TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Startup Battlefield Judges Announced

The Quest for Innovation: Startup Battlefield 2025

Numerous companies, ranging from Dropbox to Cloudflare, have fundamentally altered their respective industries as graduates of the Startup Battlefield. The question remains: which startup will secure the $100,000 prize and gain prominent recognition this year?

A Premier Competition

Startup Battlefield 200 represents the pinnacle of TechCrunch Disrupt, and the upcoming competition is anticipated to be exceptionally memorable. From a vast pool of applicants, just 20 finalists will present their concepts on stage at Disrupt 2025 (October 27-29, San Francisco).

These selected startups will pitch to panels comprised of leading venture capitalists, all while being observed by a live audience. Each participant is striving for transformative influence, and we are prepared to witness the excitement, the advancements, and the significant announcements.

Expert Evaluation

We are pleased to reveal the initial group of judges who will rigorously evaluate these startups through challenging and direct questioning. Their honest assessments provide a unique perspective on how top-level investors evaluate a company.

This includes understanding what aspects generate enthusiasm, what raises concerns, and what motivates further engagement. The judges’ insights are invaluable.

A History of Success

Past Startup Battlefield winners, such as Dropbox, Mint, Vurb, and Cloudflare, have achieved significant visibility. With a $100,000 equity-free award at stake, the next industry leader could emerge on the Disrupt Stage this October.

Don't Miss Out

This high-stakes startup pitch competition will be held on a global platform. Observe emerging founders and gain insights into the elements of a compelling pitch. Hear directly from the investors who are evaluating the participants.

Register today to take advantage of Regular Bird pricing and secure your place at this pivotal event.

• Event: Startup Battlefield 2025
• Dates: October 27-29
• Location: San Francisco
• Prize: $100,000 (equity-free)

Introducing the Venture Capitalists for Startup Battlefield 2025

The initial lineup of venture capitalists who will be evaluating contenders for the Startup Battlefield 2025 championship has been announced, with additional prominent investors to be revealed shortly.

Philip Clark, Thrive Capital Investor

Philip Clark currently serves as an investor with Thrive Capital. His work involves collaborating with innovative companies in the software and hardware sectors, particularly those focused on advancements in AI and robotics. He has previously worked with Bridgewater and holds degrees in Computer Science and Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Philip also provides advisory services to the Hoover Institution concerning emerging technologies.

Madison Faulkner, Partner at NEA

As a partner at NEA, Madison Faulkner concentrates on early-stage investments within the data, infrastructure, developer tools, data science, and AI landscapes. She also spearheads internal initiatives to enhance investment decisions through data and AI platforms. Her portfolio includes companies like World Labs, Factory, and Datafold. Before her venture capital career, Madison held leadership roles in data science at Thrasio, Greycroft, and Facebook, where she contributed to deep learning research with FAIR. She is a Stanford University Engineering graduate and has a background in rodeo competition.

Leslie Feinzaig, Founder & General Partner, Graham & Walker VC

Leslie Feinzaig is the founder and general partner of Graham & Walker, a venture fund dedicated to supporting exceptional founders and groundbreaking ideas. The fund’s core mission is to reshape public markets by investing in a new generation of leaders and CEOs. Prior to establishing the fund, Ms. Feinzaig held executive positions at two startups that achieved significant exits. Her early career was shaped by her mentorship under HBS Professor Clayton Christensen, renowned for his work on disruptive innovation.

Ilya Kirnos, Founding Partner & CTO, SignalFire

Ilya Kirnos is a co-founder, managing partner, and the Chief Technology Officer of SignalFire, an early-stage venture firm managing approximately $3 billion in assets. He is responsible for the development of SignalFire’s proprietary Beacon AI data platform, a project spanning a decade and involving a team of AI PhDs, engineers, and data scientists. Beacon analyzes data from over 660 million employees and 80 million companies to identify promising founders and rapidly growing businesses. Ilya focuses his investments on seed to Series B companies in enterprise infrastructure and developer tools, and provides support to portfolio companies like Horizon3 and PlanetScale.

Doug Pepper, Partner, ICONIQ

Doug Pepper is a general partner at ICONIQ Growth, having joined the firm in 2019. He has been instrumental in ICONIQ Growth’s investments in companies such as Airtable and Guild Education. Previously, Doug served as a managing director at Shasta Ventures and a general partner at InterWest Partners for 15 years, where he made an early investment in Marketo. His career began with roles at Goldman Sachs and Amazon.com.

Secure Your Spot for the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Pitch Competition

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will celebrate two decades as the premier platform for launching groundbreaking technological advancements. While the startup ecosystem has undergone significant changes, Disrupt continues to be the central venue where influential figures define the direction of the industry.

This October, experience a wealth of insightful sessions, forge pivotal connections, and witness the intensity of the Startup Battlefield. Early registration guarantees access at the most advantageous pricing.

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