At the upcoming Ascend ’26 festival in Sydney, eight startup founders and venture capitalists will trade pitches for punchlines by delivering original five-minute stand-up routines about their startup journeys, supported by a four-week comedy bootcamp led by Merrick Watts.
- Competition includes four-week comedy bootcamp with Merrick Watts
- Open to founders and VCs with original five-minute routines
- Entries close Friday, July 17, for the October festival
What happened
Ascend ’26 startup festival, scheduled for October 14-15 in Sydney, will host a novel event called Startup.Standup. This initiative calls on Australian startup founders and venture capitalists to perform original stand-up comedy about funny moments from their startup experiences. The competition is limited to eight finalists who will take the stage live in front of the startup community.
Participants will not face the stage unprepared. Merrick Watts, a well-known comedian and media presenter turned startup cofounder, will conduct a four-week, 2-3 hours per week comedy bootcamp. This coaching aims to help contestants refine their humor and performance skills, potentially improving their overall public speaking, including pitch presentations.
Why it matters
This event represents a fresh approach to startup community engagement by mixing humor with the traditionally serious business of fundraising and networking. It offers a creative outlet for founders and investors to share relatable, human moments beyond financial metrics and market strategies.
With backing from prominent ecosystem figures including Google Cloud’s Mike Langford and support from companies like Playful Purpose and Nudge Group, Startup.Standup is poised to create content that will be widely shared and archived in the cloud. It aims to infuse the startup scene with light-heartedness, promoting mental wellness and camaraderie among innovators.
What to watch next
Entries for Startup.Standup close on Friday, July 17, marking a tight deadline for applicants eager to participate. Interested founders and venture capitalists should apply promptly to secure their spot in the competition and the associated coaching program.
Following selection, the four-week comedy bootcamp will build momentum leading up to the live performances at Ascend ’26. The event’s success could set a precedent for similar startup humor gatherings in Australia and beyond, possibly influencing how startup stories are told and shared in the broader ecosystem.