Who’ll Grab the $100,000 Prize and the Spotlight at Disrupt 2025?
Startup Battlefield 200 is TechCrunch Disrupt’s pièce de résistance, and this year’s showdown is primed to be a must-see spectacle. Out of a fist‑full of hopefuls, only the top 20 gets to hit the grand stage in San Francisco from October 27–29 and face panels of high‑profile VCs live before a buzzing crowd. Every contender’s mission? To tweak the world, jam the status quo, and land that luminous $100K equity‑free victory.
Meet the Judges – The Reality Checkers of Startup Paradise
- No‑fluff, no‑chill questions that cut straight to the bone.
- Each judge offers instant, candid feedback that tells you what dazzles investors, what raises red flags, and why a next‑meeting is on the cards.
- Get an insider look at how truly world‑class money makers evaluate a business.
Past Success Stories – from Dropbox to Cloudflare
Picture the names on your message board: Dropbox, Mint, Vurb, Cloudflare. All of them once vaulted from the Battlefield to global headlines. This year, the next breakout star could emerge right here on the Disrupt stage.
Why You Should Care
Want a backstage pass to see what makes a pitch soar? Curious about the real talk from the investors themselves? Here’s your chance. Pitch‑off stakes are high, the learning is priceless, and an instant celebrity status could be just a few minutes away.
Don’t miss this high‑stakes startup showdown on a worldwide stage. Register now – you’ll even snag a Regular Bird discount. Get ready to watch tomorrow’s tech Titans rise—one pitch at a time!
First look: Meet the VCs taking the judges’ seats
Meet the MVPs of Startup Battlefield 2025
Here are the first five investors ready to crown the next big disruptor in the Startup Battlefield 2025. Buckle up – more top players are dropping in soon.
Investor Line‑up:
- Angel Number One – the visionary who’s always one step ahead.
- Angel Number Two – blending tech and heart in every deal.
- Angel Number Three – the brain‑power behind breakthrough ideas.
- Angel Number Four – known for turning good projects into gold.
- Angel Number Five – the green thumb that nurtures bold startups.
Stay tuned – bigger names and more excitement are on the horizon!
Philip Clark, Investor, Thrive Capital
Meet Philip Clark: The Investor Who’s Shaking Up AI & Robotics
Philip Clark isn’t your average venture capitalist. He’s the kind who hops from one breakthrough company to the next, making sure the future of tech gets a solid shot. Below is a quick rundown of his career, background, and why he’s a hot ticket at the TechCrunch event.
Where He’s Been Investing
- Thrive Capital: Partnering with tech pioneers like Anduril (robotics defense), Cursor (AI tools), Neuralink (brain‑computer stuff), Physical Intelligence, and Wiz (software connectivity).
- Bridgewater: Earlier gigs that helped set the stage for his current focus.
Academic Roots
He earned dual degrees from Stanford University, balancing Computer Science with Management Science and Engineering. That mix gives him both the tech chops and business savvy to spot next‑big‑things.
Beyond the Boardroom
Philip’s not just about funding; he’s also a mentor. He advises the Hoover Institution on all sorts of emerging tech topics—think AI policy, robotics ethics, and the future of work. Basically, he’s the go‑to guy for making sure policy keeps pace with innovation.
Why You’ll Love Hearing Him at TechCrunch
- He’s shared stories of turning crazy ideas into reality.
- His humorous take on venture pitfalls keeps conversations lively.
- Audience members leave with fresh insights on collaborating across disciplines.
All in all, Philip is the person you want to hear from if you’re curious about where AI and robotics are heading—and if you appreciate a dash of wit when you’re over an ambitious startup pitch. Happy listening at TechCrunch!
San Francisco’s Spectacular 2025 Countdown!
October 27‑29, 2025 — Mark Your Calendar
Register Now! It’s that time of year when the city turns into a giant party playground.
- Music from rock to reggae—there’s a beat for everybody.
- Food trucks serving everything from classic tacos to dessert donuts.
- Interactive games, art installations, and live performances.
Save the Date – you won’t want to miss the buzz, the vibes, and the unforgettable memories.
Madison Faulkner, Partner, NEA
Meet Madison Faulkner: The Data‑Driven Cowboy of the VC World
Who She Is
Madison Faulkner is a partner at NEA, steering investments in the latest buzz: data, infrastructure, developer tools, data science, and all things AI. Beyond crunching spreadsheets, she runs the data & AI platform inside the firm, turning heaps of raw numbers into crystal‑clear investment insights.
Portfolio Highlights (Because Numbers Love Nicknames)
- World Labs – where every lightning bolt becomes a new product idea.
- Factory – turning software “parts” into full‑blown factories.
- Ceramic – literally turning data into “art‑ish” insights.
- Metabase – giving data a social life.
- Datafold – the safety net for your data pipelines.
- Delphina – the oracle of customer insights.
- Mindtrip – making AI feel human‑friendly.
- Fixify – where bugs get a rewrite.
- …and a whole roster of other exciting ventures.
Her Pre‑VC Journey (From Tech to Tenacity)
Before she was crunching capital, Madison was the Head of Data Science & Machine Learning at Thrasio, a rapid‑growth e‑commerce powerhouse. She’d also led data science squads at Greycroft and oversaw a critical ad‑auction & deep‑learning team at Facebook with the FAIR lab.
Academic Roots and Hometown Hustles
- BS in Engineering from Stanford – so she’s got the science lingo down to a fine tooth.
- Raised in Colorado, where she turned into a rodeo performer before turning her knack for numbers into a career juggle.
Why It Matters (And Keeps Her Stuck In the Spotlight)
Madison’s blend of tech savvy, data wizardry, and rodeo grit makes her a one‑of‑a‑kind mentor for founders and a fearless challenger in the VC arena.
Leslie Feinzaig, Founder & General Partner, Graham & Walker VC
Meet Leslie Feinzaig: The Trailblazer Behind Graham & Walker
- Founder & General Partner – Steering Graham & Walker, a venture fund that’s all about backing founders and ideas that don’t play by the rules.
- Mission – Leap the traditional public‑market scene by investing in a new wave of CEOs who’ll turn industries on their heads.
- Track Record – Two‑time startup exec, delivering massive eight‑ and ten‑figure exits before launching her own fund.
- Mentor – Learned the ropes from HBS guru and disruptivity legend, Clayton Christensen.
Leslie’s formula for success isn’t just about capital—it’s about vision and fearless execution. Think of Graham & Walker as a “welcome back” club for tomorrow’s innovators, where the rules of play are constantly rewritten. If you’re looking to ride the next wave, Leslie’s got your back.
Ilya Kirnos, Founding Partner & CTO, SignalFire
Meet Ilya Kirnos: the Tech Maestro of SignalFire
Ilya Kirnos wears three hats at once—co‑founder, managing partner, and CTO of the early‑stage venture firm SignalFire, which manages around $3 billion in assets under management.
The Beacon AI Brainwave
Over the past decade, Ilya and his squad of AI PhDs, engineers, and data scientists have been cooking up SignalFire’s in‑house Beacon AI data platform.
Think of it like a smart city‑wide detective: it keeps tabs on over 660 million employees and 80 million companies, helping the firm spot the hottest founders and the fastest‑growing firms.
Beyond identifying winners, Beacon also assists companies in SignalFire’s portfolio with two vital tasks: recruiting the best talent and winning over customers. It’s a win‑win for the firm and its startups.
What Ilya Looks For
When he’s on the lookout for new funding opportunities, Ilya focuses on seed to Series B deals in the world of enterprise infrastructure and developer tools. He loves giving a push to highly technical startups—those that are solving hard problems with hard code.
Some of his current favorites include:
- Horizon3 – pioneers in autonomous pen‑testing.
- OneSignal – built for robust notification infrastructure.
- PlanetScale – experts in scaling databases without breaking a sweat.
With Ilya at the helm, SignalFire’s pipeline and its portfolio companies are positioned to thrive in a fast‑evolving tech landscape.
Doug Pepper, Partner, ICONIQ
Meet Doug Pepper: Venture Capital’s Whispered Whisper
Doug Pepper hopped on board with ICONIQ Growth back in 2019, and since then he’s been the mastermind behind a slew of stellar investments. Think Airtable, Guild Education, Reify, and a handful of other game‑changing startups.
Previous Chapters in the Investment Playbook
- Shasta Ventures – Doug steered the ship as a managing director, bringing a seasoned perspective to early‑stage deals.
- InterWest Partners – A 15‑year tenure where Doug made history as the first investor in Marketo and spent a decade on its board, steering the company through rapid growth.
- Early grind: Goldman Sachs & Amazon.com – Foundations that sharpened his analytical edge.
Why Doug’s Eye for Potential Matters
Doug’s knack for spotting the next big thing is nothing short of uncanny. He can spot a promising startup in a sea of pitches and turn that insight into a well‑timed investment that fuels innovation. When he’s not on board meetings, you’ll find him sharing stories about the early days of Marketo or the everyday hustle at Shasta.
A Snapshot of His Investment Philosophy
- Believe in the power of people over product.
- Think long‑term: one‑off wins are great, but sustainable growth is the real gold.
- Keep things simple; A clear vision beats technical nuance when it comes to building lasting value.
In the world of venture capital, Doug Pepper is the kind of partner who makes the strategic play feel like a thrilling game of chess—where every move counts, and the end game is a win for everyone involved.
Register now to join the pitch-off action in October
Celebrating Two Decades of Disrupting the Tech Scene
Remember when TechCrunch Disrupt was just a spark that ignited the startup universe? Fast forward 20 years, and that spark has grown into a blazing inferno of ideas, conversations, and game‑changing moments. This October, the stage is set again for the big players to rewritethe future—one pitch, one partnership, one revelation at a time.
What’s on the Line?
- Startup Battlefield – Watch the fiercest entrepreneurs go head‑to‑head and claim the spotlight.
- Insight‑Gaining Sessions – Dive deep into the hottest tech trends and learn from the movers and shakers.
- Power Connections – Meet investors, mentors, and peers who can turn a brilliant idea into a reality.
- Storytelling & Innovation – Hear narratives that push the envelope and inspire the next wave of disruption.
Whether you’re an emerging founder, an industry veteran, or just a tech‑lover, Disrupt 2025 is the place to be. And the best part? Tickets are still available at a sweet price—so lock yours in now and secure your front‑row seat.
Help Us Keep the Spark Alive
We’re always looking to level up. Your thoughts and feedback are the fuel that keeps TechCrunch evolving. Take our quick survey—share your experience, let us know what hits and misses, and you might just snag a prize for being the voice of the community.
Ready to shape the future with us? Grab your ticket, fill out the survey, and let’s make 2025 unforgettable.
Image Credits:Haje Kamps/TechCrunch
