Startup Awards Reveal Judges Panel Led by High-Profile VC Partners
High-profile venture capitalists to evaluate 60+ global finalists competing for $1 million investment prize at San Francisco finale
SAN FRANCISCO – November 21, 2025 – Pegasus Tech Ventures, the global venture capital firm managing $2 billion in assets, today announced the distinguished judges panel for the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale. The panel comprises senior investment partners from Silicon Valley’s most influential venture firms, who will evaluate startups from over 60 countries competing for a $1 million grand prize investment.
The three-day event, scheduled for October 15-17 at Hilton Union Square, will feature final pitches from regional winners selected through 100+ competitions worldwide. This year’s judging roster represents firms collectively managing more than $100 billion in assets and includes industry veterans with deep expertise in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and emerging technologies.
The confirmed judges include Connie Chan, Board Partner at Andreessen Horowitz; Sophia Luo, Partner at Greylock Partners; Rajesh Swaminathan, Partner at Khosla Ventures; and Scott Beechuk, Partner at Norwest Venture Partners. Additional judges from Salesforce Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and Redpoint Ventures will join the panel, alongside corporate innovation leaders from Google, Microsoft, and Apple. These investors bring extensive track records of backing category-defining companies, with portfolio successes spanning from seed-stage disruptors to publicly traded tech giants.
Global venture funding has demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2025, with Q3 investment reaching $97 billion—a 38% year-over-year increase driven largely by AI sector momentum, according to Crunchbase data. The AI sector alone captured $45 billion, representing 46% of total global venture capital in the quarter. This capital concentration underscores the critical role that curated competitions like Startup World Cup play in identifying breakthrough innovations within an increasingly selective investment landscape.
“The Startup World Cup’s judging panel reflects the highest caliber of venture capital talent available in Silicon Valley today,” said Masami Takahashi, President of Pegasus Tech Ventures. “Our judges don’t merely evaluate pitches; they identify transformational technologies that will define the next decade. With AI commanding nearly half of all venture funding, our panel’s expertise in deep tech and enterprise software has never been more critical for separating lasting innovation from fleeting trends.”
The competition structure includes semi-finals on October 15, a workshop and corporate innovation seminar on October 16, culminating in the Grand Finale on October 17. Finalists represent diverse sectors including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and fintech, with particular strength in deep tech applications. More than 3,500 startups applied through regional competitions, with representation from emerging ecosystems including the Philippines, Singapore, and Brazil joining established hubs from the Bay Area, New York, and London.
Beyond the investment prize, participants gain unparalleled access to Pegasus Tech Ventures’ corporate partnership network, which includes 27 Fortune 500 companies actively seeking Startup Awards collaboration through the firm’s Venture Capital-as-a-Service model. Historically, 15% of finalists secure follow-on funding within six months of the competition, with average seed rounds increasing to $2.2 million in 2025, according to industry data.
About Pegasus Tech Ventures
Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. The firm invests in early-stage technology companies worldwide and offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) platform for corporate innovation programs. Since 2011, Pegasus has backed more than 200 startups across enterprise software, AI, healthcare, and fintech sectors. The Startup World Cup, now in its eighth year, has become one of the world’s largest startup pitch competitions, with regional events spanning 100+ countries and partnerships with leading accelerators, universities, and economic development organizations globally.
Media Contact
Sarha Al-Mansoori
Director of Corporate Communications
G42
Email: media@g42.ai
Phone: +971 2555 0100
Website: www.g42.ai
