Meet the judges who will crown Australia’s next breakout startup
TechCrunch is partnering with Stripe to host a startup competition in Sydney, where eight early-stage companies will pitch for prizes and a spot at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The event features a panel of judges from the venture capital and fintech sectors to evaluate the next generation of Australian startups.
Why it matters
This event highlights the growing influence of the Australian startup ecosystem and the role of global fintech giants in fostering regional innovation.
TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is coming to Australia — and we’re partnering with Stripe to find the country’s most exciting early-stage startups. On August 19, eight Australian startups will take the stage at Stripe Tour Sydney to pitch live in front of investors, press, and the tech community. Three will win prizes. One will earn an automatic ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 , taking place in San Francisco from October 13-15.
The secret to finding the next breakout founder? The judges.
Startup Battlefield has a track record that speaks for itself. The competition has launched over 1,700 companies globally, including Dropbox, Cloudflare, Discord, and Trello. Alumni have collectively raised $32 billion and produced 250+ exits. The last time Startup Battlefield came to Sydney, the winner was HealthMatch — now valued at over $25 million with a million patients globally.
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