AI reshapes go-to-market strategies as gtm engineer role emerges

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Kareem Amin, co-founder and CEO of Clay, will discuss the rise of the GTM engineer, a role that has emerged over the past two years. AI and automation are enabling companies to build revenue systems that once required multiple teams and tools. Clay coined the term in 2023, and the company now reports around 100 job listings for GTM engineers each month, with roles at Cursor, Lovable, and Webflow. Clay, founded in 2017, started with a spreadsheet tool that allowed users to automate work without coding. It has since evolved into a platform providing infrastructure for GTM teams, powered by OpenAI’s Claygent. The company tripled its annual recurring revenue to $100 million in 2023 and announced a $5 billion valuation. In September 2026, Clay launched a $1 million scholarship fund to train GTM engineers. Amin highlights the shift from adding more people to building systems that let existing teams operate more efficiently. The Disrupt event, running October 13-15 in San Francisco, features over 200 sessions, including Amin’s talk on AI-native GTM strategies, offering insights into how AI is transforming customer acquisition and growth.