Meet the Trailblazers Shaping TomorrowS Startup Scene at Disrupt 2025

From transformative pioneers like Dropbox and Cloudflare to emerging innovators, alumni of Startup Battlefield have continually revolutionized the technology sector. This year, a new group of visionary startups will vie for a $100,000 prize and worldwide acclaim on one of tech’s most esteemed platforms.

The Premier Startup Contest: What to Expect at Disrupt 2025

Startup Battlefield 200 is the centerpiece event at TechCrunch Disrupt, attracting thousands of applicants from across the globe. Only 20 exceptional startups will earn their spot on stage during Disrupt 2025, scheduled for October 27-29 in San Francisco. These finalists will showcase their innovative solutions before panels featuring top venture capitalists and an eager live audience hungry for breakthrough ideas.

The competition is fierce as each startup strives to demonstrate its potential for important industry impact. Beyond excitement, this event offers deep insights into what it takes to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving startup ecosystem.

A Panel of visionary Investors Driving innovation Forward

This year’s judging panel comprises elite investors who bring extensive experience evaluating early-stage companies through rigorous questioning and insightful feedback. Their perspectives reveal how seasoned venture capitalists identify promising ventures-what excites them about new technologies,what concerns arise,and which innovations merit further exploration.

Philip Clark – Thrive Capital Partner Advancing AI & Robotics Frontiers

An investor with Thrive Capital focusing on cutting-edge artificial intelligence and robotics firms,Philip clark supports groundbreaking companies such as OpenAI spin-offs and autonomous systems developers. Holding degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from MIT, he also advises academic institutions on emerging technological trends shaping future markets.

Madison Faulkner – NEA Partner Empowering Data & AI Startups

Madison Faulkner leads investments at NEA targeting early-stage data infrastructure platforms, developer tools, machine learning applications, and AI-driven innovations. Her background includes leadership roles within google Brain’s research teams as well as scaling high-growth startups in cloud computing sectors. Madison holds an engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University combining technical depth with strategic investment insight.

Leslie Feinzaig – Founder & General Partner Revolutionizing Public Market Ventures

The founder of Graham & Walker VC fund Leslie Feinzaig backs founders disrupting traditional public market models through novel business approaches. With multiple accomplished exits under her belt after executive roles at fintech startups she studied disruptive innovation theory extensively during her MBA program at Wharton School.

Ilya Kirnos – SignalFire Co-Founder Harnessing AI for Smarter Investment Decisions

Ilya Kirnos co-founded SignalFire-a $4 billion early-stage venture firm-and serves as CTO overseeing Beacon AI platform development that analyzes over 100 million companies globally using advanced data science techniques.His investment focus includes enterprise infrastructure firms such as Cybereason (cybersecurity) and Cockroach Labs (distributed databases).

Doug Pepper – ICONIQ Growth Partner Supporting Industry Leaders’ Scale-Up Journeys

A general partner at ICONIQ Growth known for backing standout companies like Notion Labs and Guild Education; Doug brings operational expertise gained from senior roles at Morgan Stanley combined with sharp venture capital instincts honed over years managing diverse portfolios across SaaS sectors.

Your Invitation to Witness Innovation unfold Live This October in San Francisco

• Date: October 27-29, 2025
  Location: Moscone Center San Francisco
  Format: In-person presentations before live audiences plus virtual participation options nationwide
• This year features expanded programming spotlighting artificial intelligence integration across industries including healthcare automation; climate tech solutions tackling environmental challenges; fintech advancements democratizing access to financial services; alongside developer tools accelerating software innovation globally.
• The event draws tens of thousands annually-with last year’s virtual streams reaching over five million viewers worldwide-making it one of technology’s most influential gatherings each fall season.
• If you seek firsthand exposure to pioneering ideas or inspiration from founders reshaping entire markets through creativity paired with resilience-you won’t want to miss this possibility!

A Legacy Forged by Past Champions now Leading Global Markets  

“Victories in Startup Battlefield have launched industry leaders such as Mint (personal finance management), Quip (collaborative productivity), Dropbox (cloud storage), along with Cloudflare (internet security) onto international stages where they secured critical funding rounds exceeding hundreds of millions.

Today these enterprises serve billions worldwide while continuing rapid growth fueled by initial exposure gained here years ago.

The next winner could be among us-equipped not only with a $100K equity-free prize but also invaluable mentorship connections formed during Disrupt.”

Your Front Row Seat awaits – Join Us Live or Virtually!

This autumn marks another defining moment where visionaries converge seeking validation-and victory-in front of some of Silicon Valley’s toughest judges.
Whether your an entrepreneur eager for insights or an investor scouting fresh talent, register now  to participate live or online so you don’t miss witnessing history unfold firsthand!