Trite as it may sound, all good things must come to an end. And the good thing that's about to come to a grinding halt is early-bird pricing on passes to Disrupt Berlin 2019. You have mere hours to save -- the deadline strikes tonight at 11:59 p.m. (CEST). You can save up to €500, but only if you beat the clock. Buy your early bird pass right now, otherwise you'll pay more than necessary -- how sad.

Can we get a fanfare of trumpets, please? The time has come to introduce you to our TC Top Picks for Disrupt Berlin 2019. The ingenuity and creativity reflected in the international startup community can't be overstated, and narrowing the field from the hundreds of applications we received was no easy task. Challenging as it was, TechCrunch editors had a (wicked fun) job to do -- select up to five early-stage startups they felt represent the best of their specific tech category. This remarkable cadre of early-stage startups knocked our proverbial socks off.

The early-stage startup community knows that the Disrupt Main Stage is the place to hear and learn from iconic founders, technologists and investment leaders. And the speakers you'll hear at Disrupt Berlin 2019 on 11-12 December will follow that grand tradition. Don't have a ticket yet? Buy your early bird pass today and save up to €500. "Always leave them wanting more" -- a phrase often attributed to P.T. Barnum -- also applies to the Disrupt Main Stage.

We dedicate this countdown post to all the early-stage startup founders who hunger for an opportunity to break new ground. This is the final week you can apply to be a TC Top Pick and exhibit your startup -- for free -- in Startup Alley at Disrupt Berlin 2019 on 11-12 December. The application window remains open until this Friday, 18 October at 12 p.m. (PT). Don't miss your shot at media attention, investor interest and plenty of exposure to potential customers and collaborators -- apply to be a TC Top Pick right now. If you haven't heard about our Top Picks program, here's a brief rundown.

Who's ready to save some money on passes to Disrupt Berlin 2019, our premier tech conference that takes place on 11-12 December? Then listen up, because our super early bird pricing ends in just five days. Right now, passes start at €345 VAT and, depending on which pass you choose, you can save up to €600. Buy your passes to Disrupt Berlin before the Friday, 11 October at 11:59 p.m. (CEST) deadline. Then plan your strategy to make sure you take full advantage of Disrupt.

If you're the founder of an early-stage startup here's a big, fat reminder about one of the great experiences you can have at Disrupt Berlin 2019 on 11-12 December. Apply to our TC Top Picks program for a chance to step into the startup spotlight. If you're selected, you'll receive a free Startup Alley Exhibitor Package and a bunch of other perks (more on those in a minute). TechCrunch editors will accept applications from early-stage startups that fall into one of the following tech categories: AI/Machine Learning, Biotech/Healthtech, Blockchain, Fintech, Mobility, Privacy/Security, Retail/E-commerce, Robotics/IoT/Hardware, CRM/Enterprise and Education. They'll thoroughly review every application and then select up to five startups they feel represent the very best in each category.