Meet the judges who will crown Australia’s next breakout startup; as 22 VCs hunt for the next breakout startup in Social media

On August 19, eight Australian startups will compete in a live pitch event, vying for a grand prize of $15,000 in Stripe credits and entry into Startup Battlefield 200. The competition, hosted by Isabelle Johannessen, aims to spotlight emerging talent in the startup ecosystem.

Judges include Jasmine Liew, Head of Startup & Investor Partnerships for APAC at Stripe, and Brendan Hill, an angel investor and venture partner at Ten13. Their expertise is crucial as they evaluate pitches from startups that could potentially follow in the footsteps of successful alumni like HealthMatch, now valued at over $25 million.¹²³

The event is part of a broader trend where 22 VC firms are actively scouting for innovative social startups. According to PitchBook, social startup investments peaked in 2021 but have since declined, with only 97 deals totaling $330 million in 2025. Nicole Quinn, cofounder of Connect Ventures, emphasizes the importance of investing in the "future of joy" and the need for a technology overlay on human behavior.

As the competition unfolds, it highlights the evolving landscape of startup funding, where VCs like Adina Tecklu from Khosla Ventures and Alexis Ohanian from Seven Seven Six are looking for products that foster genuine connections rather than gamified experiences. The stakes are high, and the potential for the next breakout startup is palpable.