Pacific Stride & SwayTech Bring ANZ Startups to the U.S.
Auckland, New Zealand – September 25, 2025 - Pacific Stride and SwayTech have announced a strategic partnership designed to help pre-Series A technology companies from Australia and New Zealand expand into the U.S. market through practical, on-the-ground execution.
While the U.S. remains one of the most attractive growth opportunities for ANZ startups, making the leap requires more than vision; it demands operational discipline, local insight and real traction. This partnership combines Pacific Stride’s embedded U.S. go-to-market (GTM) execution with SwayTech’s proven track record in tech marketing and commercialisation, giving founders the support they need to move quickly, efficiently and credibly.
Bridging the early-stage expansion gap
Many promising ANZ startups stumble when entering the U.S. - not from a lack of product potential, but from a lack of guidance and local expertise. Pacific Stride was created to fill this gap, offering a bridge “between government programs and full ‘boots on the ground’”. By partnering with SwayTech, Pacific Stride extends that bridge to companies at the pre-Series A level, when support can be make-or-break for international expansion.
The Pacific Stride x SwayTech partnership is designed for founders who have already tested the waters - often through founder-led sales trips and early prospecting - but now face the reality that those efforts don’t scale. Building a U.S. team is costly, legally complex and culturally challenging. This partnership provides a practical middle ground:
Readiness audits to assess U.S. market fit
Hands-on GTM execution of campaigns, sales development and workflows
Fractional U.S. teams without the overhead of full-time hires
Positioning and visibility support to refine messaging and launch campaigns
Capital raise preparation aligned with U.S. investor expectations
“This isn’t advisory work from the sidelines - it’s boots-on-the-ground help with the actual doing. From landing early customers to building investable momentum, we’re helping ANZ founders move from preparation to real U.S. traction.”
said Tim Thodey, Co-Founder of Pacific Stride.
High demand and timely opportunity
With New Zealand’s GDP floundering at -0.9% in the latest update, the need for expansion for the country's second-largest export sector has never been more urgent.
The economics align well too. With the NZD trading low against the U.S. dollar, even modest U.S. revenues can materially impact cash flow and extend runway. And because a sliver of U.S. market share can rival an entire ANZ customer base, founders don’t need to “win the U.S.” to see significant upside - they just need a foothold.
But seizing that foothold is getting harder. Founder-led sales trips aren’t as scalable, or as straightforward, as they once were, especially with heightened U.S. border scrutiny and changing visa policies making short-term business travel less predictable.
And building a U.S. team from scratch is often too expensive, too early. Meanwhile, investors are demanding traction with leaner teams, faster proof points and clear capital efficiency. Execution matters more than ever.
“We’ve helped hundreds of New Zealand tech companies grow internationally by getting their GTM, positioning and messaging right. to build awareness, demand and grow - often from scratch,” said Bob Pinchin, Founder of SwayTech.
“By joining forces with Pacific Stride, we can extend that support into the U.S. market where those lessons matter most. This is about giving founders the right help at the right time, in the right market.”
About Pacific Stride
Pacific Stride is a transpacific GTM and expansion partner that helps ANZ-based technology companies enter and scale in the U.S. market. From readiness audits and outbound sales sprints to embedded GTM support and capital raise preparation, Pacific Stride acts as a practical bridge between early-stage ambition and real market momentum. Learn more at www.pacificstride.com.
About SwayTech
Founded in 2006, SwayTech is a New Zealand-based marketing and growth consultancy with a singular focus: helping Kiwi tech companies scale. With close to 20 years of experience SwayTech provides strategic marketing, brand positioning, demand generation, and execution support that translates innovation into commercial success. Learn more at www.swaytech.co.nz.
Program Launch
Applications are now open for the Pacific Stride x SwayTech U.S. Expansion Program. The program begins with a no-cost U.S. readiness audit and is tailored for ANZ startups seeking traction, customers and / or investor engagement in the United States. The first cohort launches Q4 2025.
Media Contacts
Pacific Stride
Tim Thodey
tim@pacificstride.com | +64 21 511 638
SwayTech
Bob Pinchin
bob@swaytech.co.nz | +64 21 223 8506