TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 concluded its Startup Battlefield competition in San Francisco this week after three days of pitches from 20 selected startups. The participants, drawn from the Startup Battlefield 200, presented live demos before venture capitalists and technology leaders. After the final round, Intero Biosystems took home the Startup Battlefield Cup and a US$100,000 prize.
A Competitive Selection Process
The 20 startups were handpicked to compete from the Startup Battlefield 200, and each company delivered a live demonstration in front of venture capitalists and technology leaders. Judges evaluated the presentations across multiple criteria, while TechCrunch editors reviewed their notes to select five finalists. This process placed a premium on innovation, market potential, and the strength of the live demos.
Winner Develops Gut Organoids for Drug Testing
Intero Biosystems is a Denver-based startup founded by Charlie Childs and Madeline Eiken, and it spun out of the University of Michigan. The company develops 1 millimeter human intestinal organoids, which are lab-grown tissues that mimic the gut. Its flagship product, GastroScreen, is sold to pharmaceutical, biotech, food, and chemical companies to test drugs and other compounds before human trials.
By supplying a realistic model of human intestinal tissue, the startup gives researchers a tool to evaluate drug interactions and toxicity without immediately moving to human subjects. The organoids measure approximately 1 millimeter and are designed to replicate key functions of the gut. This approach supports pharmaceutical, biotech, food, and chemical companies in assessing compounds more efficiently.
Runner-Up Uses AI Agents Against Scammers
Apate, an Australian startup founded by Dali Kaafar, took the runner-up position. Kaafar developed the concept during his research at Macquarie University in Sydney. The company operates thousands of AI agents that impersonate potential victims, answer scam calls, respond to fraudulent messages and emails, follow phishing links, and join social media groups to waste fraudsters' time.
Beyond baiting criminals, Apate provides customers with an insights portal that offers intelligence and analytics on scams targeting their end users or employees, brands, products, and more. The platform helps organizations understand fraud patterns and better protect their stakeholders. Its automated fleet turns the tables on scammers while gathering useful threat data.
Judges and Finalists
The final five startups demoed again for a panel of judges: Alexa von Tobel of Inspired Capital, Chi-Hua Chien of Goodwater Capital, Dayna Grayson of Construct Capital, Karl Alomar of M13, and Stacy Brown-Philpot of Cherryrock Capital. Alongside Intero Biosystems and Apate, the finalists included Flox Intelligence, Industrial Next, and Satlyt. TechCrunch editors reviewed the judges' notes and narrowed the list from 20 companies to five after hours of deliberation.
Startup Battlefield Alumni Impact
The Startup Battlefield program has a strong track record, having previously showcased companies such as Trello, Discord, Cloudflare, and Mint. More than 1,700 alumni have participated in the competition since its inception, and the group has produced a wide range of high-growth technology companies. Collectively, these startups have raised over US$30 billion in funding and achieved more than 200 successful exits, reflecting the event's lasting industry impact.
Intero Biosystems now joins a notable group of Startup Battlefield winners, and Apate gains recognition as a runner-up with a distinctive fraud prevention model. The 2026 edition highlighted technologies spanning biotech, artificial intelligence, and industrial innovation. As these companies move forward, the exposure and validation from TechCrunch Disrupt could help them attract partners, customers, and future investment.
Source: TechCrunch