https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/02/the-16-top-logistics-manufacturing-materials-startups-from-disrupt-startup-battlefield/

Every year, TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield pitch contest draws thousands of applicants. We whittle those applications down to the top 200 contenders, and of them, the top 20 compete on the big stage to become the winner, taking home the Startup Battlefield Cup and a cash prize of $100,000. But the remaining 180 startups all blew us away as well in their respective categories and compete in their own pitch competition.

Here is the full list of the logistics, manufacturing, and materials Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on why they landed in the competition. 

Logistics 

物流

GigU

What it does: This app helps ride-share and delivery drivers analyze what trips will make them the most money.  

Why it’s noteworthy: It’s addressing the sore point that many drivers have, which is that trips often aren’t worth the money for all the hassle. The company hopes this app will help these drivers increase earnings and customize their ride-share experience.  

功能说明：这款应用程序帮助拼车司机和送货司机分析哪些行程能带来最高收益。

值得关注的原因：它直击许多司机的痛点——往往费时费力却收入微薄。该公司希望该应用能帮助司机提高收入，并定制个性化的拼车体验。

Glīd

What it does: Glīd is building self-driving, autonomous vehicles that handle moving freight around railyards. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Glīd won the 2025 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield for its system that elegantly solves a problem that the autonomous vehicle industry has largely overlooked. 

产品功能：Glīd公司正在研发自动驾驶车辆系统，专门用于铁路货场内的货物转运作业。

行业价值：该公司凭借其创新系统荣获2025年TechCrunch创业竞技场大奖，该方案巧妙解决了自动驾驶行业长期忽视的货运调度难题。

Kinisi  

What it does: A robotics company with sensory technology that processes at rapid speed. 

其功能：这是一家采用高速传感处理技术的机器人公司。

Manufacturing, materials, and industrial 

CloEE

What it does: CloEE offers a platform for manufacturing sites that uses AI to analyze millions of data points on machine performance. 

Why it’s noteworthy: CloEE’s use of AI helps fine-tune manufacturing processes for better efficiency, not just for production but for machine care as well. 

功能说明：CloEE为制造工厂提供一个平台，利用人工智能分析数百万个机器性能数据点。

值得关注的原因：CloEE运用人工智能技术不仅能优化生产流程提升效率，还能实现设备的智能维护。

CosmicBrain AI

What it does: CosmicBrain offers a no-code/low-code platform to train robots. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Before robots can really become everyday objects, we need methods to train them on tasks that don’t require deep specialized knowledge. 

功能：CosmicBrain提供一个无代码/低代码平台来训练机器人。

亮点：在机器人真正成为日常用品之前，我们需要能训练它们执行任务的方法，而这些方法不需要深厚的专业知识。

Delft Circuits

What it does: Delft Circuits has created new network cable technology geared for quantum computing. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Delft Circuits recognizes that quantum is such a radically different method of computing that even its cabling systems need specialized materials, and purpose-built microwave and thermal performance. 

功能说明：Delft Circuits公司研发了专为量子计算设计的新型网络电缆技术。

技术亮点：该公司认识到量子计算是一种根本性变革的计算方式，因此其电缆系统需要采用特殊材料，并专门优化微波与热性能表现。

Evolinq

What it does: Evolinq offers AI agents that handle enterprise procurement processes.  

Why it’s noteworthy: Evolinq promises to mimic buyers’ workflows and automate areas like supplier communication, but doesn’t require complex integration to deploy. 

功能说明：Evolinq提供可处理企业采购流程的AI智能体。

核心优势：该系统能模拟采购人员工作流程，实现供应商沟通等环节的自动化部署，且无需复杂的系统集成。

ExoMatter

What it does: ExoMatter is an AI platform that helps material science R&D teams evaluate materials. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Rather than costly trial and error when researching new materials, ExoMatter is a platform that uses AI to help scientists screen inorganic crystalline materials by metrics such as performance, sustainability, and cost.

功能：ExoMatter是一个帮助材料科学研发团队评估材料的AI平台。

亮点：在研究新材料时，该平台通过AI帮助科学家根据性能、可持续性和成本等指标筛选无机晶体材料，从而替代了传统高成本的试错法。

Kamet AI

What it does: Kamet offers an AI analysis system for manufacturing and warehouses. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The company’s tool uses predictive AI to find inefficiencies with processes and equipment for complex industrial use cases that reduce cost or improve output. 

功能：Kamet为制造业和仓储业提供人工智能分析系统。

亮点：该公司的工具利用预测性人工智能，在复杂的工业应用场景中识别流程和设备中的低效环节，从而降低成本或提高产量。

Koidra

What it does: Koidra offers an AI-powered automation control platform for indoor agriculture. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Koidra says its platform offers physics-aware AI technology ideal for heavily automated industrial facilities such as indoor farms. 

功能：Koidra为室内农业提供人工智能驱动的自动化控制平台。

亮点：Koidra宣称其平台采用具备物理感知能力的AI技术，特别适合室内农场等高度自动化的工业设施。

Mbodi

What it does: Mbodi offers a platform that can easily teach any industrial robot new skills.  

Why it’s noteworthy: Mbodi built a cloud-to-edge system that integrates with existing robotic tech stacks and can help a robot learn tasks faster. 

功能：Mbodi提供了一个能轻松教授工业机器人新技能的平台。

亮点：Mbodi构建了云端到边缘的系统，可与现有机器人技术栈集成，帮助机器人更快学习任务。

MycoFutures

What it does: MycoFutures makes a material that is similar to leather but is grown from the roots of mushrooms. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Unlike plastic pleather, this mycelium leather is biodegradable, doesn’t contain harmful chemicals, and is designed to match traditional leather in beauty and versatility. 

功能：MycoFutures公司生产一种类似皮革的材料，但它是用蘑菇根部培育而成的。

亮点：与塑料人造革不同，这种菌丝体皮革可生物降解，不含有害化学物质，并且设计上兼具传统皮革的美观性和多功能性。

OKOsix

What it does: OKOsix has created a biodegradable material intended to replace plastics. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Unlike some other biodegradable plastic alternatives, the company’s material is designed for durability. 

功能：OKOsix研发了一种旨在替代塑料的可生物降解材料。

亮点：与其他可生物降解塑料替代品不同，该公司的材料专为耐用性而设计。

Ravel

What it does: Ravel has invented a process to unravel blended textile materials back into mono-materials. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Ravel is addressing one of the biggest pollution challenges by making blended textiles recyclable, their plastics ready to be turned back into yarn or other clothing. 

功能：Ravel公司发明了一种将混合纺织材料分解还原为单一材料的工艺。

亮点：通过实现混合纺织物的可回收性，Ravel正在应对最严峻的污染挑战之一，使这些塑料能重新转化为纱线或其他服装原料。

Strong by Form

What it does: Strong by Form has developed an engineered wood strong enough to replace concrete and steel in structural floors. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The company has created a material that allows architects and engineers to replace concrete, which has a heavy carbon impact, with one that is lighter and more eco-friendly. 

其作用：Strong by Form公司研发了一种工程木材，其强度足以替代结构地板中的混凝土和钢材。

值得关注的原因：该公司创造的材料能让建筑师和工程师用更轻质环保的替代品取代高碳排放的混凝土。

Xronos

What it does: Xronos offers a platform that speeds the development and deployment of robotics or automation solutions. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Xronos is open source and relies on deterministic development, promising that the planned and simulated robotic action will have reproducible, reliable behavior every time.

功能：Xronos 提供了一个加速机器人或自动化解决方案开发与部署的平台。

亮点：Xronos 是开源的，并采用确定性开发方法，确保每次规划的机器人动作及仿真结果都能复现且行为可靠。