The prestigious TechCrunch Startup Battlefield event is finally coming to Nigeria. Hosted by popular online tech news medium, TechCrunch, Startup Battlefield is one of the world’s most famous startup competitions. After a decade, it finally announced that the competition is coming to Beirut (Lebanon), São Paulo (Brazil) and Lagos (Nigeria).
TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield is coming soon to Beirut, São Paolo and Lagos https://t.co/4GryJcYseP
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 20, 2018
With over $7.9 billion raised, the Startup Battlefield is the contest for startups. The event is usually held several times each year, particularly at the famous TechCrunch Disrupt conference. Startup Battlefield brings together the world’s top early-stage companies to pitch in front of an enthusiastic community of investors and innovators.
Winners of the contest get a $50,000 prize money and the Disrupt Cup. But most importantly, the winners (and even non-winners) will enjoy the attention of the media and as well as investors. Over the last decade, 748 startups pitched at the Battlefields and about 100 of these companies have either been acquired or launched on the stock market. Some past winners include Vurb, Dropbox, Mint, and Yammer.
Startup Battlefield Contest Comes to the Emerging Markets
Since it was founded in 2007, Startup Battlefield contest has only been held in locations like San Francisco, New York, Dubai, and London. Although a few startups from emerging markets have entered the contest, those from these regions rarely get as much attention as those from developed countries. But now, in partnership with Facebook, TechCrunch is beaming its attention on startups from these locations.
Interestingly, startups innovation is thriving now in places like Nigeria more than ever. Last year, Nigerian startups enjoyed a major part of the $195 million invested in African startups.
Startups (in Lagos), put your ears to the ground for late December, because, @techcrunch is bringing startup battlefield to you! https://t.co/L2PXE5BDFB via @techcityng
— Benjamin Dada (@DadaBen_) June 19, 2018
As the Nigerian tech ecosystem is becoming more robust; with over 50 tech hubs, a variety of events and a new wave of tech news websites, Nigeria is no pushover.
However, Nigerian startups are largely underfinanced and do not get the international coverage they truly deserve. Techcrunch Startup Battlefield could change all that as the online tech news medium “takes no fees or equity from the startups. Applying and participating in the Battlefield is 100% free.”
Application Details
Although no dates have been announced, tidbits of the competition have emerged.
The competition targets early-stage companies and to be eligible, startups must be launching to the public for the first time and have little to no prior press exposure.
Only two days left to apply to Startup Battlefield at Disrupt SF ’18 https://t.co/RGW5a6QRmq
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 11, 2018
Applications will open 3 months to the actual contest. 15 companies will be selected, and travel support will be provided for these companies.
Successful applicants will be notified one month to the competition. They will receive intensive coaching from TechCrunch’s editors to hone their pitches before the competition. The winner of the Battlefield gets $25,000, plus a trip for two to the next TechCrunch Disrupt event.
Again, no date has been announced for the competition, but TechCrunch says this will be finalized soon. However, it says the Lagos competition could hold in early December while the Sao Paolo and Beirut contests will hold in November and October.
Applicants can find more information here.
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