Summary:
Five finalists selected from thousands of applicants to compete for $100,000 equity-free funding at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Charter Space uses fintech to streamline spacecraft insurance and enable new funding options for space companies
Glīd simplifies freight transport with hybrid-electric vehicles that move containers directly to rail, cutting costs and time
MacroCycle makes recycled plastic as cheap as virgin material by forming polymer rings without breaking them down
Nephrogen combines AI and gene therapy for a kidney disease treatment that is 100 times more efficient than current methods
Unlisted Homes profiles off-market properties and sells ZIP code sponsorships to real estate agents as local experts
After two intense days of live demos and pitches, the five finalists for this year's Startup Battlefield have been revealed. Selected from thousands of applicants, these top contenders will compete for the grand prize of $100,000 in equity-free funding and the prestigious Startup Battlefield Cup.
Charter Space: Fintech for the Final Frontier
Charter Space is developing a dev tool for aerospace engineers, but its core mission is to revolutionize spacecraft insurance through fintech. By capturing manufacturing and test data directly, the software feeds an underwriting interface that connects with major insurance carriers. The goal is to enable faster, cheaper, and more reliable risk evaluation, eventually powering new forms of credit and nondilutive funding for space companies.
Glīd: Streamlining Freight from Road to Rail
Glīd (pronounced “Glide”) is tackling the complex process of moving containers from ships to freight trains. The company has created hardware and software solutions to speed up and reduce costs. Its first product, GliderM, is a hybrid-electric vehicle that can directly move 20-foot containers to rail without forklifts or hostler trucks.
MacroCycle: A Shortcut to Affordable Recycled Plastic
MacroCycle has developed an innovative method to make recycled plastic as cheap as virgin material. Unlike traditional chemical recycling, their process doesn't break down polymers. Instead, it forms polymer chains into rings called macrocycles, which remain after contaminants are washed away, offering a sustainable alternative.
Nephrogen: AI and Gene Therapy to Reverse Kidney Disease
Nephrogen is a biotech startup using AI and advanced screening to create a specialized delivery system for gene-editing medicines targeting kidney cells. Founder Demetri Maxim, who lives with polycystic kidney disease, claims their delivery mechanism is 100 times more efficient than FDA-approved methods and plans to participate in clinical studies.
Unlisted Homes: Zillow for Off-Market Properties
Unlisted Homes connects homeowners with buyers before properties hit the market. Using public records of 21 million homes, the platform creates detailed profiles similar to traditional real estate sites. Instead of facilitating transactions, Unlisted sells sponsorships by ZIP code to real estate agents, listing them as local experts.
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