Blackstone’s Jas Khaira to Detail AI Scaling Strategy at Disrupt 2026
Blackstone’s Jas Khaira will unpack AI financing, durable growth and major infrastructure bets at Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco, October 13 to 15, 2026.
Summary
Jas Khaira will explain how Blackstone distinguishes durable AI companies from startups showing early traction at Disrupt 2026’s Builders Stage. The session will examine financing for compute, data centers, talent and expansion, plus decisions founders face while developing products, hiring and competing. Khaira joined Blackstone in 2004 and leads Blackstone N1, Blackstone Growth and tactical opportunities Americas. He serves on several investment committees and founded Blackstone N1, which makes growth, hybrid and perpetual private equity investments across AI and other high-growth sectors.
Blackstone and co-investors agreed to provide Indian AI infrastructure company Neysa with up to $600 million in primary equity, while Neysa planned another $600 million in debt. In July, Anthropic launched AI implementation company Ode with Anthropic through a $1.5 billion joint venture backed by Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, Goldman Sachs and others. Disrupt runs October 13 to 15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, offering more than 200 sessions across six industry stages, roundtables and breakouts, with over 10,000 attendees, 250-plus speakers and 300-plus exhibiting startups. Matchmaking and networking target investors, customers and partners. Second passes are 50% off, with additional discounts for groups of four or more.
Positives
- Blackstone and co-investors committed up to $600 million in primary equity to Indian AI infrastructure company Neysa.
- Ode with Anthropic launched in July through a $1.5 billion joint venture involving Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman and Goldman Sachs.
- More than 10,000 founders, investors, operators and technology leaders are expected at Disrupt 2026.
- Over 200 sessions, 250-plus speakers and 300-plus exhibiting startups expand access to expertise, customers, partners and capital.
- Second passes receive a 50% discount, while groups of four or more qualify for additional savings.
Risks & concerns
- Neysa planned $600 million in debt financing beyond its prospective $600 million primary equity investment.
- Compute, data centers and other infrastructure substantially increase the capital required to scale AI companies.
- Founders may need major financing before knowing whether early momentum can become an enduring business.
- Raising more money does not necessarily create a stronger company or defensible long-term advantages.
- Rapid growth forces founders to finance expansion while simultaneously developing products, hiring teams and competing for customers.