Stripe x Startup Battlefield
TechCrunch is joining forces with Stripe to spotlight Australia’s most ambitious startups. Together, we will select 8 finalists to pitch live in a Startup Battlefield competition at Stripe Tour Sydney 2026 for the chance to win $15,000 in Stripe fee credits. The winner will also be automatically admitted to Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco in October 2026.
TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is coming to Australia at Stripe Tour Sydney
On August 19, join us for a full day of insights, networking and discussions with Australia’s tech community. Hear from Stripe cofounder and President John Collison on what’s new at Stripe and how they’re building for the future. You’ll also hear from leaders at Canva, Bunnings, Sharesies and more on topics including agentic commerce, AI monetization and global selling.
To close the day, Stripe and TechCrunch will bring the world’s most iconic startup pitch competition to Sydney. Eight of Australia’s most promising early-stage startups will pitch live in front of investors, press and the wider tech ecosystem.
Applications to compete are now closed, but you can still join us to meet fellow founders, connect with the ecosystem partners and watch the finalists take the stage.
Featured Judges
Startup Battlefield will be part of Stripe Tour Sydney on August 19. This year’s event brings together business leaders, founders, and developers to explore the future of payments and commerce — but the real excitement happens when TechCrunch takes the stage with the Startup Battlefield pitch competition. Watch early-stage startups compete for recognition, investor attention, and the chance to launch their companies into the spotlight, all while learning from Stripe experts and industry leaders about AI, emerging revenue models, and the next wave of fintech innovation. Whether you’re scaling a business, investing in the next big thing, or building the future of payments, Stripe Tour Sydney is where the internet economy meets its future. Register now →
Our partner
Stripe is building programmable financial services for millions of businesses globally. Millions of companies use Stripe to accept payments online and in person, embed financial services, power custom revenue models, and build a more profitable business.
Headquartered in San Francisco and Dublin, Stripe processes over $1.9 trillion of payments annually, equivalent to 1.6% of global GDP. Stripe users include all of the top AI companies, 90% of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and 86% of the Forbes AI 50.
Through its scale and investments in R&D — particularly artificial intelligence and stablecoins — Stripe accelerates the utility of frontier technology in the global economy.
Applications are officially closed
Thanks to those who have submitted. Applicants will be notified by late July.
Latest Stripe x Startup Battlefield News
Stripe Tour Sydney
Not ready to pitch or missed the application deadline? Join fellow investors and builders to makes new connections on August 19th