One day left to apply for a FREE Startup Alley Exhibition Package at Disrupt SF 2018

All good things, as the saying goes, must come to an end. And to which good thing do we refer? Your chance to exhibit for FREE as a TC Top Pick at Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7. The application window slams shut tomorrow, June 29 at 5 p.m. (PST). Don’t miss out on your chance to showcase your early-stage startup to all the right people at a price anyone can afford: free. Apply right here, right now.

Granted, not just any pre-Series A startup can qualify to be a TC Top Pick. For starters, your company must fall into one of these categories: AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, Biotech, Fintech, Gaming, Healthtech, Privacy/Security, Space (as in “outer”), Mobility, Retail or Robotics/Hardware.

Still with us? Great. Next, our team of TechCrunch editors will review every eligible application and select up to five startups to represent each category. Several companies will earn the coveted TC Top Pick designation and each team receives a free Startup Alley Exhibitor Package. Here’s what that gets you:

  • A one-day exhibit space in Startup Alley
  • Three Founder passes (good for all three days of the show)
  • Full use of CrunchMatch — our investor-to-startup matching platform
  • Access to the full event press list
  • TC Top Pick Media Bonus: A three-minute video interview on the Showcase Stage with a TechCrunch editor — promoted across our social media platforms

Exhibiting in Startup Alley at a Disrupt event offers founders tremendous networking, collaboration and investment opportunities. Luke Heron, the CEO of TestCard.com, had this to say about the benefits of exhibiting in Startup Alley at Disrupt:

“TechCrunch uses a curation process regarding the companies it accepts. So being at Disrupt — among all these other fantastic startups — has a hugely positive impact when you’re fundraising.”

You truly have nothing to lose by applying to be a TC Top Pick, but you’ll never know what you missed if you don’t get your application in before the clock runs out.

Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. The opportunity clock is winding down, and the application window for TC Top Picks closes on June 29 at 5 p.m. (PST). Click and apply right now.

One day left to apply for a FREE Startup Alley Exhibition Package at Disrupt SF 2018

All good things, as the saying goes, must come to an end. And to which good thing do we refer? Your chance to exhibit for FREE as a TC Top Pick at Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7. The application window slams shut tomorrow, June 29 at 5 p.m. (PST). Don’t miss out on your chance to showcase your early-stage startup to all the right people at a price anyone can afford: free. Apply right here, right now.

Granted, not just any pre-Series A startup can qualify to be a TC Top Pick. For starters, your company must fall into one of these categories: AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, Biotech, Fintech, Gaming, Healthtech, Privacy/Security, Space (as in “outer”), Mobility, Retail or Robotics/Hardware.

Still with us? Great. Next, our team of TechCrunch editors will review every eligible application and select up to five startups to represent each category. Several companies will earn the coveted TC Top Pick designation and each team receives a free Startup Alley Exhibitor Package. Here’s what that gets you:

  • A one-day exhibit space in Startup Alley
  • Three Founder passes (good for all three days of the show)
  • Full use of CrunchMatch — our investor-to-startup matching platform
  • Access to the full event press list
  • TC Top Pick Media Bonus: A three-minute video interview on the Showcase Stage with a TechCrunch editor — promoted across our social media platforms

Exhibiting in Startup Alley at a Disrupt event offers founders tremendous networking, collaboration and investment opportunities. Luke Heron, the CEO of TestCard.com, had this to say about the benefits of exhibiting in Startup Alley at Disrupt:

“TechCrunch uses a curation process regarding the companies it accepts. So being at Disrupt — among all these other fantastic startups — has a hugely positive impact when you’re fundraising.”

You truly have nothing to lose by applying to be a TC Top Pick, but you’ll never know what you missed if you don’t get your application in before the clock runs out.

Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. The opportunity clock is winding down, and the application window for TC Top Picks closes on June 29 at 5 p.m. (PST). Click and apply right now.

Last chance to apply as a TC Top Pick at Disrupt SF 2018

The search for the top TC Top Pick applicants to exhibit for free in Startup Alley at Disrupt San Francisco 2018 is rapidly coming to an end. Let this stand as your final reminder to get your “ish” together and apply to be a TC Top Pick. The application deadline is June 29, so drop what you’re doing and apply, apply, apply. Did we mention that you should apply, like, today?

Why should you apply? If our TechCrunch editors choose your company, you’ll get to exhibit alongside 1,000+ early-stage companies in Startup Alley, our amazing menagerie of innovation. It’s a hub of collaboration, connection, opportunity and inspiration — and you get to be there for free.

We’ll choose a select few from each of these categories: AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, Biotech, Fintech, Gaming, Healthtech, Privacy/Security, Space, Mobility, Retail or Robotics.

TC Top Picks win a free Startup Alley Exhibitor Package, which includes a one-day exhibit space in Startup Alley, three Founder passes (good for all three days of the show), use of CrunchMatch — our investor-to-startup matching platform — and access to the Disrupt SF 2018 press list.

You’ll also get lots and lots of media attention, including a three-minute interview on the Showcase Stage with a TechCrunch editor — and we’ll promote that video across our social media platforms. That exposure keeps reaping benefits long after the conference ends.

Exhibiting in Startup Alley makes sense for early-stage founders, and that’s not just us talking. According to Luke Heron, the CEO of TestCard.com, “If you’re a startup or an entrepreneur, exhibiting at Disrupt is a no-brainer.”

Exhibiting there for free is an even easier decision. Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7. The TC Top Pick deadline is June 29. Don’t delay one more day. Go and apply already!

24 hours left to apply for Startup Battlefield at Disrupt SF ’18

This is it, the absolute last chance for the professional-grade procrastinators out there. It’s do-or-die time. If you’re an early-stage founder who dreams of launching your business to the world, you have 24 hours left to stop dreaming and take action. Get your keister in gear and apply to Startup Battlefield right now.

Startup Battlefield, the premier startup-pitch competition and the best platform for launching your company to the world, takes place at Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7. This year we’re producing our biggest, boldest, most ambitious Disrupt ever, with three times the floor space, more than 10,000 attendees and more than 400 accredited media outlets.

Yeah, that’s a big deal, and we’ve doubled the Startup Battlefield prize to match this super-sized event: $100,000 (we’re talking equity-free cash, folks). Don’t pass up this opportunity to compete with the very best. Yes, it’s a competitive vetting process. TechCrunch editors will review all applications and select between 15-30 of the top early-stage startups. Our acceptance rate ranges from three to six percent. But hey, if you’ve got the stuff, it won’t matter. We’ll see it.

It won’t cost you a thing to compete or to participate, and every team gets free pitch coaching from our Startup Battlefield-tested TechCrunch editors. Each team gets six minutes on the Disrupt Main Stage to pitch their company to a panel of judges — consisting of well-known investors, entrepreneurs and technologists — and then answer any questions they may ask. The judges will choose five teams to enter a second and final round of pitching to a fresh team of judges.

That panel of judges determines the overall winner, who will claim the largest Startup Battlefield prize in TechCrunch history — along with the Disrupt Cup, bragging rights and an enormous amount of investor and media interest.

Every moment of Startup Battlefield takes place in front of a live audience numbering in the thousands, and it’s also live-streamed around the world (and available later on demand) on TechCrunch.com, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Every competing team receives an inordinate amount of exposure.

You’ll get even more exposure exhibiting in Startup Alley — our exhibition hall will showcase more than 1,200 early-stage startups — for all three days of the conference. It’s free for Startup Battlefield competitors, and it’s a huge networking opportunity.

And, of course, you can take advantage of Disrupt’s three content-packed days of exciting and inspiring tech programming, world-class speakers, Q&A Sessions, the Virtual Hackathon and world-class founder-to-investor networking made easy with the CrunchMatch platform.

So much potential. So many benefits. So little time left to apply. Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. You have just 24 hours left. Apply to Startup Battlefield right here.

Only two days left to apply to Startup Battlefield at Disrupt SF ’18

“Time Is on My Side” may be true for the Rolling Stones (seriously, Mick and the boys have defied time), but we’re here to tell you that time is most definitely not on your side if you want to compete in Startup Battlefield at Disrupt San Francisco 2018, which takes place September 5-7.

You have a mere two days left before the application window to Startup Battlefield — and your shot at winning $100,000 — slams shut. Drop whatever you’re doing and apply to Startup Battlefield right now.

Startup Battlefield is one of the tech industry’s leading startup pitch competitions and, without a doubt, it’s the best launching pad for early-stage startups. If you want to introduce your pre-Series A company to the world, attract investor interest and receive intense media coverage, Startup Battlefield delivers the goods.

True fact. Even if you don’t win, merely competing in Startup Battlefield can have a profound effect on your business. Don’t just take our word for it. Consider Riminder, an AI-based recruitment service, that participated in Disrupt NY 2017 but did not make the final cut. Don’t shed any tears, because the company just received a round of funding totaling $2.3 million.

The Startup Battlefield vetting process is highly competitive. Our discerning team of editors reviews each application and accepts between 15-30 startups to compete in the first round. The acceptance rate ranges from three to six percent.

The Startup Battlefield takes place live in front of an audience of thousands, including the aforementioned investors and media. It’s your time to shine. Don’t worry though, each team receives expert pitch coaching from seasoned TechCrunch editors. You’ll be ready to step onto the Disrupt Main Stage and knock the socks off our panel of judges, which consists of notable tech and VC industry experts.

Those judges will select approximately five teams to move to the finals and a second round of pitching. From that select cohort comes the grand-prize winner to claim bragging rights, the Disrupt cup and, yes, our biggest equity-free cash award ever: $100,000. Someone has to win the $100,000 prize, and it might very well be your company.

Let’s take a minute to talk about other benefits of competing in Startup Battlefield. Applying and participating doesn’t cost you a thing, and each team gets to exhibit in Startup Alley for all three days of the conference — for free. The Alley’s where you’ll join more than 1,200 early-stage startups showcasing their very best tech, products and talent. It’s one of the most inspiring networking opportunities going.

Compete in the Battlefield, and you also join the Startup Battlefield alumni community — which consists of more than 800 companies and has collectively raised more than $8 billion in funding and produced more than 100 exits. That’s another magical networking community. You might recognize a few names, like Mint, Dropbox, Yammer, Fitbit, Getaround and Cloudflare.

Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. You have 48 hours left to apply. You are not Mick Jagger. Time is not on your side. Apply to Startup Battlefield today.

Startup Battlefield application deadline extended by one week

Here’s a heartfelt gift for all you procrastinating early-stage startup founders who haven’t gotten your act together to apply to compete in Startup Battlefield at Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7. You’re strapped for time, we get it. So, we’re extending the application deadline by one week.

You now have until June 13 — that’s seven days to collect your team and take your shot at winning $100,000. Yup, we doubled the prize money this year because we’re supersizing Disrupt SF. We’ve moved to Moscone Center West, which offers three times the floor space. That’ll make it much more comfortable for the more than 10,000 attendees, 1,200 exhibitors and more than 400 media outlets we expect to take in all that Disrupt has to offer.

Like, for example, Startup Battlefield — humanity’s best launching pad for early-stage startups. Seriously, winning this gig can have life-altering implications. Consider New York-based chore wizard Hello Alfred, which won Startup Battlefield at Disrupt SF back in 2014. The company — founded by Jessica Beck and Marcela Sapone — is ready to scale having just scored $40 million in a Series B round of funding. That’s what we call a good ROI.

In case you’re wondering how well other Battlefield competitors have fared, listen up. The Startup Battlefield alumni community consists of more than 800 companies and has collectively raised more than $8 billion in funding and produced more than 100 exits. You may recognize a few of them: Mint, Dropbox, Yammer, Fitbit, Getaround and Cloudflare. The networking opportunities alone make applying worth your time.

And let’s not forget all the press and investor interest. The competition takes place on the Disrupt Main Stage in front of a live audience that numbers in the thousands. The funding you seek is no doubt sitting in that audience. If you make the cut, experienced TechCrunch editors will coach you on the finer points of startup-pitching, so you’ll make the best impression possible.

We live-stream the entire event around the world on TechCrunch.com, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. And it’ll be available later, on demand. Remember, applying and competing in Startup Battlefield is 100 percent free. Where else will you find media and investor exposure at that price?

Battlefield competitors also get to exhibit their company in Startup Alley for all three days of the show — for free. Remember all those attendees and media outlets? They spend a lot of time combing the Alley for the next big thing. Competing in the Battlefield is the gift that keeps on giving.

Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. You have one extra week to get your application to us. Don’t delay any longer. Apply to Startup Battlefield right now.

Investor founder matching platform CrunchMatch returns to Disrupt San Francisco this September

Disrupt San Francisco 2018, TechCrunch’s flagship technology conference, is back this fall on Sept. 5-7, and it’s bigger and bolder than ever. That’s not just hyperbole, people. We’ve staked out new digs at Moscone Center West. That means three times the floor space and more than 10,000 attendees.

Bigger crowds lead to more opportunities, especially when you have a tool to help you cut through the clutter and connect with the right early-stage startup founder — or find the perfect venture capitalist to fund your dream. CrunchMatch is that tool.

We first introduced CrunchMatch, our free, founder-investor connection platform (powered by Brella) at Disrupt SF 2017. Buy a Founder, Investor or Insider pass and you’ll be invited to fill out a CrunchMatch profile. Through the service you can suggest meetings, send, accept or decline invitations and reserve dedicated, private meeting spaces in the CrunchMatch Lounge.

Last year investors and founders used CrunchMatch to set up more than 1,300 meetings. This year, we expect that number to triple. Here’s what Luke Heron, CEO of TestCard.com, had to say about his CrunchMatch experience.

“We used the CrunchMatch platform to schedule a bunch of meetings on our second day of the show,” said Heron. “We met with six or seven VCs and, by and large, they were very positive meetings.”

Whether your company meets the investment criteria of a venture capitalist you just heard speak on the main stage or you see the perfect early-stage company pitch during Startup Battlefield, CrunchMatch will let you send a meeting invitation quickly and easily.

As a reminder, you’ll find a special focus on these tech categories at Disrupt SF 2018: AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, Biotech, Fintech, Gaming, Healthtech, Privacy/Security, Space, Mobility, Retail and Robotics.

You’ll find them all exhibiting in Startup Alley. Or you can join them and place your early-stage startup in front of thousands of potential customers, partners and investors. CrunchMatch will really save you time as you work your way through the Alley.

If you’re looking to invest in early-stage startups — or looking for funding — Disrupt San Francisco 2018 is where you want to be on Sept 5-7, and CrunchMatch is the tool you need to use. Don’t wait, purchase your Founder, Investor or Insider passes today.

One week left: Apply for Startup Battlefield at Disrupt SF

One week, seven days or 10,080 minutes. No matter how you slice it, time is running short if you want to compete in Startup Battlefield — the premier startup-pitch competition taking place at Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7. Applications close in just one week, so get yourself together and apply right now.

Why wouldn’t you? It won’t cost you anything to apply or to participate. No fees, that’s our motto. And because this is our biggest Disrupt event ever, we celebrated by supersizing the grand prize to a very hefty $100,000 (that’s equity-free cash, folks).

Still need not sure the benefits of competing outweigh the effort of applying? Startup Battlefield is the best platform for launching your company to the world. And that’s not just our opinion. Cathy Han is the CEO of 42 Technologies, an online retail analytics platform. Here’s what she says about her company’s Startup Battlefield experience.

“Launching on Battlefield helped us rise above the noise, and it put us on the radar of customers, investors and talent early on. We also met a community of amazing founders and the family at TechCrunch, who have helped us grow ever since. If you’re launching a new company or product, this is the stage you want to be on.”

If you’re selected by our team of highly discriminating editors, you’ll receive expert pitch coaching to get you primed and ready to do battle. Teams get six minutes to make their pitch to an expert panel of judges — and then answer any questions the judges may have for them.

The Battlefield stage has a live audience packed with literally thousands of entrepreneurs, tech founders, investors and media. We also live-stream it to the world on TechCrunch.com, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. And it’ll be available later, on demand. It’s the kind of exposure startup founders dream of experiencing.

And if you do compete, your company becomes part of a very exclusive club: The Startup Battlefield alumni community. This group of more than 800 companies has collectively raised more than $8 billion in funding and produced more than 100 exits. You may recognize a few of them: Mint, Dropbox, Yammer, Fitbit, Getaround and Cloudflare. That’s some rarified company.

Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. You have just one week left to apply. Why not take your shot? Apply to Startup Battlefield today.

Apply now: Startup Battlefield San Francisco ’18 applications end in less than 2 weeks

Less than two weeks.That’s all that stands between you and your chance to compete in Startup Battlefield at Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7. If you think your pre-Series A company has what it takes to go head-to-head against some of the top early-stage startups, both domestic and international, then don’t delay. The application window for this potentially life-altering startup pitch competition slams shut in — you guessed it — less than two weeks. Apply right now.

Disrupt SF ’18 is without doubt our largest and most ambitious Disrupt ever. Our new venue, Moscone Center West, provides three times the floor space, offers four unique stages, and we expect more than 10,000 attendees over the course of three program-packed days. Clearly, we needed a Startup Battlefield suitable for an event of this magnitude. So how does a $100,000 equity-free cash prize grab you?

That kind of cheddar will go a long way to help you realize your startup dream, but you have to take the first step and apply. Here’s how it all works.

Our team of pitch-savvy TechCrunch editors will scrutinize every Startup Battlefield application. As vetting processes go, it’s highly competitive with an acceptance rate somewhere between 3 and 6 percent. We look at the team, the product and the market potential before ultimately selecting 15-30 pre-Series A startups in the final cut. Keep in mind that competing in Startup Battlefield doesn’t cost a thing; we don’t charge any fees or take any equity.

Remember those pitch-savvy TechCrunch editors? They’ll provide the competing teams with free pitch training to prepare for the big day and round one of the competition. Teams have just six minutes to pitch and demo in front of an expert panel of judges. Judges follow each pitch with questions for the team.

Those judges select approximately five teams to advance to round two for a repeat pitch performance in front of a fresh set of judges. And from that impressive cohort will come Disrupt Startup Battlefield’s first-ever $100,000 champion.

The whole thrilling shebang takes place in front of a live audience that numbers in the thousands. We also live-stream it to the world on TechCrunch.com, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. And it’ll be available later, on demand.

Just being a Startup Battlefield competitor can reap significant benefits — whether you win or not. You’ll receive investor interest and media opportunities from more than 400 accredited outlets at the show. Just consider Aircall, a company that competed back in 2015. It just received $29 million in another round of funding.

And every Startup Battlefield team gets to join the ranks of the Startup Battlefield alumni community. This group of more than 800 companies has collectively raised more than $8 billion in funding and produced more than 100 exits. You may recognize a few of them: Mint, Dropbox, Yammer, Fitbit, Getaround and Cloudflare. That’s some rarified company.

Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. Startup Battlefield is an outstanding opportunity to launch your company to the world. Don’t pass up your chance to go big — $100,000 big. Apply to Startup Battlefield today.

Mobility startups: Apply to exhibit for free as a TC Top Pick at Disrupt SF ‘18

Mobility is one of the most rapidly advancing technologies going, and we’re searching for the rising stars of early-stage mobility startups to apply as a TC Top Pick for Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7 at Moscone Center West. It’s a competitive application process, but if TechCrunch editors designate your company as a Top Pick, you get to exhibit for free in Startup Alley — the show floor and heartbeat of every Disrupt event. Besides, who doesn’t love free?

Mobile tech is on the cusp of a revolution, and we’re interested in startups focused on everything it entails — autonomous vehicles, sensors, drones, security — or something else altogether. Flying cars, anyone? Exhibiting in Startup Alley will expose your startup to more than 10,000 attendees, including potential investors, customers, partners and more than 400 media outlets.

Here’s how the TC Top Pick process works. First things first: apply now. Our expert team of editors will review each application and choose only five mobility startups as TC Top Picks. They also will select five startups for each of the following tech categories: AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, Biotech, Fintech, Gaming, Healthtech, Privacy/Security, Space, Retail or Robotics. A total 60 companies will exhibit in Startup Alley as a TC Top Pick.

If your mobility startup makes the cut, you receive a free Startup Alley Exhibitor Package, which includes a one-day exhibit space in Startup Alley, three founder passes good for all three days of the show, use of CrunchMatch — our investor-to-startup matching platform — and access to the event press list.

In addition to all the other potential media opportunities, TC Top Picks also get a three-minute interview on the Showcase Stage with a writer — and we’ll share the heck out of that video across our social media platforms. That’s promotional gold right there, folks.

And who knows? As a Startup Alley exhibitor, your company might even get selected as the Startup Battlefield Wildcard — if they do, you get to compete in Startup Battlefield for a shot at the $100,000 prize.

Disrupt San Francisco 2018 takes place on September 5-7. Don’t miss your opportunity to exhibit in Startup Alley for free. The TC Top Pick deadline is June 29, and we have special offers for early applicants. Does your startup have what it takes to be one of the five mobility TC Top Picks? Apply today to find out.