Startup Battlefield

Where TechCrunch Introduces the Next Wave of Breakout Companies

The world’s most promising early-stage startups. Selected by TechCrunch. Trained, tested, and put on a global stage. Startup Battlefield brings together 200 standout companies to showcase at Disrupt and compete for a $100K equity-free prize, investor attention, and the kind of media exposure that can change the trajectory of a company overnight.

Startup Battlefield is the original startup pitch competition. The program that found Dropbox, Trello, Cloudflare, and Discord before the world knew their names. For over 15 years, TechCrunch has used Startup Battlefield to surface the most promising early-stage companies on earth. Not the ones already famous. The ones about to be.

Being named to the Startup Battlefield 200 is itself an honor. It lives on your LinkedIn, your press page, your pitch deck — permanently. And it’s open to any early-stage founder with the conviction to apply.

If you’re a founder, you can apply right now, right here. And VCs eager to get the startups they’re invested in recognized by millions can submit their nominations here. Applications close May 27, so act now to make sure you don’t miss out!

Startup Battlefield is TechCrunch’s central pipeline for identifying and elevating early-stage startups. While selection does not guarantee editorial coverage, it places companies in front of our editorial team and creates multiple opportunities for visibility around Disrupt and beyond. The most compelling companies will present in front of thousands at Disrupt.

As part of the Startup Battlefield process, you get to participate in everything from pitch training to masterclass sessions with top operators and VCs, and you become a part of an alumni community of thousands whose expertise is limitless.

Applying is as easy as clicking this link and confirming that you want to throw your hat into the ring and potentially join an illustrious list of alumni that includes Cloudflare, Dropbox, Discord, Fitbit, and more.

Here is a detailed list of tips and recommendations for what to include in your application and potential pitch.