TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, set for October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, has announced a new group of venture capital judges for its Startup Battlefield 200 competition. This event is a key platform for early-stage startups to showcase their innovations and potentially gain investment from top venture capitalists. The judges will assess the startups’ potential through rigorous questioning, offering founders both an opportunity and a challenge. Startup Battlefield has a long history of identifying companies that go on to shape entire industries, and this year’s competition promises to be no different. Among the new judges is Aditi Maliwal, a General Partner at Upfront Ventures. She focuses on investing in fintech, enterprise SaaS, AI applications, and developer tools. Before joining Upfront, Maliwal worked at Google and Deutsche Bank and led the Series A investment in Chime, a popular digital banking platform. She is also Upfront’s first San Francisco-based partner, highlighting the firm’s growing presence in the region. Michael Palank, a General Partner at MaC Ventures, brings a unique perspective as a majority Black-owned venture firm. His focus includes seed-stage companies in consumer and enterprise sectors, with an emphasis on AI, fintech, healthcare, media, and aerospace and defense. Before entering venture capital, Palank worked in Hollywood, representing talent at William Morris and Will Smith’s production company, Overbrook Entertainment. Nell Daly, co-founder and managing partner at Revenge Capital, is dedicated to supporting underrepresented founders in tech, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodiverse entrepreneurs. The fund is sector-agnostic and operates as an evergreen fund, meaning it continuously invests without a fixed end date. Daly’s background as a psychotherapist informs her approach to investing, emphasizing the well-being and needs of founders. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will draw over 10,000 participants, including tech leaders, venture capitalists, and startup founders, to network and discover the next wave of innovation. The event offers attendees a chance to connect with influential figures who could impact their startup’s future and gain insights into the direction of the tech industry. To save up to $200 on tickets, attendees are encouraged to register before the early-bird pricing ends on September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT.