Pre-Series A founders, this is your moment! If your startup is ready to be tested under real pressure, the battlefield is open.
We’re still accepting nominations for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200. This is your shot to step into the arena at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 and go head-to-head in front of world-class VCs and the full TechCrunch audience.
Where breakout companies are forged
You’ll compete for $100,000 in equity-free funding, earn global exposure on the main stage at Disrupt in San Francisco, and get raw, unfiltered feedback from the investors who shape the future of tech. In addition, you’ll join an elite cohort of founders preparing to take on the biggest startup stage in the world.
Startup Battlefield alumni include Trello, Mint, Dropbox, Discord, and Fitbit — more than 1,500 startups that once stood exactly where you are now: early, hungry, and ready to prove it.
Make your mark or get left behind. Nominate now.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: (L-R) Kevin A. Damoa, Founder & CEO, Glīd, Claire Kroft and Ankit Malhotra, winners of the Startup Battlefield 2025, pose onstage during day three of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 at Moscone Center on October 29, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images for TechCrunch)Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images
Competition is fierce. Enter early.
Thousands of startups applied last year, and this year’s field will be even more competitive. TechCrunch reviews every nomination, but founders who enter early give themselves a strategic edge. If you’re serious about winning, don’t wait to join the fight.
Startup Battlefield 200 perks
- Free exhibit table for all three days of Disrupt
- 4 complimentary Disrupt passes
- Startup branding and listing in the Disrupt event app
- Press list access and lead generation opportunities
- Access to exclusive founder masterclasses
- The chance to pitch live on the Disrupt Stage
- Direct feedback from top-tier, world-famous VCs
- A shot at $100,000 equity-free funding
Explore the full list of perks.
Techcrunch event
Boston, MA
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June 9, 2026
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 21: (L-R) Former TechCrunch Managing Editor Matt Burns, Kleiner Perkins Partner Mamoon Hamid, Pear VC Founding Managing Partner Mar Hershenson, Precursor Ventures Founder & Managing Partner Charles Hudson, Sunshine Co-Founder & CEO Marissa Mayer, TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Matthew Panzarino, Greycroft Co-Founder & Managing Partner Dana Settle, Magnestar CEO & Founder Jacqueline Good, and Magnestar Director of Operations Dani McCoy speak onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 at Moscone Center on September 21, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images for TechCrunch)Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images
What it takes to enter the arena
We’re looking for bold, early-stage founders with an MVP and a vision that challenges the status quo. If you’re bootstrapped, pre-seed, or seed-funded, this battlefield was built for you. Series A startups in capital-intensive industries may also qualify.
Start the battle today
Nominations close on June 8, but champions don’t wait for the last call. Prepare early. Nominate early. Enter Startup Battlefield 200 and fight for your place on tech’s biggest stage.
