Welcome to the Qualifying Round
Thank you for serving as a judge for this year’s Startup Challenge Monterey Bay Qualifying Round.
Judging Schedule & Deadlines
Info Meetings
Informational sessions hosted by Startup Challenge event management to guide you through the Qualifying Round judging process, schedule, what to expect and where to find assistance.
Individual Scoring
Score individual companies/teams assigned to you and give clear feedback/advice. This should take no more than two hours.
Judges panel Watch Party
Viewing all company pitch videos assigned to your panel. Complete any feedback or comments for the startup companies in your score sheet.
Judges panel Meeting
April 9th: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Judges meet within their individual panels to compare notes, discuss, and come up with ranking within panel (all individual scoring should be done).
All-Division Judges Meeting
April 9th: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
All judges within each division will meet to select division finalists.
How to get started
- Review Judging Criteria
- If desired, attend a Judge’s Info Session
- Find your Panel Assignment below and click “begin judging”

Judging Criteria
What is the market opportunity? What is the customer problem the venture is addressing or unmet need that the venture satisfies?
Is the target market appropriate and large enough for the business to grow? Is the solution appropriate to the target market? (For non-profits: Is their funding target market appropriate and large enough for them to grow?)
Do they have a clear and appropriate description of how the company will generate revenue? (For non-profits: How will they obtain funding?)
Do they have a well-defined strategy for taking their solution to market?
Does the venture have a unique and sustainable advantage over competitive solutions? Why will customers buy its product or service? (For non-profits add: will the company be able to compete for funding?)
Do the economics of the business work? Are growth projections reasonable and sufficient?
Does the founding team have the skills, commitment, and chemistry to start this business?
Does the presentation have a logical flow and contain the information that needs to be presented?
Are they able to inspire others?
Were the points made in the presentation clear?
Did the presenter(s) convey their passion and enthusiasm for their company?
Judges’ division assignments
Click the button next to your name to start the judging process.
- Venture Division
Panel 1
Dave Côté
Matt LeBaron
Pernille Dahl
Anjika Grinager
Judge E
Panel 2
Richard De Andrade
Tom Armstrong
Pernille Dahl
Anjika Grinager
Judge E
- Social Venture Division
Panel
Brooks McChesney
Al Martin
Kelly O'Brien
Martin Brej
Pernille Dahl
Anjika Grinager
Judge E
- Main Street Division
Panel
Brigid McGrath-Massie
Juan Batista
Josh Metz
Patrick Reilly
Brad van Dam
Anjika Grinager
Judge E
- Student Division