While the top end of town tends to steal the spotlight, real innovation often happens in the small and mid-cap space. From nimble fintech redefining how we bank to next-gen healthcare firms disrupting traditional delivery models to tech-savvy logistics players streamlining operations, there’s a new wave of challengers taking on the incumbents.

These companies may not yet be household names but many are leveraging technology, unique business models, or sharp customer focus to punch well above their weight. And in a market where growth is increasingly hard to come by, they offer investors a compelling, if sometimes risky, alternative.

So, how do you sort the genuine disruptors from the hype machines? Which companies have the vision, execution, and balance sheets to go the distance, and which are more likely to fizzle out?

Joining Livewire's Chris Conway to break it all down are Emanuel Datt from Datt Capital and Michael Steele from Yarra Capital. Together, they put three emerging challengers under the microscope.

For good measure, they also name their favourite disruptor they are backing right now.