Executive Overview The countdown has officially begun for one of the technology industry’s most electrifying showdowns. Out of thousands of eager applicants vying for a coveted spot, just 200 startups secured a place in the prestigious Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. From that elite group, only 20 finalists will make it to the main…
Executive Overview For startup founders, the journey from an initial napkin sketch to a venture-backed enterprise is fraught with milestones, triumphs, and an underlying, persistent anxiety: Can my investors fire me? It is a question whispered in confidence across incubator coffee shops, debated in private founder group chats, and weighed heavily before signing every term…
Collection: Build Mode Published: August 20, 2026 Host: Isabelle Johannessen Guest: Sasha Orloff, Founder and CEO of Puzzle, Startup Battlefield Alum Produced By: Maggie Nye Executive Overview In the high-stakes world of venture capital, perception often struggles to keep pace with financial reality. Too many early-stage and growth-stage founders approach fundraising as an exercise in…
