Strategy
Sharpen your business model, test your value proposition and think through the decisions ahead.
Founder community in Western Australia
Building a startup shouldn’t be a solo sport.
Good conversations. Shared experience. A little golf. Find your people and build a stronger business, together.
Free to join. No golf experience required.
Community.
Come for the golf.
Stay for the conversations.
All experience levels.
Everyone belongs.
No membership fees.
Just good company.
The founder experience
You don’t have to
build it alone.
Building a business is rewarding. It can also feel isolating. Financial pressure, difficult decisions and the uncertainty of what comes next can take their toll.
Swing & Scale brings people together away from the boardroom. It’s a place to speak honestly, learn from experience and find support from people who understand the journey.
Great companies are built by strong founders supported by strong communities.
For people building, supporting or funding great ideas.
- Founders
- Investors
- Mentors & advisers
- Researchers
- Government
- Corporate leaders
- Allies of WA innovation
Golf. Conversations. Community.
A simple way to
find your people.
A little time on the range. An honest conversation. A chance to learn something useful and meet someone new. Come as you are, whether you’ve played for years or never picked up a club.
Arrive & settle in
Meet the group and ease into the evening. A friendly introduction is all you need.
Have a swing
Enjoy around 30–60 minutes of casual golf or range practice. Every experience level is welcome.
Share & learn
Join a founder or expert conversation, ask questions and hear a different perspective.
Stay & connect
Stick around for optional networking and the conversations that happen naturally.
No pressure to sell. No golf handicap required. Just a willingness to contribute, learn and support others.
Helping founders build better businesses
Room to work on what matters.
Bring the questions you’re working through. Share what you know. Learn from founders, mentors and people with a different view.
Fundraising
Discuss investment preparation and learn from the experiences of founders and investors.
Pitch practice
Rehearse your pitch in a supportive setting and get honest, constructive feedback.
Leadership
Grow your confidence in leading a business, supporting your team and handling change.
Scaling
Talk through the operational challenges of growth with people who have faced them.
Wellbeing
Make space for open conversations about pressure, burnout and finding a sustainable pace.
A note on wellbeing: Swing & Scale is a peer support community and is not a substitute for professional mental health services, therapy, or medical advice.
A safe space to improve
Practise before
the pitch matters.
Work on your story before the big moment. A supportive audience can help you find the words, refine your message and build confidence.
- Practise
- Get feedback
- Improve
- Pitch with confidence
How we show up
Everyone brings knowledge.
Everyone has something to learn.
Strong communities grow through trust, generosity and consistency. These are the principles we ask everyone to bring.
Give before you take
Share something useful and help someone else move forward.
Be honest
Make room for candid conversations and constructive feedback.
Respect confidentiality
Treat personal stories and business conversations with care.
Welcome everyone
Make people feel included, whatever their experience.
Leave ego at home
Come ready to learn and contribute, without needing to impress.
Look after the person
Remember there’s a person behind every business.
Meet the founding team
Built by founders,
for founders.
We know the highs, setbacks and uncertainty of building companies. Swing & Scale exists so founders have people to share the journey with.
David Rees
Entrepreneur & mentor
David has learned from plenty of failures while building ventures across AI, healthcare, mining and sports technology, raising more than A$24 million along the way. Through Swing & Scale, he helps founders turn technical ideas into market-ready businesses, bringing practical experience of what works—and what doesn’t.
Brad Hill
Founder, investor & storyteller
A former host of Channel 9’s Innovation Nation, Brad brings extensive finance and venture experience across technology and medtech. Through Swing & Scale, he helps founders raise capital, strengthen governance and build businesses ready for investment.
Wilson Tucker
Innovation advocate
A former member of the WA Government, Wilson combines software leadership with experience in public policy and startup advocacy. Through Swing & Scale, he helps founders shape their technology strategy, navigate regulation and engage effectively with government.
Kate Spencer
Founder advocate
connects businesses with resources-sector opportunities through C-Res and the BHP Local Buying Program, and serves on StartupWA’s board. Through Swing & Scale, she helps founders refine pitches, build networks and secure resources-sector opportunities.
Chris Clark
Technology entrepreneur
is CEO of RocketDNA, a publicly listed drone technology company, with experience scaling businesses and taking them public. Combining enterprise technology sales and operations expertise, he helps founders through Swing & Scale build strategic partnerships, strengthen commercial growth and turn technology into practical customer solutions.
Marion Burchell
Entrepreneur & mentor
is Managing Director of Azolla Holdings and a former interim WA Government Chief Information Officer. Through Swing & Scale, she helps founders strengthen strategy, navigate government, build networks and commercialise innovation.
Paul Glass
Founder, investor & storyteller
co-founded and scaled NEXION Group from $500 into an ASX-listed technology company. Through Swing & Scale, he helps founders grow revenue, raise capital and prepare for major transactions.
Dez Blachfield
Innovation advocate
is a technology entrepreneur and digital transformation leader. Through Swing & Scale, he helps founders simplify complex ideas, build authority and reach global markets.
Kate Harris
Founder advocate
is the founder of Human by Design, with 15+ years across startups, scale-ups and technology. Through Swing & Scale, she helps founders strengthen leadership, improve decisions, align teams and scale sustainably.
Mike Kyriacou
Technology entrepreneur
is Kopernicus AI’s Founder, a serial founder with two successful exits who has supported over 100 ventures. Through Swing & Scale, he helps founders refine products, strengthen strategy, raise capital and scale technology businesses.
A connected founder community can strengthen the whole Western Australian innovation ecosystem. Everyone has a part to play.
A few useful answers
Before you
come along.
A relaxed format, an open invitation and no need to be an expert golfer.
Do I need to play golf?
No. Beginners are welcome, and you can simply come to connect. Whether you hit it 200 metres or miss the ball completely, you belong.
Who can join?
Founders and anyone building, supporting or funding great ideas in Western Australia. Investors, mentors, researchers, government representatives, corporate leaders and allies of innovation are welcome.
What does it cost?
Swing & Scale is free to join, with no membership fees, subscriptions or long-term contracts. You pay for your own golf balls and drinks.
When and where is the next event?
The date and venue will be confirmed. Tuesday evenings around 6 pm are the proposed format, with Wembley Golf Course or Hamersley Public Golf Course as possible locations. Register your interest to receive confirmed details.
Do I need my own clubs?
Equipment arrangements will be shared with the confirmed event details. You’re also welcome to come simply for the conversations.
Is this professional mental health support?
Swing & Scale is a peer support community and is not a substitute for professional mental health services, therapy, or medical advice.
Join Swing & Scale
Find your
founder community.
Hear about upcoming meetups and get the details once they’re confirmed. We’d love to see you there.
Free to join. No subscriptions.
Come as you are.