Australian startup Build Buddy has clinched a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Finals, set to take place in San Francisco this October.
Startup&Angels Investor Week ended on a high note with the Startup World Cup Australian Selection, where 10 of Australia’s most promising startups competed for the chance to represent the country at the Global Startup World Cup, organized by the renowned American VC firm Pegasus Tech Ventures. Congratulations to Danny Assabgy, founder of Build Buddy, who took the top spot and will proudly represent Australia at the World Cup Finals in San Francisco this October.
The Startup World Cup is the largest startup competition globally, with a $1 million investment prize up for grabs. The event draws an audience of over 50,000 attendees, including 2,500 investors and 500 speakers, and serves as a premier platform for showcasing cutting-edge global innovation. Adding to the prestige, previous judges have included notable figures such as the Founder of Netflix, Apple SharkTank stars, and other high-profile celebrity entrepreneurs, further elevating the competition’s prominence.
Build Buddy’s journey to San Francisco is generously sponsored by the Andiron Group, who have covered the costs of their flights. “We are proud to support Build Buddy as they embark on this global challenge. They exemplify the best of Australian innovation,” said Jonathan Englert, Founder of Andiron Group.
The competition featured an impressive lineup of startups, with the following founders also delivering standout pitches:
● Joseph Guo & Paul Skevington – Founders of Minimis Technologies ● Jesse Waller – Founder of InnerSteps
● Richard Savoie – Founder of Adiona
● Lachlan (Lockie) Cooke – Founder of iyarn
● Mona Chiha – Founder of JurisTechne
● Lindsay Lyon – Founder of GIAGO
● Jessie Wu – Founder of EverYoungAI
● Jason Hardie – Founder of Digital Village
● Vinesh V George & Paul-Benjamin Ramírez – Founders of Automi
“Danny and the Build Buddy team have shown extraordinary potential. Their innovative approach will undoubtedly make Australia proud in San Francisco,” said Leo Denes, Founder of Startup&Angels and Australiance Group.
The success of the pitch night was made possible by the expert judging panel, who provided valuable insights throughout the event:
● Patrick Stewart (National Sales Lead at Radium Capital)
● Imche Veiga (Group Executive of Ecosystems at Stone & Chalk)
● Harry Godber (Co-CEO of Spark Festival)
● Varun Bhandarkar (Head of Existing Business APAC at Stripe)
● Sophie Yao (Managing Director at Pegasus Tech Ventures)
● Matt Vitale (Co-founder & CEO of Birchal)
● Charlie Ill (CEO at Investible)
● Zach Zocher (Head of Community at Techvisa)
● Sam Cust (Director at Hyper Startup Studio)
● Romane Delvallee (Head of Community at Startup&Angels)
Romane Delvallee, Head of Startup&Angels, remarked, “This year’s event has been nothing short of incredible, spotlighting the brightest minds in Australia’s startup ecosystem. We are eager to follow Build Buddy’s journey as they compete on the global stage.”
With Investor Week 2024 now complete, plans are already underway to make next year’s event even bigger and more impactful. Potential collaborators are encouraged to connect early for the 2025 edition.
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