Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Some of the most important companies in the history of technology did not start with a fundraising announcement. They started with tar. Dropbox he was taken down to the suspect room. Cloudflare took the stage before most people understood what the internet meant. Disagreement was the creator of a fun game called Hammer & Chisel. Mint, Trello, Forethought, N26 – they all went through the same crosshairs: TechCrunch Startup Battlefield.
This is no coincidence. War is not just competition. It’s a starting point, and the numbers help. More than 1,700 companies competed on the Battlefield stage. Together, they’ve raised $32 billion and made more than 250 acquisitions — including acquisitions by Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Salesforce, Twitter, Uber, and Amazon. The Startup Battlefield network runs so deep that alumni can find each other: Dropbox acquired fellow Startup Battlefield alum DocSend in 2021. For thousands of startups, it’s become a landmark – not just a competition, but a moment when the world started to pay attention.
We want to show you what happens when the confetti falls. We checked in with some of our recent alumni, many of whom sat down with us Build Mode: The Founder Survival GuideTechCrunch’s podcast for startups in every sector. Here’s what they’ve been building, in their own words.
About Build Mode
Each season goes in-depth on a different topic of startup life. Phase 1 has gone to market. Part 2 – out now – is about building your team. And mark your calendars: Part 3 drops in June, tackling the most requested topic we’ve ever seen: fundraising.
Register now so you don’t miss it.
Players are the last
From war veterans to the hero of Startup Battlefield 2025
Kevin Damoa, founder of GlÄ«d – 2025 winner
Kevin Damoa did not come from Sand Hill Road. They came from the military – a base that became well-trained in forced construction, with heavy weapons and at a real cost. Damoa’s path to the Startup Battlefield 2025 competition is a start-up story that will make you rethink where the next generation of great startups is coming from.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, CA
| |
October 13-15, 2026
→ Listen to Kevin’s Build Mode episode
From the Startup Warfield stage to the International Space Station
Capella Kerst, founder and CEO of geCKo Materials – 2024 finalist
Capella Kerst didn’t want to start sticking. They set out to solve a problem that has baffled engineers for decades: How do you make things stick – reliably, repeatedly, and without residue – in the toughest environments imaginable? GeCko Materials, based out of Stanford, has developed an innovative alligator-inspired adhesive used in everything from the ground up to, literally, the International Space Station.
Kerst’s Startup Battlefield moment was a signal to the market that science is ready for the world. What has happened since is proof that winning is not a consolation prize – it is a guarantee. Let’s hear how he got there:
→ Listen to an episode of Capella’s Build Mode
How Forethought AI found the right products in the market – before it was seen
Deon Nicholas, co-founder of Forethought AI – 2018 winner (acquired by Zendesk)
Few of the original Battlefront stories have a more complete arc than Forethought AI. Deon Nicholas took to the stage and was convinced that AI could revolutionize customer service – this was before automated betting. Before the words papers and articles, there was pitch and thesis. Foresight was recently acquired by Zendesk – a recent example of what the Startup Battlefield section can set up. His Build Mode episode is worth listening to, and a great introduction to Season 3’s deep dive into fundraising.
→ Listen to Deon’s Build Mode episode
The last 20 stories
The risk of getting money before you find the right product
David Park, founder of Narada
Upgrading before you start selling doesn’t speed things up – it speeds up your mistakes. The park does not favor education.
→ Listen to David’s Build Mode episode
Using AI to hire for fit, not just skill
Sarah Lucena, founder and CEO of Mappa
Skills get people in the door. Consistency determines if they stay. Lucena is using AI to streamline the hiring process no one is talking about.
→ Listen to Sarah’s Build Mode episode
These founders competed in the Startup Battle and joined us on Build Mode to tell their story. All are worth listening to.
Today’s Anna Sun and Hala Jalwan and Alessio Tresanti from Rivio – What happens when the startup becomes a family business, and the team that builds around the Startup Battle. → Listen
Kyle Rudolph and Jon Walburg, founders of Alltroo – Why your network is your first marketing channel. → Listen
James Schembri-Stothart of Luna and Andre Peart of Untapped Solutions – When it comes to markets everyone ignores and builds unprotected areas without a growth playbook. → Listen
The main event is real
Each generation of Startup Battlefield alumni adds a new chapter to the same story. But behind all those facts is a founder who made a bet – in public, in front of an attentive public. The stage is important. A community exists. The main event is real.
Applications for Startup Battlefield 2026 are now open. If you are building something suitable for the stage, this is for you.
→ Apply now
Know an entrepreneur who is ready to focus? Investors, employees, and co-founders can choose companies directly.
Not ready to register yet? Build Mode is where we meet you. Season 2 is available now. Part 3 – all about fundraising – drops this summer.
→ Enter Build Mode
When you purchase through links in our articles, we can get a little work. This does not affect our representation of the authors.
