Fundraising Fox
Croc Pitch
AcceleratorDarwin · Pre-Seed–Seed · 1 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Croc Pitch is a pitch competition run by the Darwin Innovation Hub in Australia's Northern Territory, now in its 8th year. It connects global entrepreneurs with investors for a chance at up to $1 million in venture capital provided by Paspalis. Finalists progress through an information session, a pitch deck submission, and a 'Croc Camp' mentoring stage before final presentations of 10 minutes plus Q&A. The program emphasizes scalable startups with strong teams and clear exit strategies, and highlights the Northern Territory as a real-world test-bed across mining, agriculture, space, and defence, with proximity to Asian markets.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 1 people
from curated
Harley Paroulakis is CEO of Paspalis Corporation and founder and CEO of both Paspalis Capital and the Darwin Innovation Hub, having been appointed CEO in 2017. He oversees the company's investment management business, the Darwin Innovation Hub, and its commercial property portfolio, and focuses on backing deep-tech startups across the APAC region. He previously held senior roles at Merrill Lynch Bank of America in Singapore (FINRA Series 7 and 3 qualified) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Murdoch University.
What they invest in
from 3 of 3 portfolio companiesSpace Tech ×2AgTech ×1Data & Infrastructure ×1Deep Tech ×1Hardware ×1Logistics & Supply Chain ×1Robotics ×1SaaS ×1
HQs:Australia×1United States×1
Portfolio companies · 3 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeArlula builds infrastructure for Earth Observation, providing automated, secure systems that move satellite data through organizations at scale.
Data & InfrastructureSaaSSpace Tech
Sebastian Chaoui(Founder)in
Co-investorsBlack Nova VCMain Sequence VenturesLockheed Martin VenturesStartmate
Blueflite develops electric drones for logistics and package delivery, with vertical take-off and landing capabilities designed for last-mile deliveries, emergency medical transport, and industrial supply missions.
HardwareLogistics & Supply ChainRoboticsAustin, US
Frank Noppel(CEO)inJames McClearen(CTO)in
Co-investorsBoot64 VenturesGENIUS NYMichigan RiseTechstars
Esper provides hyperspectral satellite imagery and geochemical analysis to identify critical minerals and alteration zones for mining exploration and environmental monitoring.
AgTechDeep TechSpace TechPatterson Lakes, AU
JoeyShoaib Iqbal(Founder)inPrzemyslaw Lorenczak(Founder)
Co-investorsInvestible Climate Tech FundNZVCScale Venture PartnersStellarTechstarsDolby Family Ventures
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesEsper Satellite Imagery · startupintros.com · Jul 13, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Croc Pitch invest at?
- Croc Pitch invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Croc Pitch's typical check size?
- Croc Pitch typically writes checks of $1M.
- What sectors does Croc Pitch focus on?
- Croc Pitch focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AgTech, Cleantech, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Energy, FoodTech, New Materials, Space Tech.
- Where is Croc Pitch located?
- Croc Pitch is headquartered in Darwin, AU.
- Who does Croc Pitch co-invest with?
- Croc Pitch most often shares deals with Techstars, Boot64 Ventures, NZVC, among 10 tracked co-investors.
Images
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