Expert Panel of Five Judges Set to Decide TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 Winner
Five highly accomplished venture capitalists and tech executives serve as judges for the 2021 TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield. They evaluate five finalists competing for a $100,000 equity-free prize and global investor recognition.
Twenty startups compete on the virtual TechCrunch Disrupt stage this week for a $100,000 equity-free prize, but only five finalists remain in the running. Adventr, Cellino, Koa, Nth Cycle, and Tatum now face a final round of judging to determine the ultimate winner. The stakes extend far beyond the cash prize, as the victorious founders gain invaluable global press coverage and direct access to top-tier investors and potential partners.
Selecting the winner requires a highly qualified panel, and TechCrunch taps five industry experts for this critical task. Among them is Kirsten Green, founder and managing partner of Forerunner Ventures, who brings extensive expertise in consumer products, health, and supply chains. Green currently holds board positions at major companies like Glossier, Hims-Hers, and Nordstrom, making her a formidable voice in evaluating early-stage innovation.
Another key judge is Jim Lanzone, who steps into the CEO role at Yahoo Inc. just days after the Disrupt event concludes. Lanzone brings decades of media and entrepreneurial experience to the judging table, including his recent tenure as CEO of Tinder. Together with the rest of the expert panel, these judges carefully assess each finalist to uphold TechCrunch's reputation for identifying world-changing technology and exceptional founders.