Meet the judges who will crown Australia’s next breakout startup
Quick Answer
TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is set for August 19 in Sydney, featuring eight Australian startups competing for $15,000 in Stripe credits and a chance to enter TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
Quick Take
Judges include Stripe's Jasmine Liew, angel investor Brendan Hill, and founder Jarron Aizen, all bringing invaluable insights to identify the next breakout startup.
Key Points
- Three winners will receive Stripe credits: $15,000 for first, $5,000 for second, and $2,000 for third.
- The last Startup Battlefield winner, HealthMatch, is now valued over $25 million.
- Judges possess extensive experience in scaling startups and evaluating investment potential.
- The event is a key opportunity for networking with investors and industry leaders.
- Finalists gain media exposure and access to a diverse audience of founders and operators.
DeepSignal Analysis
What happened
TechCrunch Startup Battlefield will take place on August 19 in Sydney, featuring eight Australian startups competing for prizes including $15,000 in Stripe credits and a chance to enter TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Judges include experts from Stripe, Ten13, and the startup ecosystem, who will assess the pitches.
Key evidence
- The competition has previously launched over 1,700 companies globally, including notable names like Dropbox and Discord.
- The last Startup Battlefield in Sydney crowned HealthMatch, which is now valued at over $25 million.
- Winners will receive Stripe credits, with the grand prize including automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
Why it matters
This event highlights the growing Australian startup ecosystem and provides a platform for emerging companies to gain visibility and funding. The involvement of experienced judges from Stripe and the investment community suggests a serious evaluation process, which could lead to significant opportunities for the participating startups.
What to watch
📖 Reader Mode
~3 min readTechCrunch 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.
That success doesn’t 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’ve assembled three judges who represent the best of Australia’s startup ecosystem and global fintech innovation.
Meet your judges
Jasmine Liew, Head of Startup & Investor Partnerships for APAC, Stripe
Stripe doesn’t just sponsor Startup Battlefield — the company is also deeply embedded in the startup ecosystem. Jasmine Liew 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’re pitching to someone who understands not just the vision, but also the mechanics of turning that vision into a revenue-generating machine.
Brendan Hill, angel investor and venture partner, Ten13
Brendan Hill represents the investor class that actually writes checks. As a venture partner and active angel investor, he’s not just evaluating ideas — he’s also evaluating whether he’d bet his own money on a team. That’s the lens that matters when founders are trying to raise their next round.
Jarron Aizen, founder and CEO, Hapana
Jarron Aizen is a founder himself, which means he knows what it’s like to stand where these eight pitchers will be standing. He’s walked the path from idea to company, and that perspective is invaluable. When he asks a question from the judge’s table, it’s informed by the wins and scars of building in the Australian market.
What’s on the line
The grand prize winner takes home $15,000 in Stripe fee credits — real money that can fuel growth — plus automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. That’s not just a prize. That’s 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 audience of founders, operators, and investors.
The real spectacle happens on August 19
If you’re an investor, a founder who’s 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.
The stage is set. The judges are ready. The question is: Which startup will be next?
Hosted and MC’d by Isabelle Johannessen, director of Startup Battlefield.
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— Originally published at techcrunch.com
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