Your chance at VC access, global exposure, TechCrunch coverage, and $100,000 in equity funding is gone in a week.
Starter Battlefield 200 apps close May 27. If you’re building a fledgling startup or know a founder, now is the time to act.
Apply today for the opportunity to go on stage TechCrunch Disrupt 2026October 13-15, alongside 200 of the world’s most promising early-stage startups.
The clock is ticking for early-stage founders
Pre-Series A founders, consider this your final countdown reminder: the strongest startups are already entering the arena and the application window closes quickly.
If your startup has already been nominated, Don’t wait to complete your application. This final week moves quickly, and last-minute submissions risk being buried as applications surge before the deadline.
Know of a start-up that deserves attention? Nominate them now therefore, they still have until May 27 to apply.
Companies that define categories rarely start out polished
Some of the most successful companies in tech history didn’t start with fundraising announcements. They started with the pitch.
Dropbox was demonstrated to a room full of skeptics. Cloudflare came on the scene before most people understood what an outside network meant. Discord was still a crappy gaming startup called Hammer & Chisel.
They all went through the same crucible: the launch Battlefield 200. This is not a coincidence, but a pattern. And it starts with an application.
Home Battlefield 200 there has never been a competition for the most polished companies. This is a race for the most promising. It’s best to start in advance. No income is good. What matters is whether what you build actually changes something – not incrementally, but meaningfully.
If you or a founder you know builds something impressive, then the app itself becomes the first pitch. Apply by May 27.
More than a pitch competition
Home Battlefield 200 is where fraudulent companies are discovered.
Selected startups will pitch live on the Disrupt Stage in front of over 10,000 attendees, leading VCs, global media and a wider TechCrunch audience. This is your opportunity to gain investor exposure, get direct VC feedback, and prove your company belongs in the next generation of category-defining startups.
Each of the 200 selected companies receives:
- A fully funded three-day exhibition booth at Disrupt
- Founder masterclasses with world-class VCs and operators
- The startup profile selected in the event application
- Press list access and lead generation capabilities
- Opportunities for TechCrunch editorial, podcasts and speaking engagements as the company grows
Each selected company performs on both the Disrupt Stage and the Pitch Showcase stage. Both expose founders to investors, media and partners who attend Disrupt specifically to discover futures.
You don’t need to be in the top 20 for this experience to change your trajectory. Get started by nominating and applying here.
Startup Battlefield 200 record speaks for itself
More than 1,700 companies competed in the Startup Battlefield 200. Together, they’ve raised more than $32 billion and made more than 250 exits, including acquisitions by Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Uber, and Amazon.
The network is so deep that alumni have even acquired each other: Dropbox acquired Battlefield 200 alum DocSend in 2021.
It’s also the same launchpad that helped power companies like Fitbit, Trello, and Mint.
Behind each of these results stood a founder who was willing to publicly bet on themselves in front of people who were paying attention. Apply and learn more here.
Who should apply?
We are looking for ambitious early-stage startups creating innovative, potentially category-defining products.
Applications are open globally across all industries. Most of the companies selected are pre-Series A, although startups selected from Series A may be eligible in each case.
To apply, startups must:
- Founders with vision, execution and real traction
Thousands apply every year. Only 200 people were selected. Only 20 finalists perform live on the Disrupt stage. A startup takes the crown and gets $100,000 in equity funding.
You have one week left to make your move
Founders who wait until they feel ready often wait too long. No need to polish. You need to be hopeful.
If you’re sitting on it, here’s the reality: the worst-case scenario is that you don’t get selected this term – and you come back next year with a stronger application because you’ve gone through the process.
The scene is important. Society continues. The stage is real. But the deadline is a week away.
If you’re building something category-defining—or know a startup that deserves the spotlight— submit your nomination and complete your application by May 27.
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