Melbourne-based AI-tech startup Deeligence simply took out high gong on the Startup World Cup 2025 regional occasion and earned a spot on the worldwide stage with a sponsored journey to the Grand Finale in San Francisco this October – and the possibility to compete for US$1 million in funding.
Hosted in Melbourne, the distinguished worldwide pitch competitors – run by Pegasus Tech Ventures – showcased 10 high-growth startups who pitched reside to a panel of heavyweight buyers. Deeligence not solely impressed the judges with its AI-powered due diligence platform, however made it clear they might be a power to be reckoned with for years to return.
Startup World Cup regional finals, Melbourne Picture: Sartup&Angels
Pitch win to world domination
“We assist legal professionals get by a number of paperwork a lot sooner once they’re seeking to purchase a enterprise for his or her consumer,” mentioned Justin Hansky, co-founder of Deeligence, who delivered the successful pitch. “We got here alongside to pitch on the Startup World Cup and headed residence winners.”
Based in 2022, Deeligence has shortly made waves within the authorized tech area by automating some of the time-consuming parts of M&A transactions: contract assessment. The platform itself helps companies display screen hundreds of paperwork at fast pace, whereas on the identical time catching any crimson flags and producing studies that can meet even the tightest consumer deadlines.
“Deeligence is getting used to assessment hundreds of paperwork each month and legal professionals are getting work performed in about half the time on our platform than they might in any other case,” Hansky mentioned. “They’re truly in a position to meet their purchasers’ bold deadlines, that are getting tighter and tighter over time.”
Deeligence is already working with regulation companies and authorized groups throughout Australia and New Zealand. However worldwide enlargement – particularly into the US and UK – is an enormous a part of their subsequent chapter.
“By way of constructing an organization within the legaltech area, if you wish to construct a extremely sizeable firm, you’ll want to be world from day one,” Hansky mentioned. “It’s worthwhile to be within the US, you’ll want to be within the UK. So for us, Australia is a superb place to start out. The Australian market’s been an superior testing floor for us. However so as to ship on the subsequent stage of progress for our enterprise, we have to begin seeing what else is accessible on the market and heading to the market sooner somewhat than later.”
Timing the leap to the US
The Startup World Cup prize couldn’t have come at a greater time. Deeligence is making ready for a capital elevate and eyeing enlargement into North America – making San Francisco the right spot to start out forging connections.
“[We’re] mentally planning the gross sales calls we’re going to have on our journey to San Francisco,” Hansky mentioned.
With the Grand Finale set to happen this October, it is going to deliver collectively regional winners from greater than 50 cities around the globe. As Hansky and co-founder Elena Tsalanidis’s first journey to the US on behalf of the enterprise, they’re planning to benefit from their time there.
“It’s an awesome alternative, each with our upcoming fundraise to satisfy people over in San Francisco and in addition to validate some stuff in regards to the market over within the US,” Hansky mentioned. “As a result of the easiest way to search out out about these things is to be on the bottom. It’s an unimaginable alternative – timing-wise – for what we’re doing within the enterprise.”
The journey has fast-tracked their market-exploration efforts – giving them not simply publicity, however a motive to start out constructing connections and gathering all crucial insights proper now.
“[We] will regulate the timing and [add] slightly bit of additional work to verify we’ve got the appropriate conferences in our calendar earlier than we go.”
A lift of confidence and visibility
Their victory on the Startup World Cup is a large morale increase, whereas on the identical time signalling Deeligence as one to observe within the lawtech area.
“It feels surreal to have gained this competitors,” Hansky mentioned. “The truth of the prize may be very cool. Going over and getting to satisfy all these wonderful folks [and going] to San Francisco, which is absolutely the hub of startup land … it feels superior.”
Whereas October is simply across the nook, Hansky is assured his crew shall be prepared and ready – and that this win has generated loads of momentum they’re able to harness.
Deeligence joins an enviable checklist of previous Startup World Cup winners who’ve gone on to safe main investments and partnerships after pitching on the world stage.
Startup Day by day is a media companion of Startup World Cup Australia, hosted by Startup&Angels and supported by platinum companions, United Airways and Dell Applied sciences + Home windows 11.
With due to Dell Applied sciences, Startup World Cup sponsor
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