Bettercup, an Australian company that provides reusable products and washing services for major events and venues, is part of the AO StartUps cohort for 2026. As part of the program, Bettercup will deliver offsite washing services for thousands of cups and dishes to replace single-use items at the Courtside Bar, the Layla street mezze outlet, and other selected outlets at Garden Square during the Australian Open.
Founded in 2018 by Christie Kamphuis and Samantha Stone, Bettercup works with events including WOMADelaide, Melbourne Fashion Week, Darwin Festival, Fringe World Perth and the Sydney Opera House.
“We’re excited to be selected as an AO Startup and to work alongside Tennis Australia to deliver our reuse systems at the scale of major sporting events,” said Christie Kamphuis, co-founder of Bettercup. “Events like the Australian Open are where sustainable systems like ours are refined and strengthened through real-world delivery and collaboration. For Bettercup, this opportunity supports our ambition to embed reuse as the standard for major events.”
Bettercup also demonstrated its reusable cup and container systems in use at the ReUsables Roundtable that took place in Melbourne last year.
Bettercup works with event operators to provide reuse systems that are reliable, commercially viable and easy for patrons to use, supported by locally manufactured products and dedicated washing infrastructure.
“Working with Bettercup is a significant step towards achieving our sustainability goals at the Australian Open,” said Matthew Nicholas, director of Sustainability at Tennis Australia. “With an efficient reusable cup system, we’re reducing single-use waste and setting a new standard for environmentally responsible event operations.”
AO StartUps is the latest step in Tennis Australia’s innovation and venture capital strategy which helps startup companies pilot their cutting-edge technology at the AO and other areas of Tennis Australia’s business.
Companies participating in AO StartUps are provided the opportunity to prove their business models in real time and directly access proprietary intel and exposure at one of the world’s largest sport and entertainment events. The organisation says it has been designed to “extract maximum value for the startup, streamline corporate processes that can often stifle innovating at speed, and provide an opportunity for investment via Tennis Australia’s venture capital funds, AO Ventures and Wildcard Ventures”.
Click here for full cohort of AO StartUp 2026 companies.
