Meet the New Wave of VC Judges for Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is just around the corner, and the stakes are higher than ever. With a prize of $100,000 on the line, the top 20 early-stage startups need to bring their A-game to the Disrupt stage from October 27-29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. Concurrently, our venture capital judges will ask incisive questions, draw from their vast experiences, and use their discerning judgment to distinguish the promising startups from the exceptional ones.

Founders will gain invaluable insights into what makes a successful pitch and a sustainable startup from these seasoned VCs. Investors can discover impactful, pitch-ready companies for their portfolios. Meanwhile, everyone can witness the exhilarating competition, as the top 20 TechCrunch-selected startups vie for the equity-free prize and the esteemed Disrupt Cup.

Register today to watch and save up to $444 on your pass, or team up with others to save up to 30% with bundle passes. Don’t miss out on this thrilling “World Series” of pitch competitions happening live.

Meet the latest group of Battlefield 200 judges

We’re excited to announce the fourth wave of judges joining the competition, with just one more announcement left to come. Stay tuned to the Disrupt agenda for updates on the final five judges.

Allison Baum Gates, General Partner, SemperVirens Venture Capital

Allison Baum Gates is a general partner at SemperVirens, a venture fund that invests in healthcare, fintech, and enterprise SaaS. She has successfully raised hundreds of millions from LPs across the US, Europe, and Asia, deploying capital into over 70 companies, including nine unicorns and 24 exits, while holding 10 board positions.

Gates has been featured in well-known publications such as the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch, and has taught numerous business students. She lectures in management at Stanford GSB and authored Breaking into Venture (McGraw-Hill, 2023), a comprehensive guide to navigating the VC landscape. Her forthcoming book, Beyond the Pitch: The Psychology of Raising VC Funding, is set for release next year. She earned her B.A. in Economics with Honors from Harvard University and is fluent in three languages.

Katelin Holloway, Founding Partner, 776

Katelin Holloway is a founding partner at Alexis Ohanian’s early-stage venture capital firm, 776. With over 20 years of operational experience from companies like Pixar and Reddit, she invests in transformative startups across diverse sectors. Holloway looks for solutions that enhance human potential, promote health initiatives, drive sustainability, foster creativity, and enrich overall human experiences.

At 776, Holloway combines her operational expertise with a strong dedication to assisting founders in overcoming early-stage challenges and realizing their visions. She is passionate about innovating venture capital by empowering entrepreneurs to tackle the most pressing issues facing humanity while generating exceptional returns.

Miloni Madan Presler, Partner, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP)

Miloni Madan is excited to partner with innovative companies committed to making a positive impact — those that focus on genuine solutions rather than innovating for its own sake. As a general partner at Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), her mission is to support founders crafting essential products and solutions. She backs firms that fill gaps in fragmented markets, modernize outdated practices, and develop data-driven platforms that can transform industries. Madan believes these companies and their positive societal outcomes will have enduring significance, fueling her dedication to every partnership.

Sara Ittelson, Partner, Accel

Sara Ittelson joined Accel in 2022, concentrating on early-stage consumer, enterprise, and AI companies. Prior to Accel, she led strategic partnerships at Faire and worked in Global Business Development at Uber. Originally from Chico, California, Ittelson holds degrees from both Northwestern University and Stanford.

Rinki Sethi, Founding Partner, Lockstep

Rinki Sethi currently serves as the chief security officer at Upwind Security and is a founding partner at Lockstep. Previously, she held the role of vice president and chief information security officer at Twitter, BILL, and Rubrik, and has also occupied senior security leadership positions at Palo Alto Networks, IBM, eBay, and Intuit. Sethi brings substantial expertise to both the private sector and corporate boards, shaping high-level security strategies.

Now is the time to save on your Disrupt pass

Don’t miss the most exciting startup pitch competition of the year, live in action. With dynamic energy, significant stakes, and probing questions, Startup Battlefield 200 has continually served as a launchpad for early-stage companies. Esteemed brands like Discord, Trello, and Mint have emerged from the Disrupt stage. Register here to secure your place before ticket prices go up.