Home / Business and Economy / Denver Startup Intero Biosystems Takes Top Prize
Denver Startup Intero Biosystems Takes Top Prize
16 Oct
Summary
- Intero Biosystems won TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026, securing $100,000.
- The startup develops lab-grown gut organoids for drug testing.
- Runner-up Apate uses AI agents to combat online scams.
Intero Biosystems emerged victorious at the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026 competition, securing the coveted Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000. The Denver-based startup, which originated from the University of Michigan, specializes in creating 1mm human intestinal "organoids." These lab-grown tissues offer a novel method for studying drug and compound effects before human trials.
The flagship product, GastroScreen, is utilized by pharmaceutical, biotech, food, and chemical industries for rigorous testing. The competition saw 20 startups pitch, with Intero Biosystems and Apate standing out as finalists.
Apate, the runner-up, is an Australian company founded by Dali Kaafar. It employs thousands of AI agents to actively engage with fraudulent online activities, including scam calls and phishing attempts. Customers receive valuable intelligence on emerging scams through an insights portal.
