Startup Battlefield

What is Startup Battlefield?

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. 

Applications have closed for 2026, but please consider applying next year! Everyone who has applied will be notified by end of August with a decision on their submission.

Is it too late to get into Startup Battlefield 2026?

For most startups, yes. Our applications have closed and we’re reviewing thousands upon thousands of submissions as you read this. But if you can make it out to Sydney, Australia on August 19, then you have one final chance to make it into the top 200, and from there, victory at Disrupt 2026. If you’re convinced already, start your application here.

We’re joining Stripe to highlight the best startups based in Australia, or who have significant customer bases in the country. The winner of the competition not only gets moved on to Disrupt, but they also get $15,000 in Stripe credits, with additional Stripe credits granted to the second and third-place startups.

The last time we ran Startup Battlefield in Sydney, HealthMatch won and went on to raise over $25M. Runner-up FluroSat merged to form Regrow Agriculture, now backed by Microsoft and Cargill. And put together, the 2017 Australian alumni class has raised over $147M. We’re coming back to find the next one, and you can apply to compete and take part in the rest of Stripe’s global tour event in Sydney right here. 

Why founders should apply

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. 

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

Applications have closed for 2026, but please consider applying next year! Everyone who has applied will be notified by end of August with a decision on their submission.

Some of the biggest names in tech are Startup Battlefield alumni

Why investors love Startup Battlefield

Startup Battlefield is where investors look to identify the next wave of innovation. Each year, it surfaces a concentrated set of early-stage companies across industries — many of which go on to define new categories.

For VCs, it’s a high-signal environment to evaluate founders, see ideas take shape in real time, and get ahead of emerging trends before they’re widely. 

Selected companies present onstage at Disrupt and connect directly with investors throughout the event, creating a rare opportunity to engage early and build relationships that can lead to future investments. 

For investors, Startup Battlefield also serves as a powerful platform to elevate portfolio companies. VCs actively seek to position their companies for global visibility across potential partners, hires, investors, and media — you can submit a nomination to put a company on that stage. 

For those attending Disrupt, the experience extends well beyond the stage — offering a curated pipeline of founders, direct access to teams, and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the innovators shaping what comes next. You can get your ticket to be part of the audience identifying what’s next alongside some of the most respected investors in the industry. 

Startup Battlefield attracts the top investors in the world

What if I get into Startup Battlefield?

Congrats! You’ve made it into a wildly competitive and qualified cohort. Our team will be in touch about all of the specifics and logistics that ensue. We will guide you through the process of getting expert prep in advance of the public reveal of the Startup Battlefield 200 in late August, the ramp-up to Disrupt, the grand showcase of the 20 finalists during the event, and the eventual crowning of the Startup Battlefield champion.

And if you didn’t get in, don’t worry. There are many participating companies and founders who have tried multiple times before succeeding. Applying also gives you a special set of perks for if you go to Disrupt!

The journey for the final 200 participants in each year’s Startup Battlefield and for those who didn’t make the cut doesn’t end when the winner is given their trophy.

Throughout the year, we keep our alumni network activated on Discord. Our newsletter shares insights and updates on what our team is up to and what’s in store for the next competition. And we even have a new podcast, Build Mode, hosted by the Head of Startup Battlefield, Isabelle Johannessen. You can subscribe right here.

If you have other questions that are not addressed by our extensive FAQ or if you have feedback, you can reach the team here.