Startup Battlefield 200 Judges Announced

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Startup Battlefield 200 Judges Announced

The highly anticipated Startup Battlefield 200 global pitch competition, a central event at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, is rapidly approaching. The event will be held from October 27th to 29th at Moscone West in San Francisco.

Competition Details and Prize

A select group of twenty founders will have the opportunity to present their ventures on the Disrupt Stage. However, only one will ultimately be awarded the $100,000 equity-free prize and the prestigious Disrupt Cup.

The selection of the winning startup will be guided by a panel of distinguished judges. These individuals represent leading investors and experienced company operators.

Introducing the Third Group of Judges

Today, we are pleased to announce the third cohort of judges who will lend their expertise and critical evaluation to this year’s competition. Their insights will be invaluable in determining the most promising startups.

Further announcements regarding additional judges are forthcoming. Expect two more groups to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Event Registration and Savings

Secure your attendance now to experience the excitement of what has been described as the “World Series” of pitch competitions. Registering today allows you to save up to $668 on your event pass.

Please note that ticket prices will increase after September 26th, so early registration is highly recommended.

Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images

Key Highlights

Event: Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Dates: October 27–29
Location: Moscone West, San Francisco
Prize: $100,000 equity-free + Disrupt Cup

Introducing the Next Five Judges for Battlefield 200

Further details regarding the Disrupt agenda, including the previously announced ten judges, can be found on the official website.

Jon Chu, Partner at Khosla Ventures

Jon Chu currently functions as a partner with Khosla Ventures, focusing his expertise on the applications of machine learning within enterprise-level infrastructure, software, and tools for developers.

His professional trajectory began with an engineering position at Palantir, where he contributed to the firm’s expansion from a team of 200 to a workforce of 1,800. Subsequently, he established KoalityCode, which was later acquired by Docker, leading to his direction of Docker’s enterprise-focused division. He also held leadership roles at Opendoor, overseeing product growth and core machine learning engineering, and managed international engineering teams at Facebook, specializing in both VR and machine learning technologies.

Eryk Dobrushkin, Partner, Index Ventures

As a partner at Index Ventures, Eryk Dobrushkin concentrates his investment efforts on companies operating in artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and robotics, spanning from initial funding rounds through periods of substantial growth.

Before joining Index Ventures, Eryk dedicated several years to Databricks, working closely with Ali Ghodsi as his chief of staff. This experience provided him with direct insight into the rapid expansion of a leading enterprise software company, encompassing all facets of the business, from product development and engineering to sales and operational strategies. His career commenced at the Boston Consulting Group, where he specialized in enterprise software and digital health solutions. He earned a B.A. degree in Applied Math and Economics from Harvard University.

Cathy Friedman, Executive Venture Partner at GV

Cathy Friedman brings almost four decades of experience in finance, technology, and healthcare to her role as an executive venture partner at GV.

She provides guidance to companies within the life sciences portfolio and actively invests across the healthcare sector, with a particular interest in adolescent mental health, women’s health throughout their lifespan, and the development of more accessible healthcare systems for underserved populations.

Jen Hoskins, Startups Head of Cloud and Partnerships, NVIDIA

Jen Hoskins is responsible for cloud strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market initiatives for Nvidia Inception, a program supporting startups in accelerating innovation and growth, currently serving over 29,000 members globally.

Prior to joining Nvidia, Hoskins spent seven years at Microsoft, holding positions in business development and partnerships across various product teams, including Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Graph, and Microsoft for Startups. Earlier in her career, she contributed to marketing and alliance management efforts at Cisco.

Jon McNeill, Co-Founder and CEO, DVx Ventures

Jon McNeill serves as the CEO and co-founder of DVx Ventures, a venture studio responsible for launching twelve companies focused on significant market opportunities.

Recognized as a forward-thinking entrepreneur, investor, and operator, Jon has founded six companies, successfully building and scaling businesses that have generated substantial employment and delivered nine-fold returns for investors. He previously held the position of president at Tesla, where he oversaw a revenue increase from $2 billion to $20 billion within an 18-month period, managing global sales, delivery, and service operations.

Furthermore, he served as COO at Lyft during a period of critical growth, doubling revenue, expanding market share, and preparing the company for its initial public offering. Currently, Jon holds board positions at General Motors, Lululemon, Asurion, CrossFit, and Stash, and contributed to a five-fold increase in Lululemon’s stock value. He is also a member of the Liquid AI Advisory Council.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: A Premier Event for Startup Growth

The globally recognized startup competition, TechCrunch Disrupt, is scheduled to return from October 27th to 29th. This year’s event will be hosted at Moscone West in San Francisco, bringing together over 10,000 startups and venture capital investors.

Witness Innovation and Networking Opportunities

Attendees will have the opportunity to observe the live rounds of the Startup Battlefield 200. Furthermore, the event features numerous sessions designed to facilitate learning and deal-making, driving the next wave of technological advancements.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, making the event particularly significant.

Early Bird Ticket Savings Available

Tickets are currently available with potential savings of up to $668. However, these discounted prices will no longer be offered after September 26th, so early purchase is recommended.

Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images

Key Highlights of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Startup Battlefield 200: Observe cutting-edge startups compete for funding and recognition.
Networking: Connect with over 10,000 founders, investors, and industry leaders.
Sessions: Gain valuable insights from expert speakers and participate in informative discussions.
Location: Moscone West, San Francisco.