Announcing the top judges for the final round of Startup Battlefield 200, only at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

High-Stakes Pitches at TechCrunch Disrupt: Meet the Judges Who Decide It All

The intensity ramps up at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 as the Startup Battlefield 200 finalists deliver their final pitches for a shot at the $100,000 equity-free prize. What makes this round so crucial? It's judged by a powerhouse lineup of venture capital titans whose decisions can shape a startup's trajectory.

First up is Kirsten Green, founding partner at Forerunner Ventures. With over 25 years blending consumer insights and product savvy, she's backed hits like Warby Parker and Chime, building a firm that's raised nearly $3 billion. Her thesis-driven approach from early-stage ideas to massive scales is a masterclass in spotting enduring consumer trends.

Then there's Kevin Hartz, co-founder and general partner at A*. As the mind behind Eventbrite and Xoom—sold to PayPal for over a billion—he's an early backer of giants like Airbnb, Uber, and SpaceX. His track record screams experience in turning innovative concepts into market leaders.

Aileen Lee, founder of Cowboy Ventures, coined the term 'unicorn' and has invested in trailblazers like Dollar Shave Club. From her days at Kleiner Perkins to leading seed-stage bets in software and consumer tech, she's a force for diversity in tech through All Raise, all while balancing a powerhouse career and family life.

Rounding out the panel is Kevin Rose, partner at True Ventures and rebooting Digg. From founding social platforms to advising at Google Ventures, his portfolio boasts Slack, Twitter, and OpenAI. This guy's not just an investor; he's a serial entrepreneur with a knack for emerging tech and a zen-like focus on innovation.

These judges aren't just names—they embody the sharp eye investors use to cut through the noise. For any founder prepping a pitch, studying their journeys reveals what truly wins over the pros: deep market understanding, scalable vision, and that spark of disruption.

Curious about the full lineup and agenda? Dive into the original article and gear up for Disrupt—it's a front-row seat to startup excellence.