Startup Battlefield 200[1] at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025[2] is almost here, and the pressure has never been higher. With $100,000 on the line, the top 20 early-stage startups know they must deliver their very best on the Disrupt stage[3] from October 27-29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. Meanwhile, our VC judges will bring sharp questions, deep experience, and a discerning eye to distinguish the promising from the truly exceptional.
Founders[4] can gain invaluable insights into what makes a winning pitch and a sustainable startup from these seasoned VCs. Investors[5] can discover pitch-ready, impactful startups to add to their pipeline. Everyone else can witness the intense startup showdown, where the top 20 TechCrunch-vetted startups pitch for the equity-free prize and the coveted Disrupt Cup.
Register now[6] to watch and save up to $444 on your pass, or bring your team or friends and save up to 30% with bundle passes[7]. Don’t miss this nail-biting “World Series” of pitch competitions live.
Meet the next batch of Battlefield 200 judges
Today, we’re excited to introduce the fourth wave of judges joining the competition. Only one more reveal remains. Stay tuned to the Disrupt agenda[8] to see who the last five judges will be.
Allison Baum Gates, General Partner, SemperVirens Venture Capital
Allison Baum Gates[9] is a general partner at SemperVirens[10], a venture fund investing in healthcare, fintech, and enterprise SaaS. To date, she has raised hundreds of millions of dollars from LPs in the US, Europe, and Asia, and has deployed capital into more than 70 companies, including nine unicorns, 24 exits, and holds 10 board positions.
Gates has been featured in major publications such as the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch, and has taught hundreds of business school students. She is a lecturer in management at Stanford GSB and the author of Breaking into Venture (McGraw-Hill, 2023), a comprehensive guide for navigating the VC industry. Her second book, Beyond the Pitch: The Psychology of Raising VC Funding, will be released next year. She holds a B.A. in Economics with Honors from Harvard University and is proficient in three languages.
Katelin Holloway, Founding Partner, 776
Katelin Holloway[11] is a founding partner at Alexis Ohanian’s early-stage venture capital firm, 776[12]. A seasoned investor with more than 20 years of operational experience at companies like Pixar and Reddit, Holloway backs transformative startups across diverse sectors. She invests in solutions that expand human potential and resilience, advancing health, exploring new frontiers, driving sustainability, fostering creativity, and enriching the human experience.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025
At 776, Holloway combines her operational expertise with a deep commitment to supporting founders as they navigate early-stage challenges and scale their visions. She is dedicated to reshaping venture capital by empowering generational entrepreneurs to tackle humanity’s biggest challenges while delivering exceptional returns.
Miloni Madan Presler, Partner, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP)
Miloni Madan[13] is passionate about partnering with businesses that innovate with purpose — companies that solve real problems rather than innovate for innovation’s sake. As a general partner at Institutional Venture Partners (IVP)[14], she focuses on supporting founders who build products and solutions that people truly need, not just want. She seeks out companies that bridge gaps in fragmented ecosystems, automate outdated processes, and deliver data-driven platforms capable of transforming industries. Madan is driven by the belief that these companies — and their impact — will endure long beyond any single investment, and it’s this pursuit of lasting change that fuels her commitment and intentionality in every partnership.
Sara Ittelson, Partner, Accel
Sara Ittelson[15] joined Accel in 2022 and focuses on early-stage consumer, enterprise, and AI companies. Before Accel[16], she was head of strategic partnerships at Faire and previously worked in Global Business Development at Uber. Ittelson is from Chico, California, and graduated from Northwestern University and Stanford.
Rinki Sethi, Founding Partner, Lockstep
Rinki Sethi[17] is chief security officer at Upwind Security[18] and founding partner at Lockstep[19]. She previously served as vice president and chief information security officer at Twitter, BILL, and Rubrik and held senior security leadership roles at Palo Alto Networks, IBM, eBay, and Intuit. Sethi brings deep expertise to both the private sector and corporate boards, shaping security strategy at the highest levels.
Now’s the time to save on your Disrupt pass
Don’t miss the startup pitch competition of the year, live. With electrifying energy, high stakes, and sharp questions, Startup Battlefield 200 has long been the launchpad for early-stage startups. Brands like Discord, Trello, and Mint got their big break on the Disrupt stage. Register here[20] to join before ticket prices increase.
References
- ^ Startup Battlefield 200 (techcrunch.com)
- ^ TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 (techcrunch.com)
- ^ Disrupt stage (techcrunch.com)
- ^ Founders (techcrunch.com)
- ^ Investors (techcrunch.com)
- ^ Register now (techcrunch.com)
- ^ save up to 30% with bundle passes (techcrunch.com)
- ^ Disrupt agenda (techcrunch.com)
- ^ Allison Baum Gates (www.linkedin.com)
- ^ SemperVirens (www.sempervirensvc.com)
- ^ Katelin Holloway (www.linkedin.com)
- ^ 776 (sevensevensix.com)
- ^ Miloni Madan (www.linkedin.com)
- ^ Institutional Venture Partners (IVP) (www.ivp.com)
- ^ Sara Ittelson (www.linkedin.com)
- ^ Accel (www.accel.com)
- ^ Rinki Sethi (www.linkedin.com)
- ^ Upwind Security (www.upwind.io)
- ^ Lockstep (www.lockstep.vc)
- ^ Register here (techcrunch.com)