What if one pitch changed everything?
The last time TechCrunch brought Startup Battlefield to Sydney, two lesser-known startups took the stage. What happened next raised more than $85 million.
If you would like to get a shot, applications will close within a few days. July 6th.
In 2017, Manuri Gunawardena was a medical student when he launched HealthMatch, a machine learning platform that connects patients to clinical trials. She won Startup Battlefield Australia.
That single moment helped HealthMatch raise more than $25 million, expand into the United States, and serve more than 1 million patients globally.
Runner-up FluroSat used the same level of exposure to secure a Microsoft seed round and ultimately became part of Regrow Agriculture. Regrow Agriculture has now raised more than $60 million and counts Microsoft, Airtree, and Cargill as backers.
A Day in Sydney: $85 million raised. Millions of lives have been affected. A global company born from a single opportunity.
Now Startup Battlefield is back in Australia. The application window is almost closed.
August 19, 2026 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Australia is back in partnership with Stripe.
This time the stakes are much higher.
The eight selected startups will present live at Stripe Tour Sydney in front of top-tier investors, global media and Australia’s leading tech community. The top three will win up to $15,000 in Stripe commission credits. The final winner gets something bigger. That’s an automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October. There are no applications. There is no competition. You’re guaranteed a spot on the world’s most iconic startup stage.
This isn’t just an event for startup pitching. This is a moment for all the founders, investors and operators who have quietly been doing world-class work on the other side of the world.
this is your stage
The next company that no one has heard of yet is building something important. It could be yours.
You have 6 more days to apply. July 6th It’s a deadline.
Apply now.
Free application · No stake acquisition · Offline event, Sydney, Australia, August 19, 2026
If you purchase through links in our articles, we may receive a small commission. This does not affect our editorial independence.
