TechCrunch has revealed the next group of venture capital judges who will assess Startup Battlefield 200 pitches at Disrupt 2026, spotlighting founders tackling real problems with scalable businesses.
- Five new VC judges bring diverse sector and inclusion perspectives
- Event runs October 13-15 at Moscone West, San Francisco
- Ticket discounts available through September 25
What happened
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 announced the next wave of five venture capital partners who will judge the Startup Battlefield 200 pitch competition. These judges include Aditi Maliwal of Upfront Ventures, Michael Palank of MaC Ventures, Nell Daly of Revenge Capital, Grace Ge of Amplify Partners, and Crystal Huang of GV. Each brings unique expertise in sectors like fintech, AI, enterprise SaaS, and inclusive investing.
The Startup Battlefield has a long track record—over 15 years—of identifying startups that go on to define entire market categories. The judges’ role is not just to evaluate pitch polish but to probe deeper into the founders' conviction, clarity of vision, and ability to execute a sustainable business model.
Why it matters
This judging panel reflects both the broad industry trends shaping venture capital investments and a growing focus on diversity and founder-first approaches. Firms like MaC Ventures and Revenge Capital prioritize backing underrepresented founders, while Amplify Partners and GV emphasize cutting-edge technology sectors such as AI infrastructure and developer tools.
For startups and industry observers, Startup Battlefield serves as a critical platform to gain visibility and validation from top-tier investors. The competition effects ripple through the ecosystem by spotlighting the most promising companies poised to lead in their fields.
What to watch next
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will take place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, gathering more than 10,000 technology professionals, VCs, and founders. The Startup Battlefield 200 competition will feature live pitches evaluated by the newly announced judging panel.
Attendees and interested parties should register before September 25 to secure early-bird discounts of up to $200. Watching the judging process offers a rare opportunity to understand how expert investors evaluate early-stage companies beyond the surface-level pitch, focusing instead on the potential to build category-defining businesses.