TechCrunch is accepting nominations for its Startup Battlefield 200 contest, where early-stage companies compete for $100,000 in funding. The deadline to enter is May 27.
This isn’t just prize money – it’s equity-free cash, meaning winners keep full ownership of their companies. Most startup funding comes with strings attached, like giving up company shares to investors.
The startup lottery ticket
Startup Battlefield has become one of the most watched startup competitions in tech. Past winners include companies that went on to raise millions more from venture capitalists. The contest gives unknown startups a chance to pitch their ideas to top investors and tech reporters.
Beyond the cash prize, winners get something arguably more valuable: access to venture capital firms that usually ignore early-stage companies. Getting in front of the right investor can be worth millions down the road.
The competition will narrow hundreds of applicants down to just 200 companies, then whittle that group down further through multiple rounds of pitching. Think American Idol, but for tech companies with potentially billion-dollar ideas.
What happens next
After May 27, TechCrunch will select the 200 semifinalists and announce them publicly. The chosen startups will then compete in front of judges and investors for the grand prize. For many contestants, just making the list of 200 can boost their profile enough to attract new customers and investors.