Early applications for Battlefield 200 close before May 27 | TechCrunch

Deadline to apply or nominate First Battlefield 200 is Friday, May 27. This program is your shot at VC access, global exposure, TechCrunch coverage, and $100,000 in free funding. If you’re building a breakout startup — or know a founder who is — now is the time to go.

Apply today for the opportunity to take the TechCrunch Disrupt Stage alongside 200 of the world’s most promising early stage startups.

The final countdown to the first class founders

Pre-Series A founders, this is your last call: powerful startups are already entering the arena, and the application window is closing fast.

If your startup is already selected, don’t wait to finish your application. Finals week always moves quickly, and last-minute submissions are at risk of being buried as applications come in before the Friday deadline.

Do you know the beginning that deserves to stand out? Nominate them now so they still have time to apply before May 27th.

Companies that define categories rarely start out polished

Some of the most impactful companies in tech history didn’t start with splashy fundraising announcements. They start with a pitch.

Dropbox has been relegated to a room full of skeptics. Cloudflare took the stage before most people understood what it meant to communicate at the edge. Discord was still the beginning of a terrible game called Hammer & Chisel.

They all go through the same crossroad: Launch Battlefield 200. That’s no coincidence – it’s a pattern. And it starts with the app.

First Battlefield 200 it has never been a competition for the most polished companies. A competition for the most promising. Pre-launch is fine. There is no good money. What matters is that what builds actually changes something – not incrementally, but in a meaningful way.

When you or an innovator you know builds something impactful, the app itself becomes the first pitch. Apply before May 27th.

In addition to the pitch competition

First Battlefield 200 this is where emerging companies are found.

Selected startups will be showcased live on the Disruption Stage in front of an audience of 10,000+, leading VCs, global media, and the broader TechCrunch audience. This is your chance to gain exposure to investors, get direct VC feedback, and prove that your company is among the next generation of category-defining startups.

Each of the 200 selected companies receives:

• A fully funded three-day exhibition space at Disrupt

• Professional class founders with world-class VCs and practitioners

• The first profile installed in the event app

• Press access to listings and lead generation opportunities

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

And all stages of the selected company, whether it is the Disrupt Stage or the Pitch Showcase Stage. Both put founders in front of investors, media, and partners who attend Disrupt specifically to discover what’s next.

You don’t have to make the top 20 for this experience to change the way you travel. Get started by nominating and applying here.

The record of the Startup Battlefield 200 speaks for itself

More than 1,700 companies competed in the Startup Battlefield 200. Together, they have 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 found each other: Dropbox found partners Battlefield 200 alum DocSend in 2021.

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

Behind all those results was an inventor who was willing to bet himself publicly, in front of people who were paying attention. Apply and learn more here.

Who should apply?

We’re looking for early-stage startups to build new, potentially category-defining products.

Applications are open worldwide for all industries. Most selected companies are pre-Series A, although selected Series A startups may be eligible on a case-by-case basis.

To apply, applicants must be:

• Founders with vision, execution, and real drive

Thousands apply every year. Only 200 are selected. Only 20 finalists live on the Disrupt Stage. One startup takes the crown and wins $100,000 in free funding.

Last days to make your move

Founders who wait until they feel ready often wait too long. You don’t need to be polished. You need to promise.

If you’ve been focusing on this, here’s the truth: the worst outcome is that you don’t get selected this cycle – and you’ll come back next year with a stronger application because you did the process.

The stage is important. Community lives. The milestone is real. But the deadline is now one week away.

If you’re creating something class-defining – or know a startup that deserves to stand out – submit your name and complete your application before Friday, May 27th.