The deadline to apply or nominate for Startup Battlefield 200 is Friday, May 27. This program is your shot at VC access, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, and $100,000 in equity-free funding. If you’re building a breakout startup or know a founder who is — now is the time to move.
Apply today for the opportunity to take the TechCrunch Disrupt Stage alongside 200 of the world’s most promising early-stage startups.
Final countdown for early-stage founders
Pre-Series A founders, this is your last call: the strongest startups are already entering the arena, and the application window is closing fast.
If your startup has already been nominated, don’t wait to finish your application. The final week always moves quickly, and last-minute submissions risk getting buried as applications surge ahead of Friday’s deadline.
Know a startup that deserves the spotlight? Nominate them now so they still have time to apply before May 27.
The companies that define categories rarely start polished
Some of the most consequential companies in tech history didn’t launch with splashy fundraising announcements. They started with a pitch.
Dropbox demoed to a room full of skeptics. Cloudflare took the stage before most people understood what edge networking meant. Discord was still a scrappy gaming startup called Hammer & Chisel.
They all passed through the same crucible: Startup Battlefield 200. That’s not a coincidence — it’s a pattern. And it starts with an application.
Startup Battlefield 200 has never been a competition for the most polished companies. It’s a competition for the most promising ones. Pre-launch is fine. No revenue is fine. What matters is whether what you’re building genuinely changes something — not incrementally, but meaningfully.
If you or a founder you know is building something impactful, then the application itself becomes the first pitch. Apply before May 27.
More than a pitch competition
Startup Battlefield 200 is where breakout companies get discovered.
Selected startups will showcase live on the Disrupt Stage in front of 10,000+ attendees, leading VCs, global media, and the broader TechCrunch audience. This is your opportunity to gain investor exposure, receive direct VC feedback, and prove your company belongs among the next generation of category-defining startups.
Every one of the 200 selected companies receives:
-A fully funded three-day exhibition booth at Disrupt
-Free passes for the team
-Dedicated pitch training
-Founder masterclasses with world-class 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
And every selected company pitches, whether on the Disrupt Stage or the Pitch Showcase Stage. Both put founders in front of the investors, media, and partners who attend Disrupt specifically to find what’s next.
The Startup Battlefield 200 track record speaks for itself
More than 1,700 companies have competed in Startup Battlefield 200. Together, they’ve raised over $32 billion and generated more than 250 exits, including acquisitions by Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Uber, and Amazon.
The network runs so deep that alumni have even acquired each other: Dropbox acquired fellow Battlefield 200 alum DocSend in 2021.
Who should apply?
We’re looking for ambitious early-stage startups building innovative, potentially category-defining products.
Applications are open globally across all industries. Most selected companies are pre-Series A, though select Series A startups may qualify on a case-by-case basis.
To apply, startups should have:
-A functional MVP
-A clear product demo
-Strong market potential
-Founders with vision, execution, and real traction
Thousands apply every year. Only 200 are selected. Just 20 finalists pitch live on the Disrupt Stage. One startup takes the crown and wins $100,000 in equity-free funding.
Final days to make your move
If you’re building something category-defining — or know a startup that deserves the spotlight — submit your nomination and complete your application before Friday, May 27.
How to Apply for TechCrunch 200 Startup Battle
Clink the Link below Nominate a Startup or fill up an individual Application
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