Every year I read through thousands of Startup Battlefield applications. And every year, I see the same pattern: The founders who belong on this stage are often the ones who almost didn’t apply.

They think they’re too early. They think they need more traction. They think the program is for companies further along than they are.

So here’s what we’re actually looking for and how to make sure your application reflects it. The deadline to be considered was May 27, but with the competition heating up and the applications continuing to come in, we’ve extended it to June 8. You still can apply here, but time is still running out!

And if you’re not up to speed on this year’s Startup Battlefield details, it’s once again a premiere part of TechCrunch Disrupt, which will be in San Francisco from October 13-15 and concludes with the crowning of this year’s future champion. And that list of champions includes some incredible companies, from giants like Cloudflare and Discord, to the most recent crop of winners, who you can learn about in detail right here.

What gets a company selected for Startup Battlefield