GolfTrak has merged with ChipIn, joining an Australian golf technology company with a US-based golf platform.
EM Advisory advised GolfTrak on the cross-border transaction, which brings together a mobile golf launch monitor business and a platform focused on charitable engagement and golf competitions.
Founded by Igor Vainshtein, GolfTrak has developed a mobile launch monitor that uses smartphone video and computer vision. Its platform offers shot tracking, ball-flight analysis, simulator connections and other performance data to golfers in multiple markets.
ChipIn operates in a different part of the golf market, with a model centred on competitions and fundraising. The merger gives the combined group a mix of consumer golf technology and community-focused engagement tools.
The transaction is the fourth Vainshtein has completed with EM Advisory over a relationship spanning more than 15 years, highlighting a longer pattern of founder-led dealmaking rather than a single exit or financing event.
Repeat adviser
Natasha Mandie, Managing Director at EM Advisory, said the deal reflects a broader trend in how founders work with advisers at different stages of a company's life.
"One of the strongest endorsements any adviser can receive is when a founder chooses to work with you again. Transactions are rarely one-off events. Founders build businesses, raise capital, acquire, merge and eventually exit, often over many years. Being invited back to advise at another critical stage speaks to the trust that develops through consistently delivering sound commercial advice," Mandie said.
Vainshtein described the relationship in similar terms, linking the merger to years of working with the same advisory team.
"I have been working with Natasha and the EM team for over 15 years. The trust and working relationship we share is at the core of what we have been able to achieve together. When you work with EM, you know they will give you the advice you need and be relentless in delivering an outcome for their clients," Vainshtein said.
The merger comes as more Australian technology companies look overseas for growth, investment and strategic partnerships. For businesses in specialist software or platform categories, a cross-border deal can provide access to customers, complementary products and a broader operating base.
GolfTrak brings technology built around smartphone-based golf measurement, while ChipIn adds a network and format tied to fundraising and player participation. The combined business sits in a segment where sports technology, consumer apps and community engagement increasingly overlap.
Cross-border trend
Mandie said the transaction also reflects a rise in international deal activity involving Australian companies.
"We're seeing more Australian businesses looking beyond domestic markets to accelerate growth through strategic international partnerships. Cross-border transactions present enormous opportunities, but they also introduce additional complexity across valuation, structuring, negotiations and execution. Having experienced advisers who understand both the commercial and strategic dimensions of those transactions becomes increasingly important," Mandie said.
Australian founders have long faced pressure to scale beyond the local market because of the country's size and distance from larger customer bases. That has pushed many software and platform businesses to pursue overseas expansion earlier in their development, either organically or through partnerships and deals.
Cross-border mergers can also offer an alternative to standalone expansion. Instead of building a new market presence from scratch, companies can combine with an overseas operator that already has customers, distribution or a complementary product set. That can shorten the time to enter a market, though it usually adds complexity around governance, valuation and post-merger integration.
No financial terms were disclosed for the GolfTrak-ChipIn transaction, and the companies did not outline ownership details for the combined group.
Still, the strategic rationale is clear. GolfTrak's product base is rooted in performance tracking and simulator use, while ChipIn has focused on participation and fundraising. Together, the businesses are targeting golfers, clubs and charitable organisations rather than a single narrow user group.
For EM Advisory, the deal adds to its work with founder-led companies on mergers, acquisitions, capital raisings and strategic transactions. Boutique advisory firms in Australia have increasingly positioned themselves around long-term relationships with founders, particularly in technology and mid-market sectors where repeat transactions can span fundraising, acquisitions and eventual exits.
Mandie said that role extends beyond a single process.
"The best transactions are built on preparation, trust and alignment. Our role extends well beyond completing a deal. We work alongside founders as long-term advisers, helping them make better decisions at the moments that have the greatest impact on enterprise value," Mandie said.