Brief
TechCrunch reveals most Startup Battlefield 200 judges ahead of Disrupt 2026
TechCrunch announced 20 of the 25 judges who will evaluate the 200 startups competing at Disrupt 2026.
By Felo News Desk · Published
TechCrunch disclosed that 20 of the 25 judges for the Startup Battlefield 200 competition have been confirmed, with the remaining five to be announced later. The judges will assess the 200 selected startups at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco.
Among the judges revealed are Caleb Appleton, partner at Bison Ventures, and Sara Deshpande, general partner at Maven Ventures. Appleton, a biomedical engineer turned investor, has backed companies such as Cobot and Grid Aero, while Deshpande focuses on seed‑stage investments.
The judging panel will decide which startups advance to the live pitch competition, where the winner receives a $100,000 equity‑free prize and the Disrupt Cup.
Key facts
- TechCrunch announced 20 of the 25 judges for Startup Battlefield 200. (techcrunch.com)
- Caleb Appleton of Bison Ventures is one of the judges. (techcrunch.com)
- Sara Deshpande of Maven Ventures is also a judge. (techcrunch.com)
- The competition will take place at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco. (techcrunch.com)
- The winning startup receives a $100,000 equity‑free prize and the Disrupt Cup. (techcrunch.com)
What we don't know yet
- Names of the remaining five judges and the exact date of the live pitch competition.
Sources
- [1] techcrunch.com — originally reported as “Next five VCs judging Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt 2026”
