TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Innovations and Successes

This year's TechCrunch Disrupt conference highlighted innovative talent and pioneering ideas within the 2025 Startup Battlefield 200 cohort. 200 promising startups were selected from thousands of applications, each presenting unique solutions in their diverse fields. The competition culminated in an exciting event where these startups had the opportunity to showcase their innovations live over three days.

Among the top 20 finalists, TechCrunch's editorial board selected the top five companies that competed for a $100,000 equity-free prize and the prestigious Disrupt Cup. Glīd justly won the award, presenting a revolutionary innovation in shipping container logistics, represented by the electric hybrid GliderM vehicle that simplifies the process of transporting containers from ships to trains. Nephrogen secured a strong second place.

Among the Startup Battlefield 200 companies, many industry leaders showcased their projects and gave presentations on the Showcase stage. Here are the highlights:

Best Showcase Presentation by Industry Category

Sustainability

HomeBoost: Offers AI-powered smart home energy assessments that save money, reduce carbon emissions, and increase comfort.

Built World

Investwise: Builds AI-driven compliance systems for commercial buildings.

Consumer

Rax: Democratizes luxury fashion through a two-sided marketplace.

Enterprise

Cashew Research: Provides rapid and affordable expert customer insights thanks to AI-powered research.

Health

AWEAR: Developed a wearable EEG device with an AI coach to track brainwaves and manage stress.

Policy and Protection

JustiGuide: Transforms immigration from a bureaucratic nightmare into a seamless infrastructure.

Best Showcase Booth – Tie!

• Billight: Showcased one of its illuminated billiards game systems and set it up on a pop-up billboard. They are building a "Top Golf" for billiards, but without a billiards table to display, they did what any good founder does: improvise! This was an innovative use of space and a huge hit on the exhibition floor.
• Calificadas: Brought energy, color, and creativity from Argentina to their booth. They demonstrated their AI communications coach interactively, encouraging attendees to use their platform directly at the booth. They were the talk of their class, and rightly so!

Disrupt Spirit Award

The Disrupt Spirit Award went to Manu Seve, co-founder and CEO of Sponstar, who made an exceptional effort to create opportunities, connect startups, and introduce them to the public through a scavenger hunt game organized weeks before the event. Using its platform, the game served 33 participating companies, 15 side events, 200 potential customers, over 700 visited locations (approximately four locations per user), and 50 prizes claimed from eight different startups.

Startup Battlefield is more than just a pitch competition; it's an opportunity to build strong relationships with potential investors, customers, and fellow founders, supporting each other on their entrepreneurial journeys. As we celebrate the achievements of this year's winners, we are excited to see how they will shape their industries and drive future innovation in the coming months and years. Congratulations to all Startup Battlefield 200 participants, and special thanks to our judges and sponsors for their support in making TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 a success.