Hear Startup Alley companies pitch expert VC judges on the next episode of Extra Crunch Live

Published July 23, 2021

We know how much you love a good startup pitch-off. Who doesn’t? It combines the thrill of live, high-stakes entertainment with learning about the hottest new thing. Plus, you get to hear feedback from some of the smartest folks in the industry, thus learning how to absolutely crush it at your next pitch meeting with a VC.

With all that in mind, we’re introducing a special summer edition of Extra Crunch Live that’s all pitch-off, all the time.

On August 4, Extra Crunch Live will feature startups exhibiting in the Startup Alley at TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 in September. Those startups will pitch their products/businesses to a pair of expert VC judges, who will then give their live feedback.

Extra Crunch Live is usually a combination of an interview with a founder/investor duo and an audience pitch-off. But as it’s summer, and Disrupt is right around the corner, we thought it would be fun to bring you even more pitches and even more feedback.

On August 4, our expert VC judges will be Edith Yeung from Race Capital and Laela Sturdy of CapitalG. Register here for free!

Edith Yeung started out as an investor at 500 Startups and is now a general partner at Race Capital. She’s an expert on both the China and Silicon Valley investment landscape and has made more than 50 investments, with a portfolio that includes 50 startups, including Lightyear/Stellar (valued $1.2 billion), Silk Labs (acquired by Apple), Chirp (acquired by Apple), Fleksy (acquired by Pinterest), Human (acquired by Mapbox), Solana, Oasis Labs, Nebulas, Hooked, DayDayCook, AISense and many more.

Laela Sturdy is a 10x unicorn operator-turned-investor whose investments are worth nearly $200 billion. She joined CapitalG, the investment arm of Alphabet, in 2013, and her portfolio includes Stripe, UiPath, Duolingo, Gusto, Webflow and Unqork, among many others.

As a special thank you, all attendees of this episode of Extra Crunch Live will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win one of three free tickets to TechCrunch Disrupt 2021. Following the event, we’ll randomly select three winners and send details on how to redeem their passes. Do you need to submit any additional information to enter the drawing? Nope. All you need to do is register for Extra Crunch Live by clicking here and attend the event on August 4.

Last call for early-stage founders to exhibit at Disrupt 2020

Published September 11, 2020

Your window to untold opportunity slams shut tonight. I’m looking at you, early-stage startup founders. Don’t miss your last chance to exhibit your tech and talent to thousands of Disrupt 2020 attendees around the world.

A Disrupt Digital Startup Alley Package is one of the most cost-effective ways to create brand awareness, attract new customers, catch the eyes of eager investors and garner invaluable media coverage. And this year, you don’t even have to get off the couch.

What the heck are you waiting for? Buy your Digital Startup Alley Package today before 11:59 p.m. (PT).

Let’s review what it means to exhibit in Startup Alley. The price — which covers three people from your company — includes everything in the Digital Pass Pro pass plus TechCrunch creates a deck with information about all exhibiting startups and makes it available exclusively to investors attending Disrupt 2020.

In a classic but-wait-there’s-more moment, you’ll have access to content we created exclusively for exhibitors. We recorded these events, which aired live in July and August, and you can access them anytime on-demand after you register for your exhibitor pass:

Exhibiting is a networking dream come true. CrunchMatch, our AI-powered networking platform, helps you find and connect with investors, founders and other startup influencers. Create your custom profile, and the platform searches for and connects you with like-minded people. You’ll save time by networking only with people who can move your business forward.

Here’s what one founder has to say about her Startup Alley experience.

“The CrunchMatch networking app is such a smart, useful tool. It lets you see who’s there, find the right people and reach out for a meeting. I scheduled five or six appointments in one day. The meetings were small, intimate and very informative.” — Felicia Jackson, inventor and founder of CPRWrap.

Disrupt 2020 is mere days away, but your chance to exhibit in Startup Alley, to stand in the path of thousands of attendees, ends just hours from now at 11:59 p.m. (PT). Again, what the heck are you waiting for? Go buy your pass right now.

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Disrupt 2020? Contact the sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

Your startup can still be seen and heard: Exhibit in Digital Startup Alley

Published May 8, 2020

We’re not letting this pandemic disrupt Disrupt SF 2020. Like any determined early-stage startup founder, we’re adapting and moving forward. Can’t join us in person on September 14-16? No problem. Take advantage of Digital Startup Alley, a completely new way to disrupt. Place your startup in front of influential movers and shakers and keep your business rolling.

For just $445, the Digital Startup Alley Package lets you exhibit your early-stage, pre-Series A company to thousands of potential investors, customers, journalists and technologists — from your home office. Even better, the Digital Startup Alley pass gives you months to pitch, demo, network and schedule meetings. You can rely on TechCrunch, with its extensive resources and industry connections, to translate the benefits of the live Startup Alley exhibit hall into a world-class virtual experience.

We packed a ton of value into the Digital Startup Alley Package. The price — which covers three people — includes everything in the Digital Pass Pro pass plus these features:

Leading Voices Webinars: How can you adapt and thrive during and after this pandemic? No one owns a crystal ball, but we’ve tapped the brightest industry minds to share their current thoughts and strategies to keep moving forward. Startup Alley exhibitors get exclusive access to this webinar series.

Pitch Coaching Par Excellence: Pour yourself a cold pitcher of something tasty and take your elevator pitch to the top floor. Join us for Pitchers and Pitches, an interactive opportunity to learn from the best — the TechCrunch editorial team that coaches the Startup Battlefield competitors.

Networking Made Easy: CrunchMatch, TechCrunch’s AI-powered networking platform, helps you find and connect with investors, founders and other startup influencers. Create your custom profile, and the platform searches for and connects you with like-minded people. You’ll save time by networking only with people who can move your business forward.

Investor Exposure: TechCrunch creates a deck with information about all exhibiting startups and makes it available exclusively to investors attending Disrupt SF 2020.

The Exhibitor Guide: The guide lists every exhibitor at Disrupt SF 2020 — both onsite and digital varieties. It’s the definitive resource to Startup Alley and Disrupt SF, and it makes a terrific long-term networking tool.

Bonus: Disrupt SF 2020 is still on track, and if it turns out that you can join us at the Moscone Center and exhibit in person, you can upgrade your package and still enjoy the benefits of Digital Startup Alley.

Unprecedented challenges require unprecedented thinking and action. Buy your Digital Startup Alley Package today and keep your startup dreams moving forward.

TechCrunch is mindful of the COVID-19 issue and its impact on live events. You can follow our updates here.

How-to: Exhibit for free in Startup Alley at Disrupt Berlin 2019

Published August 16, 2019

We love a good how-to, especially one that saves early-stage startup founders money and positions them for mad success. We’re talking about how to apply to be a TC Top Pick and exhibit at Disrupt Berlin 2019 — for free.

Our TC Top Picks program is what we call a pre-Disrupt competition. If you’re a founder of an early-stage startup this is your chance to win a free Startup Alley Exhibitor Package and a VIP experience in Berlin. How does it all work? Read on!

First, fill out an application if your startup falls into one of these tech categories: AI/Machine Learning, Biotech/Healthtech, Blockchain, Fintech, Mobility, Privacy/Security, Retail/E-commerce, Robotics/IoT/Hardware, CRM/Enterprise and Education.

TechCrunch editors closely vet each application — and these editors have an almost-mystical ability to spot serious success potential. Ultimately, they’ll choose up to five of the best representatives for each category.

A Startup Alley Exhibitor Package includes one exhibit day, three Founder passes, access to the full conference and all programming at the event.

TC Top Picks attract a lot of attention at the show, and it’s a networking wonderland. You’ll meet investors, potential customers and future collaborators who can help you move to the next level. Plus, you’ll be interviewed by a TechCrunch editor live on the Showcase Stage. We’ll record that interview and promote it on our social media platforms. Talk about a great long-term marketing tool.

Take a page from Caleb John’s playbook. Here’s what the CEO of Cedar Robotics said about exhibiting as a TC Top Pick:

“It blew away my expectations. The number of people we met, the connections we made and the amount of media exposure we received is worth its weight in gold.”

And another thing! You — and all the other exhibiting startups — might even win a chance to compete in Startup Battlefield. TechCrunch editors will choose a startup as a Wild Card competitor, and they’ll compete for $50,000. It’s a longshot, but it sure paid off for RecordGram. They won the Wild Card and then won the Battlefield. Can lightning strike twice?

Disrupt Berlin 2019 takes place on 11-12 December. Don’t miss your opportunity to showcase your outstanding startup in Startup Alley and enjoy a VIP experience — for free. Apply to our TC Top Picks program today.

U-Gym massages you during exercise

Published September 14, 2016

ugym I’m a big fan of massages, so I stopped dead in my tracks when I came across a company in the TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2016 Startup Alley earlier today. Taiwan-based U-Gym is a deep layer muscle massager that you can wear while exercising. U-Gym uses medium-frequency electrotherapy to stimulate your muscles, nerves and meridians. The company says it can help with muscle stiffness and… Read More