Twenty startups have been selected for the 2026 Startup Battlefield, where they will present their ideas at TechCrunch Disrupt. The companies work across fields from health and manufacturing to artificial intelligence and space, with a shared focus on turning complex signals and systems into useful insights.
Twenty ideas across four fields
Space and physical AI: Longshot Space is developing hydrogen-powered launchers for lower-cost cargo delivery to orbit. Veritas uses microchips to verify luxury goods; Laplace Intelligence models possible real-world scenarios for cities and transport hubs; Flox Intelligence applies AI to help prevent wildlife collisions; and Satlyt aims to make unused satellite computing capacity available for AI workloads.
Energy and manufacturing: LNK Energies is working on compact hydrogen power compatible with diesel infrastructure. Helix Carbon seeks to reuse steelmaking waste gas, while IndustrialNext develops adaptive robotics for precision assembly. Niobia AI applies domain-focused reasoning to materials and process engineering, and Licube produces high-purity lithium and lithium isotopes for advanced materials and fusion research.
Health and life sciences: Mosqitter turns sensor data into early warning signals for mosquito-borne disease. Hiyd AI combines wearable data on sleep, movement and nutrition; TimeTeller uses molecular diagnostics and AI to inform treatment timing; NTangible measures athletes' cognitive performance under pressure; and Intero Biosystems grows miniature human organs to support drug development.
Enterprise and security: Apate.ai uses conversational AI to generate intelligence that can help organizations counter fraud. CedarDB combines real-time transactions and analytics with controls for AI agents. Prismm automates financial inheritance workflows, Floqer organizes business customer data and interactions, and GUDEA analyzes audience engagement and how information spreads.
Four semifinal sessions are scheduled for October 13 and 14. Five companies will advance to the October 15 final, where the winner is set to receive $100,000 and the Disrupt Cup. The breadth of the lineup points to a future in which better measurement and adaptable AI could help people make decisions across increasingly complex systems.
