Glīd Wins Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2025

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Startup Battlefield Concludes

Twenty startups engaged in a three-day competition this week at the Startup Battlefield during TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Each participant was carefully chosen from the Startup Battlefield 200, vying for the coveted Startup Battlefield Cup and a $100,000 prize.

Selection for the Startup Battlefield was highly competitive, with all participating companies delivering live demonstrations. These demos were presented before a panel of venture capitalists and prominent figures in the technology industry who served as judges.

Finalists Announced

Following extensive evaluation, the TechCrunch editorial team reviewed the judges’ assessments. This process resulted in a shortlist of five finalists: Charter Space, Glīd, MacroCycle, Nephrogen, and Unlisted Homes.

These five companies then advanced to the final round, showcasing their innovations to a distinguished panel. This panel included Aileen Lee, founder and managing partner of Cowboy Ventures, alongside Digg founder Kevin Rose.

The Winner of TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2024

After careful consideration, the winner of the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2024 is now ready to be revealed.

The competition was fierce, and the judges faced a difficult decision. Innovation and market potential were key factors in their final assessment.

Glīd: Revolutionizing Container Transport

Glīd, a company whose name is pronounced “Glide,” is focused on simplifying the intricate, multi-stage procedure of transferring a shipping container from a vessel to a freight train. Founded by Kevin Damoa, the organization has engineered both hardware and software solutions designed to accelerate this process and lower associated expenses.

These innovations aim to efficiently deliver shipping containers to the railhead and, ultimately, their final location.

Introducing GliderM

Glīd’s initial offering is the GliderM, a hybrid-electric vehicle equipped with a rear-mounted hook. This allows the GliderM to lift and transport 20-foot containers directly to the rail system.

This eliminates the necessity for traditional forklifts or hostler trucks in the initial stages of rail transport.

Further details regarding Glīd and its advancements can be found in a dedicated article available elsewhere on this site.

Nephrogen: An Innovative Biotech Venture

Nephrogen represents a pioneering biotech startup leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and sophisticated screening processes. Their focus lies in the creation of a targeted delivery system designed to safely administer gene-editing therapeutics directly to specific cells within the kidney.

According to founder Demetri Maxim, Nephrogen’s three years of research have culminated in a delivery mechanism demonstrating 100 times greater efficiency in kidney-targeted drug transport compared to currently FDA-approved methods.

Driven by personal experience, Maxim intends to be a participant in the upcoming clinical trials, motivated by his own battle with polycystic kidney disease.

Further details regarding Nephrogen’s advancements can be found in a dedicated article available elsewhere on this platform.

These emerging companies build upon the legacy established by previous Startup Battlefield standouts, including well-known names like Dropbox, Discord, Cloudflare, and Mint.

The Startup Battlefield program boasts a substantial network of over 1,500 alumni. Collectively, these alumni have secured over $29 billion in funding and achieved more than 200 successful exits.