TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Yi Zhang Shares Her Experience | Silicon Valley

This fall, I had the incredible opportunity to attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 alongside my fellow Student Ambassador Aisha Abdur Rahim. Walking into the Moscone Center, I felt the energy of thousands of founders, investors, and tech enthusiasts.

As someone who joined Northeastern University’s MS in Information Systems program in Spring 2025, this was my first major tech conference — and what a debut it was! Thanks to the university’s generous support with complimentary passes, we had the incredible chance to witness firsthand how technology meets ambition.

The Heart-Pounding Drama of Startup Battlefield

Without a doubt, the most electrifying moment was watching the Startup Battlefield competition unfold live. Founders had just six minutes to pitch to top investors — a thrilling experience.

After two intense days of competition, Glīd was announced the winner. This logistics innovation company took home the $100,000 prize and the Disrupt Cup for their hybrid-electric GliderM vehicle, whose clever hook design eliminates the need for forklifts — a perfect example of unglamorous yet essential innovation that moves the world forward.

For those interested in diving deeper into each finalist’s technology, the full details are available to read.

A Mentor’s Eye-Opening Perspective

I also had the incredible opportunity to speak briefly with Vince Kohli, a renowned investor and startup mentor. He shared a perspective that truly resonated with me: when he invests in a company, he invests in the team to solve problems — not just the idea itself. After all, problems cannot be copied, but ideas can. This insight was incredibly eye-opening for me. It reminded me that when we start working on a project, we should focus less on the novelty of our ideas and more on the real problems we are aiming to solve.

For those interested in learning more about startups and innovation, you might want to check out this upcoming event: M EDevice Silicon Valley 2025, where he will be facilitating this year’s Start-Up Stadium pitch session — introducing each company, providing feedback, and opening up the floor for questions and answers.

Exploring Innovation at the Exhibition Floor

The entire second floor of TechCrunch Disrupt was filled with startup booths — a dazzling showcase of creativity and technology. It was an opportunity to speak with founders turning visions into reality.

Given my previous background in the healthcare industry, I felt an immediate pull toward the health tech section. Aisha and I spent quite some time exploring those booths, and one company in particular left a deep impression on us — Che Innovations.

I had the chance to meet Anika Mohan, who introduced me to their inspiring work. The company develops locally manufacturable medical devices for Ugandan health facilities, including NeoNest — the world’s first transport infant warmer made from a water jug. I was moved by how their simple, human-centered design saves newborn lives. They are now raising funds to expand the NeoNest project.

Another unforgettable stop for us was AI Seer, a deep-tech startup from Singapore behind Facticity.AI, one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024. Their mission? To build an “antivirus” for misinformation — verifying the truth of text, audio, and video through explainable AI search.

I tried their Multi-Spectral Reality Detector, a contactless lie-detection system — fascinating and fun, showing how AI can see through deception.

Reflections on Disruption and Purpose

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 wasn’t just about the newest gadgets or biggest investments — it was about people daring to solve real problems with creativity and courage. I was reminded that technology’s true power lies in its ability to serve humanity. Collecting cute company merch was also a super fun bonus — a reminder that marketing and branding play an important role in innovation!

As the founder of HuskyCode Club, I’d love to invite experienced IT professionals to join us as guest speakers! Whether you’re a technical manager, software engineer, or hiring lead, our members would love to hear your tips on technical interviews, career growth, and industry trends.

If you’re interested, reach out on LinkedIn — let’s inspire the next generation of tech talent together!