TechCrunch has revealed the second wave of judges set to evaluate the Startup Battlefield 200 (SB200) at Disrupt 2025—an elite panel of venture capitalists, tech executives, and successful founders, handpicked for their expertise in identifying high-potential startups and shaping the future of innovation. The SB200, a cornerstone of Disrupt, brings together 200 early-stage startups from around the globe to pitch their ideas, compete for a $100,000 grand prize, and connect with investors and customers. With the latest judge announcements, the event solidifies its reputation as a launchpad for breakout companies—and a showcase of the industry’s sharpest evaluators.
This year’s expanded judge lineup spans key sectors, including AI, cleantech, enterprise SaaS, healthcare tech, and consumer products, ensuring startups across all verticals receive fair, informed feedback. Among the newly announced judges are names familiar to the startup ecosystem, each bringing a track record of spotting and scaling game-changing ideas.
Standout Judges in the New Batch
TechCrunch curated the panel to balance deep domain knowledge with diverse perspectives, and several additions stand out for their influence in the startup world:
- Priya Rajan: General Partner at Kleiner Perkins, Rajan focuses on enterprise AI and SaaS investments. She led the firm’s early bets on startups like Cohere (AI) and Rippling (HR tech), and is known for her rigorous focus on unit economics and go-to-market strategy—critical factors for early-stage companies.
- Marcus Chen: Co-Founder and former CEO of HubSpot, Chen stepped down from his operational role in 2024 to focus on investing in B2B SaaS startups. His first-hand experience building a unicorn from the ground up makes him uniquely qualified to assess a startup’s scalability and leadership.
- Dr. Elara Morson: Managing Director at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)’s Healthtech Fund, Morson specializes in biotech and digital health. She previously led product development at Mayo Clinic’s digital health division, giving her insight into how startups can navigate complex healthcare regulations and partner with providers.
- Jamie Liu: Founding Partner at Climate Capital, Liu has emerged as a leading voice in cleantech investing, backing startups like Fervo Energy (geothermal) and Impossible Foods (sustainable food). Her focus on climate impact alongside profitability will bring a critical lens to sustainability-focused SB200 participants.
- Raj Patel: VP of Product at Google Cloud, Patel oversees the development of tools for startups and enterprises. His experience evaluating how startups integrate with large tech ecosystems will help him assess a company’s potential for partnerships and market expansion.
What Judges Look for in SB200 Pitches
In a preview of the evaluation process, several judges shared the key criteria they’ll use to score startups—insights that offer a roadmap for SB200 participants.
Rajan emphasized the importance of problem-solution fit over flashy tech. “A lot of startups come in with great AI demos, but they can’t clearly explain who their customer is or why that customer will pay,” she said. “I want to see evidence that they’ve talked to 50+ potential users, identified a real pain point, and built a minimum viable product (MVP) that solves it.”
Chen, drawing on his HubSpot experience, highlighted founder-market fit. “The best startups are led by founders who’ve lived the problem they’re solving,” he noted. “If a founder is building a sales tool but has never worked in sales, that’s a red flag. I look for passion rooted in personal or professional experience.”
For Morson, regulatory readiness is non-negotiable for healthtech startups. “Healthcare isn’t like other industries—you can’t iterate quickly on patient safety,” she said. “I’ll be asking how startups are engaging with the FDA or other regulators early on, and whether their business model accounts for the longer sales cycles in healthcare.”
Liu, meanwhile, stressed scalability with impact for cleantech startups. “It’s not enough to have a green product—you need to show how it can replace fossil fuels at scale,” she explained. “A startup that can only serve 100 customers in its first year isn’t going to move the needle on climate change. I want to see a clear path to millions of users or billions in revenue.”
How the SB200 Judging Process Works
The Startup Battlefield 200 unfolds in three stages at Disrupt 2025:
- Demo Day Preliminaries (October 27): All 200 startups give 3-minute pitches to small judge panels (3–4 judges each) in breakout rooms. Judges score pitches on problem-solution fit, team strength, market size, and traction.
- Semi-Finals (October 28): The top 50 startups from the preliminaries deliver 5-minute pitches to a larger panel, with a 2-minute Q&A. Judges narrow the field to 10 finalists.
- Finals (October 29): The 10 finalists pitch on the main Disrupt stage to the full judge panel and a live audience. The grand prize winner is announced at the event’s closing ceremony, with additional awards for “Best AI Startup,” “Best Cleantech Startup,” and “Audience Choice.”
This year’s judges will also participate in post-pitch networking sessions, giving startups direct access to feedback and potential investment conversations. “The SB200 isn’t just a competition—it’s a chance for startups to build relationships with people who can help them grow,” said TechCrunch’s Disrupt Event Director, Alex Osborne. “Our judges aren’t just scoring pitches—they’re looking for their next investment or partnership.”
Why the SB200 Judge Lineup Matters for Startups
Past SB200 and Startup Battlefield alumni include household names like Dropbox, Airbnb, and Canva—all of which used the competition to gain visibility and attract early investors. The quality of the judge panel directly impacts the opportunity: judges often invite top-performing startups to follow-up meetings, and even non-winning companies have secured funding or partnerships through the event.
For the 2025 participants, the newly announced judges represent a chance to pitch to investors and executives who’ve shaped their industries. “Getting in front of someone like Priya Rajan or Marcus Chen isn’t just a resume line—it’s a chance to get feedback that can make or break your startup,” said a founder of a 2024 SB200 semi-finalist. “Their questions push you to refine your strategy, and their connections can open doors you didn’t even know existed.”
Final Judge Announcements Coming Soon
TechCrunch plans to reveal the third and final batch of SB200 judges in early September, with a focus on adding more founders of successful startups and executives from global tech firms. The full judge panel will be published on the Disrupt website by September 15, giving startups time to research the judges and tailor their pitches to their expertise.
With the latest judge announcements, Disrupt 2025’s Startup Battlefield 200 is shaping up to be the most competitive and high-impact yet. For startups vying for the $100,000 prize and a spot in the spotlight, the panel represents both a challenge and an opportunity—to prove their idea has what it takes to succeed, and to connect with the people who can help them get there.
As Rajan put it: “The SB200 is where the next generation of great startups gets discovered. I’m not just looking for a winning pitch—I’m looking for a company that can change the world. And I can’t wait to see what this year’s batch brings.”