TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Startup Battlefield Final Round Judges Announced

The Culmination of Innovation: Startup Battlefield 2025

The competition reaches its peak. The 200 finalists of the Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will deliver their final pitches, vying for the grand prize of $100,000, awarded with no equity taken.

A distinguished panel of leading investors will determine the victor. These final round judges represent the pinnacle of the venture capital world, and their decision will crown the Startup Battlefield champion.

Witness the Intensity Live

Don't miss a single moment of this high-stakes startup pitch competition, unfolding live on the Disrupt Stage. It promises to be one of the most compelling events of the year.

Secure your attendance now and benefit from significant savings. Register today to save up to $444 on your pass, and take advantage of a 60% discount on a second pass for a colleague.

Note that ticket prices will increase once registration opens on October 27th.

Introducing the Panel of Judges for Startup Battlefield 200 Finalists

Further details regarding the Disrupt agenda and the complete list of 20 Startup Battlefield judges can be found online.

Kirsten Green, Founding Partner, Forerunner

Kirsten Green serves as the founder and managing partner at Forerunner, a venture capital firm focused on consumer-driven businesses and supporting ambitious entrepreneurs.

Launched in 2012, Forerunner, under Green’s leadership, has successfully raised close to $3 billion in assets under management. Her investment strategy, built upon 25 years of experience, combines product understanding, consumer insights, and a thesis-driven methodology.

Green’s investment portfolio includes prominent companies such as Faire, Hims & Hers, Chime, Ritual, Daydream, Decagon, Warby Parker, Wonder, and Balance. She holds board positions at several of these enterprises.

Furthermore, Ms. Green is a member of the National Venture Capital Association’s board and has consistently appeared on both the Forbes Midas List and Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women for the last nine years.

Image Credits:TechCrunch

Kevin Hartz, General Partner, A*

Kevin Hartz is a co-founding general partner at A*, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments.

He previously co-founded Eventbrite, a publicly traded company, and held the position of CEO for its first eleven years. Before Eventbrite, Hartz co-founded Xoom, a money remittance service that was acquired by PayPal in 2015 for a sum exceeding $1 billion.

Hartz is an active technology investor with seed-stage investments in companies like PayPal, Airbnb, Pinterest, Ramp, Trulia, and Anduril. He also made early investments in Uber, Palantir, SpaceX, Square, Gusto, Decagon, and Ramp, among others.

Image Credits:TechCrunch

Aileen Lee, Founder and Managing Partner, Cowboy Ventures

Aileen Lee is the founder of Cowboy Ventures, a venture firm concentrating on seed-stage investments in both enterprise and consumer software companies.

Cowboy Ventures’ portfolio includes companies such as Dollar Shave Club, Drata Security, Guild, and Ironclad Software. Prior to establishing Cowboy Ventures, Lee served as a partner at Kleiner Perkins for over a decade.

Lee also held the role of founding CEO at RMG Networks, an early digital media firm, and previously worked in operating positions at Gap Inc. She is credited with popularizing the term “unicorn” within the venture capital landscape.

Additionally, she co-founded All Raise, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the success of women in the technology sector. She has been recognized by Forbes, Fortune, and Time Magazine for her contributions.

Image Credits:Steve Jennings (opens in a new window) / Getty Images

Kevin Rose, Partner, True Ventures and Founding CEO, Digg

Kevin Rose currently functions as a partner at True Ventures and holds the position of board chair, investor, and advisor at the relaunched social platform, Digg.

Rose’s entrepreneurial journey encompasses several startups, including the original Digg, Revision3, Zero, Oak, and PROOF. He has also served as CEO of Hodinkee and as a general partner at Google Ventures, where he invested in companies like Uber, Slack, and Nextdoor.

Recognized as a leading angel investor by Bloomberg, Rose’s portfolio includes Twitter, Facebook, Solana, OpenAI, and Magic Spoon. He also hosts “The Kevin Rose Show” and co-hosts “The Random Show” with Tim Ferriss.

His achievements in technology and media have been acknowledged by Forbes, Time, and MIT. Rose is a patent holder for multiple social media innovations and maintains a consistent Zen meditation practice.

Image Credits:Steve Jennings for TechCrunch / Getty Images

Startup Battlefield 200 Launches Ahead of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

For those considering attending TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, the opportunity to secure passes at current pricing is nearing its end. Prices will increase as the event commences on October 27th.

Significant savings of up to $444 are available on individual tickets. Furthermore, a 60% discount is offered on a second pass, enabling a shared experience of the renowned startup pitch competition.

Don't Miss the "World Series" of Startups

Startup Battlefield 200 kicks off in just four days, leading into TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. The event will be held live at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27th to October 29th.

This year’s competition promises to showcase innovative ventures and provide attendees with unparalleled insights into the startup ecosystem. Immediate registration is encouraged to take advantage of the current pricing structure.