TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Startup Battlefield Judges Announced

Startup Battlefield 2025: Expanded Judging Panel Announced

The panel of judges for Startup Battlefield 2025 is being significantly strengthened. Following an initial group of prominent venture capitalists, we are pleased to announce the addition of further leading investors.

These investors will rigorously evaluate participating founders, delve into critical business aspects, and ultimately contribute to selecting the $100,000 grand prize winner at TechCrunch Disrupt.

Expert Insight and Experience

Similar to the esteemed investors who have participated in previous years, this new cohort possesses invaluable insight, extensive experience, and a keen understanding of what it takes to succeed.

A single question and answer session with these judges has the potential to dramatically alter a founder’s path forward.

Meet the New Judges

The following investors are prepared to challenge founders with their most insightful questions on the Disrupt Stage.

• Their expertise spans a wide range of industries and investment stages.
• They represent some of the most respected names in the venture capital world.

Don't miss the opportunity to witness these pivotal pitches firsthand. Secure your ticket now to save over $650 and experience TechCrunch Disrupt live.

The event will be held from October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco.

Introducing the Second Group of Startup Battlefield 200 Judges

We are pleased to announce the next five venture capitalists who will participate in selecting this year’s Startup Battlefield champion, with additional investors to be revealed soon. Further details about our judging panel can be found on the Disrupt speaker page.

Thomas Krane, Managing Director, Insight Partners

Currently a managing director at Insight Partners, Thomas Krane initially joined the firm in 2012 as an analyst. His investment strategy centers on areas such as cybersecurity, IT automation, DevOps, and application software. He has been involved with five portfolio companies that have successfully completed an IPO – Tenable, JFrog, Darktrace, 1stdibs, and SentinelOne – alongside numerous strategic exits, including Recorded Future, Adaptive Shield, Thycotic, Nearpod, Cylance, and QASymphony. Mr. Krane is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in astrophysics within a four-year period, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.

Charles Hudson, Managing Partner, Precursor Ventures

Charles Hudson is the founder and managing partner of Precursor Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments, specifically leading the first institutional funding round for promising software and hardware ventures. He prioritizes investing in the individuals behind the ideas, even at the earliest stages of development. Under his direction, Precursor has established four funds, managing assets exceeding $250 million. He has made investments in over 400 companies and provided support to more than 450 founders, including those at Bobbie Baby, Carrot, Incredible Health, Juniper Square, Modern Health, Pair Eyewear, Rad AI, and The Athletic, which was acquired by the New York Times for $525 million in 2022.

Image Credits:Haje Kamps/TechCrunch

Nicolas Sauvage, President, TDK Ventures

Nicolas Sauvage serves as the president of TDK Ventures, the venture capital division of TDK Corporation. In this role, he oversees the firm’s $500 million investment strategy, focusing on startups that are pioneering advancements in digital and energy technologies. Since its inception in 2019, TDK Ventures has invested in 45 startups under his guidance, including three companies that have achieved unicorn status: Ascend Elements, Groq, and Silicon Box.

Sauvage is a globally recognized figure in the venture capital landscape, consistently appearing on the GCV Powerlist for six years running, most recently ranked 17th among the top 150 leaders of corporate venture capital. He is also a rare corporate venture capitalist to be accepted into the prestigious Kauffman Fellows program.

Katie Stanton, Founder and General Partner, Moxxie Ventures

Katie Stanton is the founding general partner of Moxxie Ventures, a venture fund concentrating on early-stage companies. Before establishing Moxxie, Ms. Stanton held several key executive positions at prominent companies such as Twitter, Google, Yahoo, and Color. Her professional background also includes service in the Obama White House and the State Department, and she began her career in banking at J.P. Morgan Chase. Currently, she is a board member of Vivendi, a multinational media corporation based in Paris, and previously served on the board of Time Inc. As a founding partner of #Angels, she has invested in over 100 early-stage businesses, including Airtable, Calm, Cameo, Carta, Coinbase, Literati, Modern Fertility, and Shape Security.

Santi Subotovsky, General Partner, Emergence

Santi Subotovsky is a general partner at Emergence Capital, where he has played a key role in the firm’s most successful investments since joining in 2010, notably including Chorus and Openpath. He spearheaded Emergence’s initial investment in Zoom (NASDAQ: ZM) when it was a relatively unknown entity and continues to serve on its board as the company now boasts a market capitalization of $24 billion. He also holds board positions at companies such as Crunchbase, Logik.io, Zipline, Tundra, and Class, and actively collaborates with startup studio High Alpha and Quasar Ventures, which supports Latin American entrepreneurs in developing groundbreaking concepts.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: The Launchpad for Future Technologies

A premier global competition for emerging companies is on the horizon. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27-29, will gather over 10,000 startups and venture capital investors.

Moscone West in San Francisco will serve as the central hub for technological advancement during the event. While the startup landscape is constantly evolving, Disrupt continues to be the definitive platform for founders to introduce groundbreaking innovations.

Experience the Core of Tech Innovation

• Attend insightful sessions led by industry experts.
• Facilitate crucial deals with potential investors.
• Observe the intensity of the Startup Battlefield competition firsthand.

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this influential event. Early ticket purchases are highly recommended to avoid price increases. Secure your ticket today and prepare to witness the future unfold.

Disrupt isn’t simply an event; it’s a catalyst for lasting technological impact. It’s where the seeds of tomorrow’s leading companies are sown and nurtured.