Key facts
- TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is scheduled for August 19 in Sydney, Australia.
- Eight early-stage Australian startups will compete.
- The judges are Jasmine Liew (Stripe), Brendan Hill (Ten13), and Jarron Aizen (Hapana).
- Prizes include Stripe fee credits and an automatic ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
- The competition has a history of launching successful companies like Dropbox and Discord.
TechCrunch is bringing its Startup Battlefield competition to Australia, partnering with Stripe to identify and showcase the country's most promising early-stage startups. The event, set for August 19 at Stripe Tour Sydney, will feature eight selected companies pitching their ventures to a panel of judges, investors, and the tech community.
The competition aims to provide a platform for emerging companies, with past participants including Dropbox, Cloudflare, and Discord, collectively raising billions and achieving numerous exits. The winner of the Sydney event will receive an automatic ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco, alongside significant Stripe fee credits.
The judging panel comprises individuals with deep experience in the startup ecosystem and global fintech. Jasmine Liew from Stripe brings expertise in scaling businesses and payment infrastructure. Brendan Hill, an active angel investor and venture partner at Ten13, represents the crucial investor perspective. Jarron Aizen, founder and CEO of Hapana, offers a founder's firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs of building a company.
Beyond the grand prize, which includes $15,000 in Stripe credits and the Disrupt 2026 ticket, second and third place winners will also receive Stripe credits of $5,000 and $2,000, respectively. All finalists are set to gain valuable exposure through press attention and access to the Stripe Tour Sydney audience.