TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is coming to Australia \u2014 and we\u2019re partnering with Stripe<\/a> to find the country\u2019s most exciting early-stage startups. On August 19, eight Australian startups will take the stage at Stripe<\/a> Tour Sydney<\/a> 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<\/a>, taking place in San Francisco from October 13-15.<\/p>\n The secret to finding the next breakout founder? The judges.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 now valued at over $25 million with a million patients globally.<\/p>\n That success doesn\u2019t happen by accident. It comes from having the right people in the room, the ones who can spot potential, ask the hard questions, and open doors for founders. This year, we\u2019ve assembled three judges who represent the best of Australia\u2019s startup ecosystem and global fintech innovation.<\/p>\n Stripe doesn\u2019t just sponsor Startup Battlefield \u2014 the company is also deeply embedded in the startup ecosystem. Jasmine Liew<\/a> brings institutional knowledge of what it takes to scale globally and the payment infrastructure that powers modern commerce. When a founder pitches in front of her, they\u2019re pitching to someone who understands not just the vision, but also the mechanics of turning that vision into a revenue-generating machine.<\/p>\n Brendan Hill <\/a>represents the investor class that actually writes checks. As a venture partner and active angel investor, he\u2019s not just evaluating ideas \u2014 he\u2019s also evaluating whether he\u2019d bet his own money on a team. That\u2019s the lens that matters when founders are trying to raise their next round.<\/p>\n Jarron Aizen<\/a> is a founder himself, which means he knows what it\u2019s like to stand where these eight pitchers will be standing. He\u2019s walked the path from idea to company, and that perspective is invaluable. When he asks a question from the judge\u2019s table, it\u2019s informed by the wins and scars of building in the Australian market.<\/p>\n The grand prize winner takes home $15,000 in Stripe fee credits \u2014 real money that can fuel growth \u2014 plus automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026<\/a>. That\u2019s not just a prize. That\u2019s a launchpad. Second place takes $5,000 in Stripe credits. Third place takes $2,000 in Stripe credits. But more importantly, all finalists get in the room with these judges, get press attention, and get access to the Stripe Tour Sydney<\/a> audience of founders, operators, and investors.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re an investor, a founder who\u2019s not ready to pitch, or just someone who wants to see the future of Australian startups unfold, Stripe Tour Sydney on August 19 is the event. Register to attend<\/a>.<\/p>\n The stage is set. The judges are ready. The question is: Which startup will be next?<\/p>\n Hosted and MC\u2019d by Isabelle Johannessen, director of Startup Battlefield.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\nMeet your judges<\/h2>\n
Jasmine Liew, Head of Startup & Investor Partnerships for APAC, Stripe<\/h3>\n
Brendan Hill, angel investor and venture partner, Ten13<\/h3>\n
![\"Brendan](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Brendan-Hill-4.jpg?w=680\")
Jarron Aizen, founder and CEO, Hapana<\/h3>\n
![\"Jarron](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-jarron-1.jpg?w=602\")
What\u2019s on the line<\/h2>\n
The real spectacle happens on August 19<\/h2>\n