Your shot at VC access, global exposure, TechCrunch coverage, and $100,000 in free equity funding is over in a week.
Starting Battlefield 200 applications close May 27. If you’re building a breakout startup — or know who the founder is — now is the time to act.
Apply today for a 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 the founders of the first stage
Pre-Series A founders, consider this your final countdown reminder: powerful startups are already entering the field, and the application window closes immediately.
If your startup is already selected, don’t wait to complete your application. This finals week goes by fast, and last-minute submissions are in danger of being buried as applications arrive before the 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 executives
- 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.
You have one week left to make your move
Founders who wait until they feel ready tend to 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 fill out your application before May 27th.
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