How to Make the Startup Battlefield Top 20 – and What Each Company Gets Regardless

Every founder applying to Startup Battlefield wants the same thing: disrupt the main stage. Six-minute live presentation and demo in front of top-tier Silicon Valley investors. A dedicated TechCrunch article was published at the time of your submission. You could win a $100,000 equity-free prize and a shot at the Disrupt Cup.

And it can all be yours, but every path to startup battlefield success starts with an application. And we’ve actually extended the deadline for this year’s group to June 8th, so you only have a brief window to send your message.

Head here to start that app now, but for starters, we have some advice based on past competitions and some details on why participants start getting perks before Disrupt’s main stage even begins.

What needs to happen to get Startup Battlefield into the top 20

The Startup Battlefield Top 20 represents the best of the Startup Battlefield 200. Companies whose ideas are meaningfully different, category-defining, and able to make a big impact in their industry or geography. Selection depends on which companies are most compelling, unique and ready for the global platform.

Your product and installer video are everything. They are the first impression and play the most important role in identifying which companies are ready for the disruption phase. Show your product in action. Be specific about what makes you different. Let not only your metrics, but also your confidence, come through on camera.

Selected companies work closely with the TechCrunch team on pitch preparation prior to Disrupt. Each company presents a six-minute live pitch and demo on the Disrupt stage, followed by a live Q&A with top-tier investors such as Eileen Lee (Cowboy Ventures), Kirsten Green (Forerunner), Naveen Chadha (Mayfield), Chris Farmer (Signalfire), Dana Grayson (Construct Capital), Ann Miura-Ko (Floodgate), and Hans Tung (Remarkable Capital).

Five of the top 20 are selected to perform again on the final day of Disrupt in front of a new panel of high-profile judges. The winner receives equity-free prize money and $100,000 in Disrupt Cup.

Refer to the top 20 of 2024 and 2025.

Not initially selected for the top 20? you’re still in the race

The list is not final as long as the disruption is ongoing. Every year, things change – founders drop out, the schedule changes, and exceptional companies rapidly emerge from the 200 over the course of the programme.

We keep the top 20 confidential until the event begins and maintain a short list of companies ready to participate. This happens in every cycle.

And more importantly, being in the 200 is where the real opportunity begins. The stage is a moment. But the access, exposure and network you get as part of a group extends far beyond that.

What every Startup Battlefield 200 companies get

You don’t need to make the top 20 for Startup Battlefield to change your trajectory.

Each selected company receives a fully funded demo booth at TechCrunch Disrupt; complimentary event passes for the team; access to pre-event virtual programmes with world-class VCs, operators and founders; dedicated pitch preparation; and an invitation to a private Startup Battlefield reception.

All 200 companies are present in Disrupt. Whether you’re on the Disrupt stage competing for a $100,000 prize or on the Showcase stage for the best in the industry, both are real opportunities to stand out in front of investors, press and partners who come to Disrupt to learn what’s next.

On the editorial side, every company enters the TechCrunch ecosystem. Coverage is not guaranteed, but our editors actively track startup battlefield companies through articles, the Build Mode Podcast, the Equity Podcast, and future updates as you grow. TechCrunch often invites standout companies to pitch, speak, and give retreats on its platform. This is an opportunity that adds up over time.

Plus, you join the Startup Battlefield alumni community, which includes 1,700+ companies like Dropbox, Discord, and Cloudflare that have collectively raised $32 billion and produced 250+ exits. This is not a mailing list; it is a network of founders who have gone through similar experiences and continue to support each other.

Alumni receive frequent opportunities to mentor and speak at TechCrunch events, discounts and complimentary access to future events, and exclusive perks from our partner network.

The stage is a moment. Network, visibility and reach are ultimate.

You get value just for applying to Startup Battlefield

Even if you are not selected, you still benefit from applying. Applicants get access to resources from our partners, as well as exclusive discounts on event tickets and performance opportunities, so you can stay close to the ecosystem and come back stronger in the next cycle.

If you’re unsure whether you’re ready, apply anyway. It’s free, there’s nothing to lose, and we’ll tell you if it’s not the right time. Founders who wait until they feel ready often wait too long.

While you’re preparing, check out Build Mode, TechCrunch’s podcast for early-stage founders featuring past Startup Battlefield companies, breakout founders, and top-tier investors. Learn what it takes to build a battlefield-ready company.