Meet the judges who will crown Australia’s next breakout startup

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.