TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200: win $100k equity-free funding and global exposure

Does your early-stage startup have what it takes to compete with 200 global founders on a global platform? TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 presents an opportunity to pitch your startup for global visibility.  Applications are now open for the 2025 edition, and the invite is to founders with exceptional ideas across the globe.  Participants will gain global recognition and meet industry experts.

Upon inception in 2007, the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield competition supported a small group of startups. However, over the years, the competition has grown and expanded its reach to accommodate more startups. In 2022, TechCrunch pivoted its approach to allow 200 early-stage startups, and has since maintained this model. Yearly, the most audacious entrepreneurs aim to vie for the prize money, VC connections, international recognition and the centre stage. It’s no different this time around.

In the past year, a Colombian health-tech startup, Salva Health, bagged the grand prize of $100,000 with its exceptional pitch about using  AI to detect early-stage breast cancer.

TechCrunch Battlefield remains true to its core, till today – helping early-stage startups access funding, receive mentorship from seasoned experts, gain global recognition and bridge the gaps between early-stage startups and access to technology. Two hundred early-stage startups will be selected, and 20 finalists will move on to the next phase. Although 20 finalists will emerge from the shortlisted 200 applicants, non-finalists will also get to showcase their products to investors for the three-day event and competition span. However, only one winner will clinch the $100,000 equity-free funding. TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is sector-agnostic. Hence, startups across all sectors in technology, such as Healthtech, Fintech, Agritech, AI and more are encouraged to apply.

Who can apply?

Early-stage startups worldwide are encouraged to apply:

• Founder or co-founders of the early-stage startup
• Founder with ideas that solve real-world problems across all sectors is encouraged to apply

While onboarding, training and pitch coaching would be done remotely, successful startups will be required to attend an in-person programme in San Francisco. 

Programme benefits

The startup Battlefield 200 offers several benefits to help early-stage founders scale their business. Some of the benefits of the programme include: 

• $100,000 equity-free prize to support an early-stage startup with an exceptional pitch
• Free exhibition at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, where products would be showcased to thousands of attendees and investors, alike
• Free training from the TechCrunch editorial team and coaching from international experts
• Twenty successful finalists would have the opportunity to pitch on a global stage
• Founders would be trained and enlisted into the broader   TechCrunch alumni network where they can leverage connections  and apply for other grants opportunities with the acquired knowledge
• Lifelong membership to a global community

Eligibility

To apply for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200, applicants must meet these requirements: 

• The startup must be at an early stage and have at least a minimum viable product(MVP)
• Applicants must have a legally registered business
• Founders or co-founders must not have participated in previous TechCrunch Startup Battlefield

Also Read: NSIA Prize for Innovation 3.0 opens with $220,000 in funding and Silicon Valley training

Application Timeline

• Applications open: February 24,2025
• Application deadline: June 9, 2025
• Finalist notification: August, 2025
• Pitch training: August-October, 2025
• Finalist pitch session: October 27-29, 2025

How to apply?

Applications for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 are accepted via the official website. ¥ Eligible founders must submit their application on or before Monday, June 9, 2025. 

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