TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Final Round to Feature Elite VC Judges for Startup Battlefield

Elite Venture Capitalists to Determine Startup Battlefield Champion

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is set to feature an all-star panel of venture capital leaders as judges for the Startup Battlefield 200 finals, according to event organizers. The competition, scheduled for October 27-29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, will see finalists competing for a $100,000 equity-free prize before what sources indicate are some of the industry‘s most respected investors.

Elite Venture Capitalists to Determine Startup Battlefield Champion
Meet the Final Round Judges
The Startup Battlefield Competition
Industry Impact and Recognition

Meet the Final Round Judges

Kirsten Green, founder and managing partner of Forerunner Ventures, brings over 25 years of investment experience to the judging panel. According to reports, Green has led her firm to raise nearly $3 billion in assets under management since founding Forerunner in 2012. Her investment portfolio reportedly includes early positions in companies such as Warby Parker, Hims & Hers, and Chime. Analysts suggest her consumer-focused investment strategy and board membership at the National Venture Capital Association make her particularly well-suited for evaluating emerging startups.

Kevin Hartz, co-founder and general partner at A* venture capital firm, brings extensive entrepreneurial experience to the judging role. Hartz co-founded Eventbrite and served as its CEO for 11 years, and previously co-founded Xoom, which was acquired by PayPal for over $1 billion. The report states he has been an early investor in companies including Airbnb, Pinterest, Uber, and SpaceX, making him one of the most prolific technology investors in Silicon Valley.

Aileen Lee, founder of Cowboy Ventures, is recognized for coining the term “unicorn” to describe startups valued at over $1 billion. Sources indicate her firm focuses on seed-stage investments in enterprise and consumer software, with portfolio companies including Dollar Shave Club and Guild. Lee’s background includes over a decade as a partner at Kleiner Perkins and operating roles at Gap Inc. She is also a co-founder of All-Raise, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women in technology.

Kevin Rose, partner at True Ventures and founding CEO of the revitalized Digg platform, completes the judging panel. Rose’s entrepreneurial career spans multiple successful ventures including Revision3 and Zero, and he previously served as a general partner at Google Ventures. According to reports, his angel investments include Twitter, Facebook, and OpenAI, while his current roles include board chair at Digg and host of The Kevin Rose Show podcast.

The Startup Battlefield Competition

The Startup Battlefield 200 represents what event organizers describe as one of the most intense pitch competitions of the year. Sources indicate that finalists will present on the main Disrupt Stage before the investor panel, with the judges making the ultimate decision on which company will be crowned champion. The competition is reportedly known for launching successful startups, with previous participants including Dropbox, Mint, and Yammer.

Event registration remains open with discounted passes available until October 27, when door prices take effect. According to event information, attendees can save up to $444 on primary passes and receive 60% off guest passes during the pre-registration period.

Industry Impact and Recognition

The selection of judges reflects what analysts suggest is the competition’s commitment to featuring investors with proven track records across multiple technology sectors. All four judges have been recognized on prestigious lists including the Forbes Midas List and various power rankings, underscoring their influence within the venture capital ecosystem.

Industry observers note that the diversity of investment approaches among the judges—from consumer-focused strategies to enterprise software and early-stage funding—provides comprehensive evaluation capabilities for the competing startups. The combination of operational experience and investment expertise among the panel members is expected to deliver valuable insights to participating entrepreneurs.

With what sources describe as the “World Series” of startup pitches approaching, the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Startup Battlefield promises to showcase emerging technology companies before some of the most accomplished investors in venture capital.

References

This article aggregates information from publicly available sources. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

Note: Featured image is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent any specific product, service, or entity mentioned in this article.

Tesla reported a significant profit drop amid increased R&D spending, while IBM swung to profit but saw shares fall. American Airlines narrowed losses and offered optimistic guidance, leading to premarket gains. Market analysts are watching these divergent performances closely.

Tesla Reports Profit Decline Amid Increased Investment

Shares of Tesla declined in premarket trading Thursday after the electric vehicle manufacturer reported a 37% drop in quarterly profit, according to the company’s earnings release. Sources indicate the profit reduction was attributed to significant research and development spending and decreased tax-credit revenue. The report states that despite maintaining strong vehicle delivery numbers, the company’s increased investment in future technologies and production capabilities impacted bottom-line results.