Thousands of startups applied. Just 200 made Startup Battlefield. Only 20 people will be allowed on the Disrupt Stage throughout the three days. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature competition from October 13th to 15th. It all comes down to one final decision.
We set an especially high bar for the Startup Battlefield finalist judges. Each judge has founded or co-founded the investment company they currently lead. Collectively, they bring decades of experience backing ambitious founders, building and scaling companies, and making the big bets that can define a venture. They know what separates a great pitch from a potentially great company. And they will be the five people who will decide who will be this year’s Startup Battlefield Champion.
And the conversation doesn’t end with the final pitch. Later that afternoon, all five judges will reunite on the Builders Stage for a live AMA. There, the audience can ask anything from what stood out to them in the competition and what they look for in a founder, to raising money, starting a company, and where they would like to invest next.
Get your pass now and save up to $100 and get your second pass for 50% off. Or save up to 30% when you join a group of 4 or more.
Meet the five investors who will decide the winners of this year’s Startup Battlefield
Stacey Brown Philpott, Founder and Managing Partner, Cherryrock Capital
Stacy Brown-Philpot is the founder and managing partner of Cherryrock Capital, a venture fund focused on Series A and Series B software companies founded by Black and Latinx founders. Her portfolio includes Coactive AI, a multimodal AI platform for media and entertainment, and Vitable Health, which provides primary care plans to hourly workers. Ms. Brown-Philpot previously served as CEO of TaskRabbit, which was acquired by IKEA, and spent more than a decade in senior roles at Google. She holds an MBA from Stanford University.
Chi-Hua Chien, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Goodwater Capital
Chi-Hua Chien is a co-founder and managing partner at Goodwater Capital, which invests exclusively in consumer technologies including mobile, fintech, e-commerce, digital health, and consumer AI in the U.S. and Asia. Having backed over 17 unicorns throughout his career, his portfolio includes Spotify, Chime, Monzo, TikTok/Musical.ly, Coupang, Toss, and Udemy. Prior to co-founding Goodwater, Chien was a general partner at Kleiner Perkins and a principal at Accel.
Dayna Grayson, Co-Founder and General Partner, Construct Capital
Dayna Grayson is co-founder and general partner of Construct Capital, a Washington, DC-based early-stage fund focused on technology in America’s basic industries, including manufacturing, logistics, transportation, supply chain, and defense. Her portfolio includes Veho, Hadrian, Copia Automation, Arkestro, and Verve Motion. Prior to co-founding Construct, Grayson was a partner at NEA, where he led early investments including NYSE-listed Desktop Metal. She holds a degree in systems engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Carter Reum, M13 Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Carter Reum is co-founder and managing partner of M13, a consumer technology venture firm with $1.9 billion under management that invests in seed to Series B companies that shape the future of work, commerce, health, and money. Through more than 200 investments, M13 has backed companies such as Lyft, Pinterest, Ring, Daily Harvest, and Tonal, and has 15 unicorns in its portfolio. Prior to launching M13, Reum co-founded VEEV Spirit, one of the country’s fastest growing independent spirits brands, which was acquired in 2016. He is the co-author of the national bestseller “Shortcut Your Startup” and holds a BA from Columbia University.
Alexa on Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner, Inspired Capital
Alexa von Tobel is the founder and managing partner of Inspired Capital, which she co-founded with former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Her portfolio includes MosaicML, which was acquired by Databricks, as well as Chief, Finix, and Dandy, and she has supported nine unicorns over her investment career. Prior to launching Inspired Capital, Von Tobel founded LearnVest, a financial planning platform that was acquired by Northwestern Mutual. She is a New York Times bestselling author and certified financial planner.
One week left until Startup Battlefield launches — get your tickets now
If you’re currently scaling your startup or have an idea ready to launch, don’t miss the ultimate pitch contest. Startup Battlefield is a masterclass on how to market and scale a viable startup. Hear directly from VC judges to determine what it takes to scale and what VCs are looking for when supporting your next big innovation.
You can only witness this competition on the Disrupt stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. There, more than 10,000 founders, investors, operators, and technology enthusiasts will gather to see what’s next and hear from more than 250 technology leaders featured in more than 200 sessions across six industry stages, roundtables, and breakout sessions. Find out what’s next at one of the year’s most anticipated technology conferences.
Get your tickets now to save up to $100 and get your second pass for 50% off before doors open on October 13th. Got fired? Get your $75 Expo+ Pass before it’s gone.
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