Here are the 5 Startup Battlefield finalists at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

After an exciting two days filled with dynamic presentations and live demonstrations, the five finalists for this year’s Startup Battlefield have been unveiled. These standout companies were chosen from an impressive pool of thousands of applicants, with TechCrunch's editorial team meticulously narrowing down the selection to 200 contenders participating at Disrupt. The top 20 among them battled it out on the Disrupt Stage, and following evaluations from our panel of expert judges, we are thrilled to introduce this year’s finalists. These finalists will take the stage once more at 11:30 a.m. PT on Wednesday, vying for a grand prize of $100,000 in equity-free funding and the prestigious Startup Battlefield Cup. For those unable to attend in person, the finals will be livestreamed on the TechCrunch website, offering an opportunity to witness innovation in action. First up is Charter Space, a company that has crafted a development tool tailored for aerospace engineers, but whose primary aim is to revolutionize fintech in the space sector. Their software captures crucial manufacturing and testing data directly from the source, which then integrates into an underwriting interface linked with major insurance carriers. This innovation is set to enhance risk evaluation for spacecraft insurance, ultimately paving the way for novel forms of credit and funding for space enterprises. Next is Glīd, pronounced “Glide,” which seeks to simplify the intricate logistics of transporting shipping containers from vessels to freight trains. The company has introduced various hardware and software solutions to expedite and reduce costs associated with this process. Their flagship product, GliderM, is a hybrid-electric vehicle designed to directly transfer 20-foot containers to railheads, eliminating the need for additional machinery like forklifts. MacroCycle is another finalist, presenting a groundbreaking solution aimed at making recycled plastics as affordable as new materials. By extracting valuable synthetic fibers from waste textiles without degrading the polymers, MacroCycle's innovative method keeps the polymer chains intact, forming macrocycles that remain after contaminants are removed. In the biotech realm, Nephrogen stands out with its AI-driven approach to gene editing. The startup has developed a specialized delivery system that significantly enhances the efficiency of transporting gene-editing medicines to targeted kidney cells. Founder Demetri Maxim, who has personally faced the challenges of polycystic kidney disease, is committed to participating in clinical studies to further advance this promising technology. Finally, Unlisted Homes presents a unique twist on real estate listings, functioning similarly to Zillow but for properties not yet on the market. By utilizing public records from over 21 million homes, Unlisted creates detailed profiles for each property. Rather than facilitating transactions, the company intends to monetize by offering sponsorships to real estate agents, positioning them as local experts in specific ZIP codes. These five innovators represent the cutting-edge of entrepreneurial spirit and technological advancement, and the competition for the Startup Battlefield title is sure to be fierce.