Founders racing to the Disrupt Main Stage must first clear the Startup Battlefield application, now open until June 8. The contest narrows 200 entrants to a Top 20 that earns six minutes of live pitch time before Silicon Valley heavyweights such as Aileen Lee and Kirsten Green. Securing a spot gives immediate exposure to investors, press and a dedicated TechCrunch feature, plus a shot at the $100,000 equity‑free prize and the Disrupt Cup for their startup.

Judges evaluate companies on differentiation, market impact and readiness for a global stage. Video demos and founder pitches carry the most weight; teams must showcase product functionality and articulate a clear advantage. Selected finalists receive pitch coaching, a fully funded demo booth and access to a pre‑event virtual program that connects them with top‑tier VCs and operators and strategic mentorship.

Even firms that miss the Top 20 remain in the running, as withdrawals open slots late in the program. All 200 participants join an alumni network of over 1,700 companies—including Dropbox and Cloudflare—that has raised $32 billion and produced 250 exits. The concrete benefit: every entrant walks away with booth space, media coverage opportunities and ongoing access to TechCrunch’s ecosystem through future events.