Bluesky's open web bet gets its Disrupt test

The future of social media may hinge on whether a protocol, not a platform, can win over users. That's the bet Bluesky is making, and at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, two of its leaders will make the case in person.

A leadership transition at a pivotal moment

Toni Schneider became Bluesky's permanent CEO after leading the company on an interim basis since March. He's joined by COO Rose Wang, who has been with the company since 2021, for a Disrupt Stage session on whether social media can start over and where Bluesky fits into that potential reboot.

The discussion comes as Bluesky, along with many of the scrappy platforms that reemerged or were established in the wake of Twitter's transformation into X, is in a transitional moment. As the incumbents have entrenched themselves, Bluesky and similar platforms remain a test of whether networks built upon open protocols can retain communities and potentially claw market share away from competitors.

Why founders should pay attention

For founders building consumer products, the stakes couldn't be higher. If social media is entering a new era, it creates opportunities for entirely new products, business models, and communities to emerge. The session will explore how Bluesky's approach might open doors for startups that have been squeezed by the dominant platforms.

This discussion — among many others, as well as a wealth of networking opportunities and front-row access to the Startup Battlefield competition — can be seen only in San Francisco from October 13-15 at Moscone West. Organizers note that no matter your role within the startup community, there's a ticket option to match, and advise acting swiftly before prices rise later this month.

The CEO shift and the decade ahead

Bluesky's founding CEO, Jay Graber, recently pivoted toward becoming chief innovation officer, saying Bluesky needed “a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution.” Enter Schneider, who took on full-time CEO duties following a four-month interim period.

“We’re at the very beginning of this story, with a decade of exciting work ahead to build an open web that reflects the full richness of how people connect, communicate, and build livelihoods together,” he wrote in his announcement post. At Disrupt, we’ll see how the first steps toward that decade are progressing.

Rose Wang's user-first perspective

Rose's perspective, informed by having been with Bluesky since late 2021, along with a past role leading customer experience at Forethought AI, is that a focus on users is a part of that rebuild.

She asserted at SXSW London earlier this year that there’s an increasing need for human-to-human connection to return after a deluge of AI-filled feeds. And that shift in user need gives Bluesky an opportunity.

“Facebook and Twitter are huge, and they have tons of users, so for them to turn the shift is really difficult. Also, they’re basically AI companies at this point,”

Rose said.

Disrupt 2026: a gathering of 10,000+

To hear that level of candor in person, and to join the 10,000+ founders, investors, and technologists at Disrupt 2026 on October 13-15, attendees are encouraged to grab a ticket today to ensure the best available price.

The event also features the Startup Battlefield competition, headline speakers, and a range of sessions covering everything founders should know about building and scaling a company in today's environment.

The stakes for the social web's next chapter

The conversation at Disrupt could signal whether open-protocol networks can move beyond niche status and become a real alternative to the dominant platforms. For developers and entrepreneurs, the outcome may determine what kinds of products and communities are viable in the years ahead.

Bluesky's pitch is that a protocol-driven approach can foster a more open web, but whether that resonates with a broader audience remains to be tested. The Disrupt session offers an early look at how the company plans to navigate that challenge.