Deel's The Pitch offers USD $15m boost for seed firms

Deel has opened entries for a global funding competition that will allocate up to USD 15 million to seed-stage start-ups, with regional rounds leading to in-person events and a final group of global winners.

The tournament-style programme, branded The Pitch, is open to founders worldwide. Deel expects more than 20,000 start-ups to participate across seven regions. The structure includes up to 100 regional winners and up to 10 global champions.

Regional winners will receive USD 50,000 each. Global champions will receive USD 1 million each. Investments will be made using a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity).

APAC pathway

In Australia and New Zealand, entries fall under the Asia-Pacific regional bracket. Deel's online FAQ lists separate entry deadlines and event schedules for other regions.

Online submissions for the APAC region close on 21 April. A regional event in Singapore is scheduled for 6 May, with Australian and New Zealand start-ups competing for places.

Deel's local lead described the initiative as a response to venture funding that can concentrate within particular networks.

"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 Shannon Karaka, Australia & New Zealand Country Manager at Deel.

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

Selection criteria

Start-ups will be assessed on product strength, market opportunity, team capability, traction metrics, and scalability potential. The selection process combines expert review with analysis across multiple data points.

Finalists will also get access to Deel's network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. The Pitch is positioned as a seed-stage competition, typically targeting early-stage companies that may still be finalising products, securing initial customers, or developing repeatable sales models.

Deel is best known for HR and payroll software and related services for hiring and managing workers across borders. It offers tools for payroll, HR, benefits, mobility, performance, and device management in more than 150 countries, supported by a network of local experts for country-specific employment and compliance requirements.

Sponsor list

The Pitch is headline sponsored by JP Morgan. Deel also lists a16z, dLocal, Google, Mubadala, Orrick, Prodware, Ribbit Ventures, and Stripe as additional sponsors.

The sponsors span banking, venture capital, payments, legal services, and technology, aiming to lend credibility with founders and investors and connect entrants to a broader ecosystem than a single corporate organiser could provide.

Business backdrop

Deel has expanded rapidly in recent years as companies increased cross-border hiring and looked for software to manage payroll and compliance across multiple countries. In May 2025, Deel said it had achieved a run rate of USD 800 million as of December 2024, with 70% year-over-year growth, and that the business had been profitable for more than two years.

That claim provides context for the size of the funding pool. The overall allocation of up to USD 15 million is modest compared with late-stage venture rounds, but meaningful for seed-stage teams, particularly in markets where early funding remains limited.

Karaka said Deel wanted to focus on founders at an early stage and reduce the emphasis on presentation polish during fundraising.

"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," Karaka said.