Apply for Croc Pitch 2026: Registrations Are Now Open
The race is on. Apply for Croc Pitch 2026 for up to $1 million in venture capital (subject to due diligence). One stage, on 9 September 2026.
Croc Pitch is Northern Australia’s most competitive pitch event and registrations are now open. Hosted by the Darwin Innovation Hub, held as part of Startup September presented by the Business Enterprise Centre NT, and principally sponsored by Paspalis Capital.
If you’ve got an innovative product, technology, or business model that can create value for Northern Australia, this is your chance to pitch for up to $1 million in venture capital at Northern Australia’s most competitive pitch event.
What is Croc Pitch?
Croc Pitch is Northern Australia’s premier startup pitch contest, run by the Darwin Innovation Hub and backed by Paspalis Capital. Each year, a cohort of founders and innovators from across Australia and around the world compete for the chance to secure investment, strategic support, and access to the NT’s commercialisation ecosystem.
The format is intense: 10 minutes to pitch your case, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A from a panel of industry experts who will find every weakness. Investment decisions are made by the Paspalis Investment Committee — the people who actually deploy the capital, not just ask the questions.
Who should apply?
We’re looking for startups and early-stage companies with innovations that create genuine value for Northern Australia and its priority sectors. To be eligible, your innovation or business must deliver measurable economic benefit to Northern Australia and meet at least one of the following: registered in the NT or committed to doing so, maintaining a presence at the Darwin Innovation Hub, demonstrating growth potential in global markets, seeking to relocate or commercialise in the NT, working on R&D with CDU or connected research organisations, sourced through indigenous networks, or having received NT Government or AusIndustry grants.
You should have real commercial potential, a credible team, and be ready to test, validate, or scale in the NT environment. Traction matters, whether that’s customers, pilots, IP, or early revenue.
Applications are open globally. Croc Pitch is delivered in a hybrid format, meaning you can pitch from anywhere in the world and still compete for Paspalis venture capital investment, up to $1 million available across the cohort, subject to due diligence.
Why pitch at Croc Pitch?
Paspalis is an early-stage deep-tech investor. Croc Pitch is how they find the most compelling companies building for and connecting to Northern Australia. Past participants have gone on to secure significant follow-on venture capital from Paspalis: Arlula $1.5M (2025), Esper $1.7M (2024), Blueflite $1.6M (2023).
Key Dates
Information Session: Friday 17 July, 1pm ACST. Hear directly from the Darwin Innovation Hub team on what makes a strong application.
Registrations close: Thursday 5 August, 5pm ACST.
Croc Pitch: Wednesday 9 September, 9am–11am ACST.
