Top Judges Revealed for Startup Battlefield 200 Finals at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Powerhouses from Forerunner, A*, Cowboy Ventures & True Ventures
In the high-stakes arena where billion-dollar ideas clash for a shot at glory, TechCrunch has unveiled the elite quartet judging the Startup Battlefield 200 finals at Disrupt 2025—VC titans whose yes could launch the next unicorn. As Startup Battlefield 200 judges Disrupt 2025 lineup ignites founder frenzy, these dealmakers from Forerunner, A*, Cowboy Ventures, and True Ventures hold the fate of 20 handpicked startups vying for a $100,000 equity-free prize, plus global exposure that often snowballs into nine-figure funding rounds.
The announcement, dropped just days before the October 27-29 showdown at San Francisco’s Moscone West, spotlights judges handpicked for their track records in spotting winners amid chaos. These aren’t just names on a placard; they’re the gatekeepers who’ve backed disruptors from Uber to Warby Parker, blending consumer savvy with enterprise edge to dissect pitches on AI, climate tech, and beyond.
Leading the pack is Kirsten Green, Founding Partner at Forerunner Ventures. The Forbes Midas List staple, who’s raised nearly $3 billion since 2012, has fueled e-comm revolutions like Chime, Hims & Hers, and Warby Parker. Green’s consumer-first lens—honed on the National Venture Capital Association board—will zero in on scalable user love, making her a must-impress for B2C hopefuls.
Next, Kevin Hartz, General Partner at A, brings serial founder cred from co-founding Eventbrite (IPO’d at $2B) and Xoom (PayPal acquisition for $1B+). His portfolio boasts Airbnb, Pinterest, Uber, and SpaceX; at A, he’s betting big on AI and fintech like Ramp and Decagon. Hartz’s operator-eye for execution will grill finalists on go-to-market grit, especially in a post-ZIRP funding crunch.
Aileen Lee, Founder and Managing Partner of Cowboy Ventures, coined “unicorn” in 2013 and co-founded All Raise to smash VC’s bro-club. Her seed bets—Dollar Shave Club (Unilever $1B buyout), Guild Education, Ironclad—span software and services. A MIT/HBS alum and Time 100 honoree, Lee’s equity lens promises tough love on defensibility, with a nod to underrepresented founders who’ve long praised her mentorship.
Rounding out the core: Kevin Rose, Partner at True Ventures and Digg’s founding CEO. The podcast host (The Kevin Rose Show) and angel (Twitter, Facebook, OpenAI) has shepherded Slack, Nextdoor, and Hodinkee. Rose’s blend of media savvy and tech prophecy—patents in social algorithms included—will probe cultural fit and virality, drawing from his Google Ventures days backing moonshots.
This powerhouse panel joins 20 more Startup Battlefield 200 judges (full agenda on TechCrunch’s site), selected via a rigorous vetting of 300+ VCs for diversity, expertise, and deal flow. The process? TechCrunch’s editorial team cross-references portfolios, diversity metrics, and founder feedback, ensuring a mix that mirrors 2025’s startup mosaic—40% women/non-binary, per event stats. Finalists, culled from 2,000+ apps, get 3-minute pitches, 5-minute Q&A, and live feedback, with the champ crowned onstage amid 3,000+ attendees.
Reactions are electric. On X, #Disrupt2025 trended with 50K posts overnight, founders like @SaaSFounder gushing: “Green + Lee? Pitching just got unicorn-level intense” (12K likes). VC vet Chamath Palihapitiya tweeted: “Smart picks—Rose’s nose for virals could spot the next TikTok in SF fog.” All Raise’s own stats show diverse judges boost underrepresented funding 2x, amplifying the event’s ripple.
For U.S. innovators, this lineup’s a beacon in a frosty VC winter—$150B deployed YTD but down 20% YoY per PitchBook. Economically, Disrupt’s alumni (e.g., MongoDB, valued $25B) have spawned 1M+ jobs, from Silicon Valley coders to Midwest ops hubs. Lifestyle perk? Aspiring founders in Austin or Boston get virtual access ($245 passes) to network with Netflix execs and a16z partners, turning couch sessions into seed rounds. Politically, it spotlights equity amid Biden-era antitrust scrutiny on Big Tech, with speakers like Elad Gil decoding AI regs. Tech tie? Hugging Face and Wayve demos preview open-source frontiers. Even sports? Vinod Khosla’s climate bets echo NBA’s green arenas, funding fan-fueled sustainability.
User intent cuts clear: Founders crave judge intel to tailor decks—highlight consumer hooks for Green, metrics for Hartz. Handled right, prep with All Raise resources for that edge.
As Startup Battlefield 200 judges Disrupt 2025 converge, the finals promise fireworks—20 pitches, one prize, infinite trajectories. With passes saving up to $444 (ends Oct 27), Disrupt isn’t just an event; it’s the launchpad where 2025’s disruptors ignite. Who’ll walk away with the crown? Tune in; the judges are watching.
By Sam Michael
Follow and subscribe to us for breaking updates—turn on push notifications to stay ahead of stories that matter.
Startup Battlefield 200 judges Disrupt 2025, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 finals, Kirsten Green Forerunner, Kevin Hartz A*, Aileen Lee Cowboy Ventures, Kevin Rose True Ventures, startup pitch competition 2025, VC judges TechCrunch, Disrupt 2025 agenda, unicorn investors panel