One last chance to apply

Due to overwhelming interest, we’ve extended applications for Startup Battlefield Australia to July 20.

If you’ve been thinking about applying, do it now. There won’t be another extension.

One application could change everything

Since the first Startup Battlefield Australia in 2017, there have been 26 alumni companies that have collectively raised over $147 million, with three successful acquisitions. They’ve been backed by some of the world’s most respected investors — including Y Combinator, Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Khosla Ventures, Microsoft, AirTree Ventures, Startmate, Techstars, and SOSV.

It all started with one decision: They applied.

Why apply now?

If you’re building something ambitious, this is a fast track to the people who can move your startup forward.

Selected founders will pitch live to:

• Top-tier investors.
• Global media.
• Australia’s leading founders and operators.
• Potential partners, customers, and hires.

This is more than a pitch competition. It’s a chance to earn visibility, credibility, and connections that can take years to build.

What’s at stake?

On August 19, 2026, eight startups will pitch live at Stripe Tour Sydney.

The top three will receive up to $15,000 in Stripe fee credits.

The grand prize is even bigger:

Automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October.

No second application. No extra round. Just a direct path to one of the world’s biggest startup stages.

Who should apply?

We’re looking for early-stage startups across Australia and New Zealand that are:

• Pre-seed to Series B.
• Building a real product or showing strong traction.
• Ready to scale.
• Ready to tell their story.

You don’t need to be a household name.

We’re looking for the next one.

The deadline has moved — the opportunity hasn’t

This extension gives you more time, but not much.

Applications now close July 20.

If you’ve been waiting, this is the moment.

Submit your application before July 20.

Free to apply. No equity taken. One opportunity that could change everything.

Meta has unveiled its new AI image generator, Muse Image, which was produced by Meta Superintelligence Labs, the company’s dedicated AI unit.

The new feature, which was internally code-named Mango, will be available for free through the Meta AI app, as well as in Instagram Stories and WhatsApp.

What exactly can you do with Muse? It sounds like the use-cases are similar to most other AI image generators — you’ll be able to create a whole lot of goofy and cartoonish images, for instance.

If you’re suffering from a dearth of imagination and can’t come up with any original prompts on your own, Meta says that Muse comes with “presets” — prefabricated image prompts — to “spark ideas.”

An accompanying video shows other potential uses. One is to use Muse to create custom ads (AI has notably crept into advertising over the past year) or to play around with interior decoration ideas (in the video, a user leverages Muse to see what a used couch might look like in their garage). This last function is designed to be integrated with Facebook Marketplace, Meta’s popular Craigslist-like locus of used furniture and accessories.

The model also features prompt-based image editing, which can be used to create images to share across Meta’s various apps and platforms.

“Ask it to mock up an image of you in front of a historical landmark, cleanly erase a photobomber from the background of a shot, or write a custom prompt to build a functional QR code,” the company offers.

At the same time, Meta is launching a host of new AI effects for Instagram Stories which are supported by Muse. Those effects include various customizable filters that can be used to modify existing photos.

Meta says that the use of the new AI model is free for “everyday creation” although, past a certain limit, users will need to use Meta’s subscription plans.

The company also said that Muse Video — presumably an AI video generator — is “already in development.” TechCrunch reached out to Meta for more information.

Meta has released a number of AI apps and services over the past year, including an assistant called Creator, and Pocket, an app that can be used to vibe code video games. The company has been accused of having a nebulous AI strategy, although it’s still on track to spend a whole lot on AI infrastructure this year as it continues to build out its services.