Startup World Cup Virginia 2025: Meet the Judges

As we gear up for the Startup World Cup Virginia Regional Finals on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach, we’re thrilled to introduce this year’s panel of judges. These individuals are not only experienced investors and business leaders—they’re also passionate champions of innovation and entrepreneurship in Virginia and beyond.

Their collective experience spans venture capital, startup leadership, healthcare innovation, and ecosystem building. And yes—one of them even led a Virginia company to place third in the world at last year’s Startup World Cup Global Finals.

Let’s meet the judges who will be deciding which business earns the title of 2025 Virginia Champion and advances to compete for a $1 million investment in San Francisco.

Nancy Grden

President & CEO, Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable
Nancy Grden is a powerhouse of cross-sector leadership. Currently serving as President & CEO of the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable, she plays a key role in driving collaboration across industries in the region. She was the Inaugural Chair of 757 Collab and Past Chair of 757 Angels, and previously led Old Dominion University’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where she helped launch the Hampton Roads Maritime Collaborative. On the startup side, Nancy founded and led biotech and healthcare ventures like Genomind and Lifescape, and held executive roles at companies including Amerigroup, ValueOptions, and predecessors to Bank of America. Her ongoing board work keeps her close to the heart of entrepreneurship and education throughout the Commonwealth.

Zakiya Alta Lee-Hill

Principal, Idea Fund Partners
Zakiya Alta Lee-Hill is a Principal at Idea Fund Partners, where she sources startups, leads investments, supports portfolio growth, and drives fundraising. She now heads the firm’s Club Fund, which lowers barriers to venture investing by giving individuals access to vetted early-stage deals without traditional VC requirements. Her career began courtside as an NBA dancer for the Atlanta Hawks, later founding Z Pro Prep, a multi-city training platform that helped clients join top NFL, NBA, and collegiate teams. Scaling that business inspired her to earn an Executive MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where she focused on innovation and entrepreneurship as a Forté and Melissa & Doug Fellow.

Frank Taylor

Sr. Investment Associate, Virginia Venture Partners
Frank Taylor brings deep venture capital experience to the judging table. At Virginia Venture Partners, he makes early-stage equity investments ranging from $250K to $1M into pre-Seed and Seed stage tech companies across the state. His portfolio includes Scout Space, Sedaro, Spectrohm, and Electra Aero, and his angel deals feature high-profile startups like Shield AI, Varda Space Industries, and Phantom Neuro. Before investing, Frank led a venture-backed SaaS startup, launched and sold an eCommerce business, and served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Carnegie Mellon University. He’s made over 40 investments to date and remains an active force in Virginia’s innovation economy.

Gary Warren

Founder & Board Member, ivWatch
Gary Warren is a visionary entrepreneur whose career spans NASA, internet infrastructure, mobile tech, and now healthcare innovation. He founded ivWatch in 2010 to tackle the critical problem of IV infiltration and has since led the company through FDA clearances, international expansion, and over $100 million in investment raised. Last year, under Gary’s leadership, ivWatch won the Startup World Cup Virginia Regional Finals and placed third globally—a major moment for Virginia’s startup community. Prior to ivWatch, Gary sold his internet company to Symantec and later led a mobile platform startup acquired by Oracle.

Why It Matters

The Startup World Cup is more than just a pitch competition—it’s a celebration of bold ideas, brave founders, and the communities that support them. Having leaders like Nancy, Frank, and Gary evaluate this year’s finalists adds real depth and credibility to the event.

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or someone passionate about the future of Virginia’s business landscape, this is an event you don’t want to miss.

Event Details

📅 Thursday, August 21, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach, VA

Get your tickets and learn more here.

About the Startup World Cup – Virginia Regional

Hosted by Innovate Hampton Roads, the Virginia Regional is part of Pegasus Tech Ventures’ global Startup World Cup competition. Companies from across the Commonwealth pitch their businesses for a chance to win the regional title and move on to the $1 million grand prize round in San Francisco.