From TechCrunch · Sean O'Kane · · 1m 40s
Intero Biosystems wins Disrupt 2026 Battlefield
Denver biotech startup takes the Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000 prize for lab-grown gut tissue technology.
In brief
Denver biotech startup takes the Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000 prize for lab-grown gut tissue technology. Intero Biosystems, a Denver-based startup developing lab-grown intestinal tissue, won TechCrunch Disrupt 2026's Startup Battlefield competition and the one hundred thousand dollar prize. Originally reported…
Twenty startups compete in San Francisco
Twenty startups participated in the Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco this week, competing for the Startup Battlefield Cup and one hundred thousand dollars.
Five finalists emerge after deliberation
After hours of deliberation, TechCrunch editors narrowed the competition to five finalists: Apate, Flox Intelligence, Intero Biosystems, Industrial Next, and Satlyt.
Final judges panel announced
The final five demoed before judges Alexa von Tobel of Inspired Capital, Chi-Hua Chien of Goodwater Capital, Dayna Grayson of Construct Capital, Karl Alomar of M13, and Stacy Brown-Philpot of Cherryrock Capital.
Intero Biosystems wins the competition
Intero Biosystems, a Denver-based startup founded by Charlie Childs and Madeline Eiken, won TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026, taking home the Cup and one hundred thousand dollars.
Winner develops lab-grown gut tissue
Intero Biosystems spun out of the University of Michigan and develops one millimetre human intestinal organoids, lab-grown tissue that mimics the gut for studying drug effects before human testing.
GastroScreen product serves multiple industries
The startup sells its flagship product, GastroScreen, to pharmaceutical, biotech, food, and chemical companies for testing drugs and other compounds.
Apate finishes as runner-up
Australian startup Apate, founded by Dali Kaafar from Macquarie University in Sydney, finished as runner-up. It deploys AI agents that masquerade as victims to bait fraudsters and gather scam intelligence.
What matters most
Intero Biosystems, a Denver-based startup developing lab-grown intestinal tissue, won TechCrunch Disrupt 2026's Startup Battlefield competition and the one hundred thousand dollar prize.
