Glīd Wins TechCrunch Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2025
From Riverside Pitch to Global Stage: A Success Story for the Books
Glīd, a company within UC Riverside's Office of Technology Partnerships EPIC portfolio, achieved a major milestone this year by winning the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2025. Their advancement to this global stage began locally, when they applied to our regional pitch programs in Riverside earlier this spring.
After securing a top placement at the Riverside County Startup World Cup Finals, Glīd advanced to the national Startup World Cup competition in San Francisco. Their continued performance positioned them to compete internationally, ultimately earning the top award at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Glīd develops hybrid hardware-software solutions that streamline one of the most challenging segments of freight logistics: the ship-to-rail transfer. Their flagship innovation, GliderM, is a hybrid-electric yard vehicle capable of moving 20-foot shipping containers directly to rail without relying on traditional hostler trucks or forklifts. This approach has the potential to significantly reduce operational bottlenecks in container yards while lowering emissions.
Support Provided Through the EPIC and Inland Empire Ecosystem
Throughout their participation in our EPIC program, Glīd received targeted support intended to strengthen their business foundation, validate their technology, and prepare them for competitive opportunities:
- Pitch and business development preparation: Glīd engaged in Riverside County’s Innovation Month Fast Pitch Challenge, which helped them refine their presentation materials, articulate their value proposition, and prepare for investor-facing competitions. Formerly from Auberry, California, Glid made their debut in the Riverside region by entering the Riverside Regional Fast Pitch, hosted by UC Riverside’s Office of Technology Partnerships.
- Access to mentors and regional partners: Through our network, Glīd connected with business mentors, logistics professionals, and subject-matter experts from the EPIC program who provided input relevant to their customer discovery and technology validation efforts. They were also introduced to regional partners such as the City of Riverside who assisted them with relocation efforts.
- Competition pathway support: As Glīd progressed from local to national competitions, EPIC and regional partners continued to provide technical guidance, resource navigation, and preparation for higher-level stages of competition.
Glīd’s achievements demonstrate the impact of coordinated regional support for early-stage deep-tech founders and highlight how Inland Southern California’s innovation infrastructure can contribute to the success of companies operating in complex, high-growth sectors.
We congratulate the Glīd team on this significant accomplishment and look forward to continuing to support their progress in logistics automation and supply-chain technology.