GoKawiilIn November 2017, TechCrunch brought Startup Battlefield to Australia for the first time. Fifteen startups from across Australia and New Zealand took the stage in Sydney, pitched in front of investors and judges, and competed for a shot at the global stage.
It was one day. One stage. And what happened next is exactly why we’re coming back.
Sydney, August 19, 2026
On August 19, Startup Battlefield is returning to Sydney in partnership with Stripe, one of the world’s most iconic technology companies. We’re taking over Stripe Tour Sydney for a night that the Australian startup ecosystem won’t forget. Ten selected companies will pitch live in front of top-tier investors, global press, and the best of Australia’s tech community. The top three will win up to $10,000 in Stripe fee credits. The grand winner walks away with something even bigger: automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October — no application required, no competition. Just a guaranteed spot on the world’s most iconic startup stage.
But this isn’t just an event for the 10 companies pitching. This is a moment for the entire Australian startup ecosystem — the founders, investors, operators, and builders who have been quietly doing world-class work from the other side of the world. We want every ambitious founder in the room, whether you’re onstage or in the audience, because this is the kind of night that reminds you why you started.
Find out who should apply and more details about the Stripe x Startup Battlefield here.
What happened the last time we were here
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what came out of one day in Sydney in 2017.
The winner became a global health tech platform
Manuri Gunawardena was a final-year medical student when she pitched HealthMatch — a machine learning platform matching patients with clinical trials. She won. That win turned into over $25 million raised, U.S. expansion, and over 1 million patients globally, backed by Square Peg Capital and SEEK co-founder Paul Bassat.
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