GolfTrak teams up with EM Advisory again for merger with US-based ChipIn
Australian golf technology company GolfTrak has merged with US-based golf technology platform ChipIn. The deal marks the fourth transaction EM Advisory has advised GolfTrak founder Igor Vainshtein on over a relationship spanning more than 15 years.
Founded by Vainshtein in 2016, 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. US-based ChipIn, meanwhile, focuses on the competitions and fundraising segments of the golf market.
The merger gives the combined group a mix of consumer golf technology and community-focused engagement tools, enabling it to target golfers, clubs and charitable organisations rather than a single narrow user group.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the companies did not outline ownership details for the combined group.
The dealmaker
EM Advisory acted as corporate adviser to GolfTrak throughout the transaction. Earlier, the M&A consultancy advised Vainshtein on three other deals, reflecting the long-term nature of many founder journeys, where businesses raise capital, acquire, merge and evolve over multiple stages of growth.
“I have been working with the EM Advisory 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 Advisory, you know they will give you the advice you need and be relentless in delivering an outcome for their clients,” Vainshtein said.
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,” she said.
According to Mandie, the transaction highlights the increasing number of Australian technology businesses pursuing international growth through 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.
Since its inception in 2020, EM Advisory has completed 35 transactions, many of which involve cross-border stakeholders.
