Startup Battlefield 200 orders will close on May 27

Your chance to access VC, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, and $100,000 in equity-free funding is over in a week.

Battlefield 200 startup apps Closed on May 27. If you’re building an outstanding startup — or know a founder — now is the moment to act.

Apply today For the chance to take the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, October 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 a 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 order. This final week moves quickly, and last-minute applications may get buried as the number of applications surges before the deadline.

Do you know a startup that deserves the spotlight? Nominate them now So they still have time to apply before May 27th.

Companies that define categories rarely set out to refine them

Some of the most important companies in the history of technology didn’t launch with flashy fundraising announcements. They started with a playground.

Dropbox was demonstrated to a room full of skeptics. Cloudflare took the stage before most people understood what edge networking meant. Discord was still a gaming startup called Hammer & Chisel.

They’ve all gone through the same crucible: Startup Battlefield 200. This isn’t a coincidence – it’s a pattern. It starts with the application.

Startup Battlefield 200 It has never been a competitor to the more polished companies. It is a competition for the most promising people. Pre-launch is good. No income is fine. What matters is whether what you’re building truly changes something — not incrementally, but meaningfully.

If you or a founder you know is building something impactful, the app itself becomes the first offering. Apply before May 27th.

More than just a pitch competition

Startup Battlefield 200 It is where startups are discovered.

Selected startups will be showcased live on the Disrupt Stage to over 10,000 attendees, leading venture capital funds, global media, and the broader TechCrunch audience. This is your chance to get to know investors, receive direct feedback from VCs, 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

• Masterclass for founders with global capital and operators

• A distinct startup profile in the event application

• Access press list and lead generation opportunities

• Opportunities for editorial coverage, podcasts, and speaking appearances at TechCrunch as the company grows

Each selected company will showcase its ideas, whether on the Disrupt Stage or on the Pitch Showcase platform. Both put founders in front of investors, media, and partners who attend Disrupt specifically to find what’s next.

You don’t need to be in the top 20 for this experience to change your path. Start nominating and applying here.

Startup Battlefield 200’s track record speaks for itself

More than 1,700 companies competed in the Startup Battlefield 200. Together, these companies have raised more than $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 acquired each other: Dropbox acquired fellow Battlefield 200 alum DocSend in 2021.

This is also the same launch pad that helped accelerate companies like Fitbit, Trello, and Mint.

Behind every one of those results was a founder willing to bet on himself publicly, in front of people who were paying attention. Apply and learn more here.

Who should apply?

We’re looking for ambitious early-stage startups that are building innovative products that can define their categories.

Applications are open globally across all industries. Most of the companies selected are pre-Series A stage, although selected Series A startups may qualify on a case-by-case basis.

To apply, startups must have:

• Founders with vision, execution, and real traction

Thousands apply every year. Only 200 were selected. Only 20 finalists perform live on the Disrupt Stage. One startup took the crown and won $100,000 in equity-free funding.

One week left to make your move

Founders who wait until they feel ready often wait too long. It does not need to be polished. You have to be promising.

If you’re sitting on this, here’s the truth: The worst outcome is not being selected for this course — and you’ll come back next year with a stronger application because you went through the process.

The stage is important. Society endures. The teacher is real. But the deadline is now one week away.

If you’re building something category-defining — or know of a startup that deserves the spotlight — Submit your nomination and complete your application by May 27.