Today is the final day to apply or nominate a startup forStartup Battlefield 200. Once the clock strikes 11:59 p.m. PT, the window closes on your chance to compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding, gain global visibility, connect directly with investors, and launch on theTechCrunch Disrupt stage.
Ifyou’rebuilding a breakout startup — or know a founder who is — this is the moment to move.
Apply nowfor the opportunity to join 200 of the world’s most promising early-stage startups at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Last call for ambitious founders
Founders, this is it. The application windowclosestonight.
The strongest startups are already in the arena, and applications always surge in the final hours. If your company has been nominated but youhaven’tcompleted your application yet,don’trisk missing your shot by waiting until the last minute.
And if you know a startup that deserves investor attention, media exposure, and a global stage,nominate them nowwhile there’s still time to apply before the deadline.
Breakout startups started with small moments
Some of the most influential companies in tech historydidn’tbegin with perfect pitches or massive funding rounds. They started by taking a chance.
Dropbox demoed to skeptics before cloud storage was mainstream. Cloudflare pitched before most people understood edge infrastructure. Discord entered as a scrappy gaming startup called Hammer & Chisel.
All of them came through Startup Battlefield.
That’sbecause Startup Battlefield 200 has never been about rewarding the most polished companies.It’saboutidentifyingthe most promising ones. Pre-launch is fine. Early traction is fine. No revenue is fine. What matters is whetheryou’rebuilding something that genuinely changes an industry.
The application itself is your first pitch. And today is your final opportunity to make it.
More than a pitch competition
Startup Battlefield 200 is where breakout startups get discovered.
Selected companies willshowcaseat TechCrunch Disrupt in front of 10,000+ attendees, leading venture capital firms, global media, and the broader TechCrunch audience. Founders gain direct investor access, live exposure, and the opportunity to prove they belong among the next generation of category-defining companies.
Every selected startup receives:
- A fully funded three-day exhibition booth at Disrupt
- Complimentary team passes
- Dedicated pitch training
- Founder masterclasses with top VCs and operators
- A featured startup profile in the event app
- Press list access and lead-generation opportunities
- Opportunities for TechCrunch editorial coverage, podcasts, and speaking appearances as the company grows
Every selected company pitches live, whether on the Disrupt Stage or the Pitch Showcase Stage. Both put founders directly in front of investors, media, customers, and partners looking forwhat’snext.
You do not need to win the competition for this experience to change your company’s trajectory.The exposure you get from this alone could be what pushes the needle.
Thetrack recordspeaks for itself
More than 1,700 startups haveparticipatedin Startup Battlefield over the years. Together,they’veraised over$32 billionand produced more than 250 exits, including acquisitions by Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Uber, and Amazon.
Alumni include companies like Dropbox, Cloudflare, Discord, Fitbit, Mint, and Trello.
Behind every one of those success stories was a founder willing to put their company forward before the rest of the world caught up.
Who should apply?
We’relooking for ambitious early-stage startups building innovative, potentially category-defining products.
Applications are open globally across industries. Most selected startups are pre-Series A, though select Series A companies may qualify.
To apply, startups should have:
- A functional MVP
- A clear product demo
- Strong market potential
- Founders with vision, execution, and traction
Thousands apply every year. Only 200areselected. Just 20 finalists pitch on the main Disrupt Stage. One startup wins $100,000 in equity-free funding.
The deadline is tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT
The founders who change industries rarely wait until they feel completely ready. They apply before certainty exists.
Ifyou’vebeen debating whether tosubmit, this is your final chance. The deadlineclosestonight, 11:59 p.m. PT.
Ifyou’rebuilding something category-defining — or know a startup that deserves the spotlight —submityour nomination and complete your applicationbefore time runs out.
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