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Zoom CEO and Top VC on Second Act at Disrupt 2025

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence Capital partner Santi Subotovsky will discuss how to scale a technology company after breakout success, offering practical guidance on sustainable scaling in tech, leadership evolution and investor expectations.

Zoom CEO and Top VC on Second Act at Disrupt 2025

How to scale a technology company after breakout success is the core question at the heart of a must see conversation at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence Capital General Partner Santi Subotovsky will appear on the Going Public stage this October to share practical strategies for sustaining momentum after rapid growth.

Introduction

What comes next after a billion dollar breakthrough? How do founders and executives avoid becoming a one hit wonder in technology? These questions will guide a wide ranging discussion between Eric Yuan and Santi Subotovsky, focused on sustainable scaling in tech and real world lessons for founders, leaders and investors.

Background: The challenge of the second act

The tech industry has many examples of companies that shined early but struggled to evolve. This second act problem matters because it shapes whether early success turns into long term value. Zoom offers a clear case study. The video platform grew from about 10 million daily meeting participants in December 2019 to over 300 million by April 2020. As markets reopened and competition rose, Zoom faced the question of how to expand without losing its core customer focus.

Key focus areas: leadership strategy and investor perspective

The Disrupt session will explore several themes that are central to post breakout growth plans and scaling technology startups.

  • Sustainable scaling strategies: Maintaining product quality while expanding into new markets and features. Expect concrete examples and actionable steps founders can apply to scale responsibly.
  • Avoiding the one hit trap: How companies diversify offerings and revenue streams to keep growth durable. For Zoom this meant moving into cloud phone systems, webinars and enterprise communications platforms.
  • Investor expectations: Subotovsky will share what VCs look for when assessing companies beyond their initial breakout. Emergence Capital often focuses on companies with 10 to 100 million in revenue, the exact stage where many businesses must adapt their strategy to scale.
  • Leadership evolution: How leadership styles, team structure and operational systems must change as companies grow. Practical guidance on building teams that can execute at scale will be part of the conversation.

Why this matters beyond Zoom

The session will speak to founders, investors and the broader tech community. Key takeaways on sustainable scaling in tech and leadership evolution can influence how the next generation of companies plan post breakout growth. Companies that successfully scale create jobs, generate tax revenue and sustain innovation, so the stakes are high.

Actionable insights you can use

Based on the topics announced, attendees can expect to hear concrete guidance on:

  • How to prioritize customer value while expanding product scope.
  • Steps to diversify revenue without diluting the brand promise.
  • Metrics and milestones VCs use to judge readiness for the next growth phase.
  • Leadership changes needed to move from startup speed to scaled execution.

Conclusion

The conversation between Eric Yuan and Santi Subotovsky will offer a rare mix of executive experience and investor insight on the question of what comes after a breakout. For anyone building or funding technology companies, the real measure of success is not only achieving rapid growth but sustaining it. This session promises practical, experience based advice on how to do exactly that.

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