Hello everyone! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of self-driving cars and what it really takes to bring them to our streets.

While headlines often highlight crashes or exaggerated promises, Tekedra Mawakana from Waymo has spent years navigating the actual journey towards autonomous mobility. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27-29 in San Francisco, she’ll unpack what’s needed to scale autonomous vehicle deployment, from ensuring rider safety to the tricky landscape of regulations and market competition.

This isn’t about quick timelines or flashy demos. It’s a straightforward look at what’s working, what still needs fixing, and how to achieve truly autonomous driving at a large scale. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or just curious about tech’s future, this talk is a must-watch.

Tekedra Mawakana, with over 20 years of experience with top tech firms, now leads Waymo with a mission to make autonomous driving a reality. She also advises other companies and supports social ventures, shaping the future of mobility.

If you want a peek into the challenges and progress of self-driving tech, be sure to attend Disrupt 2025. Join thousands of startup and VC leaders in San Francisco to explore what’s next for tech and transportation.