At a Glance
- 200 startups selected for Startup Battlefield 200
- The event runs Oct 13-15, 2026 in San Francisco
- Highlights include AI legal intake, disaster-response robots, and olfactory tech
- Why it matters: These startups could reshape legal, public safety, and tech industries
TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield 200 is a pitch contest that draws thousands of applicants each year, whittles them down to 200, and then 20 compete on the big stage for the cup and $100,000. The 2026 event will be held in San Francisco from Oct 13-15. The competition features distinct categories, including government and legal.
Notable Government & Legal Selectees
The government and legal category includes a diverse lineup of startups, each tackling unique challenges.
- Aparti automates legal intake forms for family law firms, focusing on divorce cases.
- Ascender built a robot that climbs utility and flagpoles to aid humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
- Bot Mediation uses AI to settle legal disputes.
- Depth AI creates spatial computing AI for holographic imaging used in healthcare diagnostics.
- ILias AI works in scent tech, using AI to develop olfactory tech such as drug-detection dogs.
- JustiGuide connects immigrants with lawyers and tools to streamline the immigration process.
- Orchestra deploys a camera network to manage public safety and detect crime.
- Ponderosa AI uses drones to detect and control small fires.
- Pytho AI aims to make battlefield planning more efficient for warfighters.
- Shothawk AI built a device that tracks, detects, and subdues active shooters with pepper gel.
- Torch Systems monitors high-value assets, assessing air quality, fire risks, and security to prevent wildfires.
Key Takeaways
- 200 startups compete for the Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
- The 2026 event features cutting-edge solutions in AI, robotics, and public safety.
- The government and legal category showcases innovations that could transform legal services and disaster response.
Written by Olivia M. Hartwell for News Of Los Angeles
