In a competitive landscape, TechCrunch is set to host its annual Startup Battlefield pitch contest in San Francisco from October 13-15, 2026. This year, the contest will feature the top 200 startups, with the final 20 selected to compete for the prestigious Startup Battlefield Cup and a cash prize of $100,000. The remaining 180 startups will also showcase their innovations in various categories.
Among the selected contenders is AI Seer, which develops systems that leverage multiple AI forms to verify information and identify falsehoods. Another notable participant, Atlantix, provides aspiring entrepreneurs with a platform to discover ideas and craft business plans, utilizing a comprehensive database of over 6,000 university-research innovations.
Additionally, Billow focuses on enhancing financial operations with AI tools designed to automate workflows, while Blok offers user testing through synthetic users that represent real consumer bases. Breakout aims to personalize website interactions with an AI agent that assists visitors, and Cashew simplifies marketing research by enabling surveys through actual human panels.