For the Startup Battlefield 200 judges, we established a high standard: each has either founded or co-founded the investment firm they now lead. Together, they bring decades of experience backing ambitious founders, scaling companies, and making the critical bets that define a venture firm. They understand exactly what distinguishes a compelling pitch from a potentially great company, and they will be the five individuals deciding who earns this year’s Startup Battlefield title.
The conversation will continue beyond the final presentation, as all five judges will reunite on the Builders Stage later that afternoon for a live Ask Me Anything (AMA). This session allows the audience to query them directly on topics ranging from standout competition performances and founder qualities to fundraising strategies, company building, and future investment targets.
Stacy Brown-Philpot serves as the founder and managing partner of Cherryrock Capital, a venture fund dedicated to Series A and Series B software companies led by Black and Latinx entrepreneurs. Her portfolio features Coactive AI, a multimodal AI platform for media and entertainment, as well as Vitable Health, which provides primary care solutions for hourly workers. Previously, Brown-Philpot held the role of CEO at TaskRabbit, which was acquired by IKEA, and spent over a decade in senior leadership positions at Google. She earned her MBA from Stanford University.
Chi-Hua Chien is a co-founder and managing partner at Goodwater Capital, where he specializes in consumer technology investments—spanning mobile, fintech, e-commerce, digital health, and consumer AI—across the United States and Asia. Throughout his career, he has backed more than 17 unicorns, with significant holdings including Spotify, Chime, Monzo, TikTok/Musical.ly, Coupang, Toss, and Udemy. Prior to co-founding Goodwater, Chien served as a general partner at Kleiner Perkins and a principal at Accel.
Dayna Grayson is a co-founder and general partner at Construct Capital, a Washington, D.C.-based early-stage firm focused on technology for foundational American industries such as manufacturing, logistics, transportation, supply chains, and defense. Her portfolio includes Veho, Hadrian, Copia Automation, Arkestro, and Verve Motion. Before establishing Construct, Grayson was a partner at NEA, where she spearheaded early investments including Desktop Metal, which subsequently went public on the NYSE. She holds a systems engineering degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Carter Reum is a co-founder and managing partner of M13, a consumer technology venture firm managing $1.9 billion in assets. M13 invests in seed to Series B companies shaping the future of work, commerce, health, and finance. With over 200 investments, the firm has supported Lyft, Pinterest, Ring, Daily Harvest, and Tonal, resulting in 15 unicorns in its portfolio. Before launching M13, Reum co-founded VEEV Spirit, a rapidly growing spirits brand acquired in 2016. He is a co-author of the national bestseller “Shortcut Your Startup” and holds a BA from Columbia University.
Alexa Von Tobel acts as the founder and managing partner of Inspired Capital, which she co-founded with former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Her investment portfolio includes MosaicML, acquired by Databricks, along with Chief, Finix, and Dandy, totaling nine unicorns in her career. Prior to founding Inspired Capital, Von Tobel established LearnVest, a financial planning platform that was acquired by Northwestern Mutual. She is a New York Times bestselling author and a certified financial planner.
Do not miss the ultimate pitch competition if you are currently scaling a startup or have an idea ready for launch. Startup Battlefield serves as a comprehensive masterclass on pitching and scaling a viable business. Venture capital judges will reveal the requirements for success, and you will gain firsthand insights into what investors look for when supporting the next wave of innovation.
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