The Countdown to Startup Battlefield 200: A Gateway for Innovators
Deadline to apply or submit a nomination Starting Battlefield 200 is Friday May 27. This program is your chance to access venture capital, gain global exposure, TechCrunch coverage, and $100,000 in no-equity funding. If you’re building a startup in small groups — or know a founder who is — now is the time to make the move.
Apply today for the opportunity to participate in the TechCrunch Disrupt Stage alongside 200 of the world’s most promising early-stage startups.
Image credits:TechCrunch
Final Countdown for Startup Founders
Pre-Series A founders, this is your last call: the strongest startups are already entering the arena and the application window is closing quickly.
If your startup has already been nominated, don’t wait to complete your application. The final week always moves quickly and last-minute submissions risk being buried as applications flood in before Friday’s deadline.
Do you know a startup that deserves the spotlight? Name them now so they still have time to apply before May 27.
Category-defining Companies Rarely Start Out Brilliantly
Some of the most important companies in tech history haven’t made splashy fundraising announcements. They started with a pitch.
Dropbox demonstrates to a room full of skeptics. Cloudflare came on the scene before most people understood what edge networking meant. Discord was still a scrappy gaming startup called Hammer & Chisel.
Image credits:TechCrunch
They all went through the same crucible: the Battlefield 200 startup. It’s not a coincidence, it’s a pattern. And it starts with an application.
Starting Battlefield 200 has never been a competition for the finest companies. This is a competition reserved for the most promising. The pre-launch is very good. No income is good. What matters is whether what you’re building actually changes anything – not incrementally, but significantly.
If you or a founder you know is building something impactful, then the app itself becomes the first pitch. Apply before May 27.
More than a Pitch Competition
Starting Battlefield 200 This is where small businesses are discovered.
Selected startups will present live on the Disrupt Stage in front of more than 10,000 attendees, leading venture capital firms, global media and the broader TechCrunch audience. This is your opportunity to gain exposure to investors, receive direct feedback from venture capitalists, and prove that your company belongs to the next generation of category-defining startups.
Each of the 200 selected companies receives:
- A fully funded three-day exhibition stand at Disrupt
- Founder Masterclasses with World-Class VCs and Operators
- A startup profile presented in the event application
- Access to press list and lead generation opportunities
- Editorial coverage, podcasts and speaking opportunities on TechCrunch as the company grows
Image credits:Photograph of the Slava blazer
And each selected company pitches, whether on the Disrupt Stage or the Pitch Showcase Stage. Both put founders in front of investors, media, and partners who are specifically attending Disrupt to find out what’s next.
You don’t need to be in the top 20 for this experience to change your trajectory. Start by submitting your candidacy and applying here.
The Startup Battlefield 200 Track Record Speaks for Itself
More than 1,700 companies participated in the Startup Battlefield 200. Together, they raised more than $32 billion and generated 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 DocSend, another Battlefield 200 alum, in 2021.
It’s also the same launchpad that helped accelerate companies like Fitbit, Trello, and Mint.
Behind each of these results was a founder willing to bet on himself publicly, in front of people who would listen. Apply and learn more here.
Who Should Apply?
We are looking for ambitious start-ups that are creating innovative and potentially category-defining products.
Applications are open globally across all sectors. Most of the selected companies are pre-Series A, although some Series A startups may qualify on a case-by-case basis.
To apply, startups must have:
- Founders with vision, execution and real traction
Thousands of people apply every year. Only 200 are selected. Only 20 finalists pitch live on the Disrupt Stage. One startup takes the crown and wins $100,000 in no-equity funding.
Last Days to Move
Founders who wait until they feel ready often wait too long. You don’t need to be polite. You have to be promising.
If you’ve been sitting on this, here’s the reality: The worst outcome is that you don’t get selected this cycle – and come back next year with a stronger application because you went through the process.
The scene matters. The community lasts. The milestone is real. But the deadline is now a week away.
If you’re building something that defines a category – or know a startup that deserves the spotlight – Submit your application and complete your application by Friday, May 27.
Image credits:Kimberly White/Getty Images
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