Founders are often told to chase product-market fit before anything else, but what if scaling too soon, too fast, is what’s really holding them back?

At TechCrunch All Stage 2025 on July 15 in Boston, Jon McNeill, CEO and co-founder of DVx Ventures (and former president of Tesla and COO of Lyft), will take the Scale Stage to flip the script on conventional startup growth advice.

His session, “The Operator’s Playbook for Building and Scaling Sustainable Companies,” explores why the next generation of enduring companies will be built differently — by operators who validate both product and go-to-market strategy before lighting the growth fuse.

Scaling smarter, not just faster

With a career that spans founding six companies, scaling Tesla from $2B to $20B in revenue, and helping take Lyft public, McNeill knows the difference between momentum and sustainable growth. At DVx, he and his team have already launched 12 companies with a focus on profitability, impact, and long-term value, not just speed.

In this session, McNeill will share tactical insights from building and backing companies in electrification, transportation, and AI. Attendees can expect hard-won lessons around capital efficiency, operating discipline, and how to break the traditional VC mold by building businesses that last.

If you’re a founder navigating hypergrowth or an investor looking for new models that prioritize long-term impact, this session delivers a grounded, operator-first roadmap.

It’s not just about building big — it’s about building right

On July 15, TechCrunch All Stage takes over Boston’s SoWa Power Station. It’s the founder summit built for scaling, packed with tactical takeaways, real conversations, and connections with investors and builders at every stage. Grab your pass now before prices rise at the door.