The startup world's most prestigious competition just got real. TechCrunch has announced the five finalists for Startup Battlefield 2025, narrowing down thousands of applicants to the companies that could reshape industries from space insurance to kidney disease treatment. These startups will compete live on Wednesday for $100,000 in equity-free funding and tech's most coveted trophy.
The most competitive startup pitch competition in tech just revealed its 2025 champions. After two days of relentless demos and pitches at TechCrunch Disrupt, five companies have emerged from an initial pool of thousands to compete for the ultimate prize: $100,000 in equity-free funding and the legendary Startup Battlefield Cup.
The finalists represent a fascinating cross-section of deep tech innovation - from space fintech to gene therapy delivery systems. TechCrunch's editorial team first narrowed the field to 200 companies, then to 20 that competed on the main Disrupt Stage, before expert judges selected these final five.
Charter Space is tackling one of the space economy's biggest bottlenecks: insurance. The company built what looks like a dev tool for aerospace engineers, but it's actually a sophisticated fintech play. Their software captures manufacturing and test data directly from spacecraft production lines, then feeds this information into an underwriting interface connected to major insurance carriers. The result? Faster, cheaper, and more reliable risk evaluation for spacecraft insurance. But Charter Space isn't stopping there - they're eyeing new forms of credit and non-dilutive funding for space companies looking beyond traditional VC and public markets.
Logistics gets a major upgrade with Glīd Technologies, pronounced "Glide." The startup tackles the notoriously complex process of moving shipping containers from ships to freight trains. Their first product, GliderM, is a hybrid-electric vehicle with a specialized hook that can pick up and move 20-foot containers directly to rail without needing forklifts or hostler trucks. It's the kind of unglamorous but crucial innovation that could save billions in shipping costs.
MacroCycle might have cracked the recycling code that's stumped the industry for decades. The company developed a process that makes recycled plastic as inexpensive as virgin material - a holy grail that could transform manufacturing economics. Unlike traditional chemical recycling that breaks down polymers, MacroCycle loops polymer chains back on themselves, forcing them into rings called macrocycles. These rings stay intact after contaminants wash away, providing clean material that's ready for reuse.