Every year, News’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
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.
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 News Startup Battlefield for its system that elegantly solves a problem that the autonomous vehicle industry has largely overlooked.
Kinisi
What it does: A robotics company with sensory technology that processes at rapid speed.
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Why it’s noteworthy: Its simple robot design, using the latest LLM technology, lets it adapt to warehouse problems in a smart and safe way.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
