas and 4Chan, that is the wrong approach. “People get caught up in trends—game mechanics, building a platform,” he tells Chris Dixon in the Founder Stories video above. Instead of trying to copy what works for others, founders should “focus on building what you love, focus on the product and building the community.”
He doesn’t understand “this obsession with building platforms. Focus on building something worth scaling. You don’t even have something worthy of an API yet. Focus on users and have them fall in love with your thing.” Amen.
Poole (aka Moot) also talks about his “boring” Internet habits and how he went to California to recruit the team to build Canvas, his current startup, and brought them back to New York City. In the video below, he talks about how he’s helping to “keep kids off the street” and into startups with HackNY, which is doing a student-only Hackathon this weekend (sign up here), and his work as an adviser to Lerer Ventures.
Erick has been discovering and working with startups his entire professional career as a technology journalist, startup event producer, and founder. Erick is President & Founding Partner at Traction Technology Partners. He is also a co-founder of TouchCast, the leading interactive video platform, and a partner at bMuse, a startup studio in New York City. He is the former Executive Producer of the DEMO conferences and former Editor-in-Chief of TechCrunch (where he helped conceive, lead and select startups for the Disrupt conferences, among other duties). Prior to TechCrunch, which he joined as Co-Editor in 2007, Erick was Editor-at-Large for Business 2.0 magazine, and a senior writer at Fortune magazine covering technology.
At TechCrunch, he oversaw the editorial content of the site, helped to program the Disrupt conferences and CrunchUps, produced TCTV shows, and wrote daily for the blog. He joined TechCrunch as Co-Editor in 2007, and helped take it from a popular blog to a thriving media property. After founder Michael Arrington left in 2011, Schonfeld became Editor in Chief.
Prior to TechCrunch, he was Editor-at-Large for Business 2.0 magazine, where he wrote feature stories and ran their main blog, The Next Net. He also launched the online video series “The Disruptors” with CNN/Money and hosted regular panels and conferences of industry luminaries. Schonfeld started his career at Fortune magazine in 1993, where he was recognized with numerous journalism awards.
Meet investors. Discover your next portfolio company. Hear from 250+ tech leaders, dive into 200+ sessions, and explore 300+ startups building what’s next. Don’t miss these one-time savings.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately.
Offer ends March 13.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
We are officially down to the final 5 days to save up to $680 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 ticket. These lowest rates of the year disappear on February 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Each year, Disrupt brings together 10,000+ founders, tech leaders, and VCs at San Francisco’s Moscone West. From October 13–15, you’ll gain valuable takeaways and curated networking opportunities designed to elevate your startup trajectory, accelerate your career, or strengthen your portfolio.
Key insights from today’s tech heavyweights
Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images
Last year, Disrupt featured 200+ onstage conversations with 250+ top voices shaping the tech ecosystem. Expect the same level of powerful, candid conversations this year. Highlights from 2025 include the following:
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana made it clear onstage that the company will not stand for vandalism against its robotaxis.
Keep an eye on the event page as we roll out the 2026 agenda.
Create meaningful connections through curated networking
Last year, more than 20,000 curated meetings took place across three days. This year, we’re rolling out improved networking technology to make those connections even more targeted and efficient.
Image Credits:TechCrunch
Meet the one person who can change the trajectory of your startup. It only takes one. You get:
Techcrunch event
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately.
Offer ends March 13.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Direct access to founders, VCs, and operators actively building.
Conversations that turn into funding, partnerships, and key hires.
Tactical insights you can apply immediately.
Early visibility into where tech is heading next.
Witness the intense startup pitch showdown
Startup Battlefield is where 200 TechCrunch-selected, pre-Series A startups compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding, global visibility, and direct access to the industry’s top investors.
This iconic pitch competition has helped launch breakout companies like Discord, Cloudflare, and Trello.
Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images
First-row seat to innovative breakthroughs
Over 300 startup exhibitors will showcase innovations across the venue, especially in the Expo Hall, where foot traffic converges. Discover tomorrow’s breakthroughs and today’s solutions — all in one place.
More ways to connect with the Bay Area tech scene
Throughout Disrupt Week, October 11–17, TechCrunch Disrupt Side Events will take place across the Bay Area beyond the main venue. Attend a post-event cocktail hour, grab breakfast before the day begins, or even host your own off-site panel. The opportunities to make powerful connections around Disrupt are endless.
Image Credits:Slava Blazer Photography
Last 5 days to secure the lowest rates
Five days remain to lock in the lowest rate of the year. Prices increase after February 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register now and secure your savings of up to $680 before they’re gone. Save up to 30% on group passes.
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