Deel Launches “The Pitch,” A $US15M Global Tournament To Find The Next Generation Of Borderless Founders

New Zealand and Australian business leaders have the opportunity to share in a global pool of $US15M, as Deel, the leading global HR and payroll platform, launches ‘The Pitch’, an international competition designed to identify, elevate, and fund the world’s most promising seed-stage startups.

Leveraging Deel’s global footprint, the program aims to level the playing field for founders by surfacing talent based on merit, rather than geography or connections.

The Pitch will engage over 20,000 startups across seven global regions, culminating in a total investment pool of up to $15 million. Up to 100 regional winners will receive $50,000 in investment each, while up to ten global champions will receive a $1 million investment each, to scale their visions.

“What we know is that local networks often constrain traditional venture capital. The Pitch breaks these boundaries by combining a high-stakes tournament with expert review that analyses a broad range of data points to identify "high-signal" startups,” said Deel Australia & New Zealand Country Manager Shannon Karaka.

“Talent is global, but access to capital isn't. The Pitch surfaces the best ideas regardless of a founder's location or connections,” Mr Karaka said.

“One thing I’ve learnt from local founders is that the hardest part isn’t the idea, it’s believing it’s worth backing when no one else does.”

“That’s why I’m excited about The Pitch. It’s not about perfect decks or polished storytelling. It’s about giving early-stage founders a genuine opportunity to be heard. If you’re building something and wondering whether it’s ‘too early,’ it probably isn’t.”

The competition is headline sponsored by JP Morgan, in addition to a16z, dLocal, Google, Mubadala, Orrick, Prodware, Ribbit Ventures, and Stripe.

For more details and instructions on how to apply visit www.deel.com/the-pitch-by-deel

About Deel

The way the world works has changed – and Deel has built the standard to power it all. We make it effortless to hire, manage, pay, and equip any worker, anywhere. Deel is one platform for payroll, HR, benefits, mobility, performance, and device management across 150+ countries. Built on owned infrastructure, powered by AI, and supported by thousands of local experts, Deel helps businesses scale smarter, faster, and more compliantly. Trusted by 37,000+ customers, and created to become a global brand people love. Learn more at deel.com.

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