TechCrunch Disrupt is the world’s leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups, introducing game-changing technologies, and discussing what’s top of mind for the tech industry’s key innovators. Disrupt gathers the best and brightest entrepreneurs, investors, hackers, and tech fans for on-stage interviews, the Startup Battlefield competition, a 24-hour Hackathon, Startup Alley, Hardware Alley, and After Parties.

Startup Battlefield brings the world’s top early stage startups together on one stage to compete for the coveted Disrupt Cup, a $50,000 prize, and the attention of media and investors. The judges include TechCrunch editors as well as top VCs and entrepreneurs, and past winners include names like Dropbox, Mint, Yammer, Zenefits, and many more. Participation is free and open.

At the heart of the conference floor lies Startup and Hardware Alley where hundreds of early-stage companies showcase their talent and technology to attendees, investors and members of the press. With different companies exhibiting each day, Startup Alley hosts hundreds of exciting companies, many of which are launching for the first time. Don’t miss the “Wild Card Winner” which is selected by a combination of audience and editorial votes and is awarded a place in the Startup Battlefield competition.

CrunchMatch is a program designed to introduce investors to entrepreneurs, based on curated analysis of which startups fit with a given investor’s profile. The goal is to improve the odds that investors and entrepreneurs make a super promising contact. The program is free for Disrupt attendees.  

How it works: When an investor registers for Disrupt, they receive an invitation to complete a questionnaire about their investment interests. Startups participating in Disrupt’s Startup Alley and Battlefield fill out a similar form. When the TechCrunch team finds strong matches, they will propose that the parties connect at Disrupt at a time and in a private space arranged by the events team.