SOUND THE CALL: US INVESTORS DESCEND ON THE GOLD COAST FOR AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST GATHERING OF DEFENCE CAPITAL
Ready the Nation. Back the Mission. REVEILLE 2026 opens for ticket sales as the best in the business descend on the Gold Coast to share what they know works, and to strategise the next wave of private capital into Australian Defence.
The time is now. A confirmed contingent of United States based Defence investors is descending on the Gold Coast for REVEILLE 2026, held on 9 September at the Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach, brought in so the room can hear directly from the best in the business about what they know works. It will be the biggest single gathering of private capital and venture investors Australia’s Defence sector has seen, with founders, financiers and government in the same room for one day only. Beaten Zone Venture Partners (BZV) confirmed today that REVEILLE is officially live, with sponsorship partnerships and ticket sales now open to the public.
More than 200 founders, investors, government representatives and Defence industry leaders will fill the room, alongside confirmed delegates from the United Kingdom. Delegates will hear directly from those who have done it: founders who have built and scaled, and the investors who backed them before it was easy. For Australian founders, it is a rare and narrow window to back more missions and be backed in turn, with the people who write the cheques in the room, in person, on one day only.
“Australia cannot defend itself with good intentions. We need founders brave enough to build it and investors willing to back them. REVEILLE is where that capital and that mission finally meet in the same room.” Steve Baxter, Founder, Beaten Zone Venture Partners
Confirmed keynote speakers are James Chiswell, Co-Founder of High Tor Capital, and Steve Baxter, Founder of Beaten Zone Venture Partners. Major General Mick Ryan AM, retired Australian Army and Senior Fellow at the Lowy Institute, is also confirmed to speak, alongside Heather Richman, Founder of the US Defense Investor Network and Co-Chair of the AUKUS Defense Investors Network. Additional speakers will be announced progressively as they are locked in.
The programme runs across three pillars, Capital, Capability and Conviction, opening with the keynote The Speed of War and closing with The Cost of Inaction, a direct call for Australia to act now. REVEILLE takes its name and its bugle mark from the call that wakes a camp and signals it is time to move. The full schedule is below.
Sponsorship packages are now available across four tiers, ranging from Industry Partner through to the exclusive Principal Partner position. Principal and Presenting partnerships include curated investor introductions, branded podcast features on BZV’s The Briefing Room, and VIP hospitality, including the NFL Melbourne game on 11 September. Organisations interested in sponsorship can contact the BZV team directly.
Tickets for REVEILLE 2026 are limited and available now through the event website at reveille2026.com. Delegate numbers are capped to preserve the quality of access and connection that defines the event.
07:30 – 08:30 Investor Breakfast – VIP and invitation only
08:00 – 09:00 Registration and Networking Coffee – Exhibitors open
09:00 – 09:10 Opening Call – BZV welcome and mission framing
09:15 – 09:45 Headline Keynote: The Speed of War – Why innovation tempo decides who wins
09:50 – 10:20 Panel 1: First Movers – Who backed Australian Defence before it was easy, and why
10:30 – 11:10 Panel 2: Build the Bridge – Standing up a US presence, the playbook for going from AU to allied ground and ecosystem players
11:20 – 11:50 Panel 3: Scars and Scale – Stories from the front line. Founders who built, broke things and scaled anyway
12:00 – 13:00 Networking Lunch – Warfighter innovation on display in the Investor Lounge
13:10 – 13:40 Panel 4: The Allied Ledger – Leading US investors on backing the next generation of allied Defence tech
13:50 – 14:20 Panel 5: Beyond the Pacific – UK and EU capital making the case for Defence investment
14:30 – 15:00 Panel 6: The Long Exit – Founders who scaled and exited, and the acquirers who made it happen
15:10 – 15:40 Keynote: The High Ground – Why space is the next Defence frontier
15:50 – 16:20 Panel 7: Orbit and Capital – Investing in the companies building Australia’s space Defence edge
16:20 – 16:50 Keynote: The Cost of Inaction – Sound the call, act now
16:50 – 17:00 Closing Debrief – Call to action and next steps
17:00 – 19:00 Evening Mixer and Drinks – Informal networking and sponsor recognition
ABOUT BEATEN ZONE VENTURE PARTNERS
Beaten Zone is headquartered in Brisbane and will invest in sovereign early-stage businesses with products having material military use, that help to contribute to Australian and allied war-fighters lethality and survivability. The scope precludes investments involved with controversial weapons, e.g., landmines, or other capabilities that would violate Australian ratified treaties or agreements. REVEILLE 2026, Australia’s first Defence Investment Conference, is presented by Beaten Zone Venture Partners and is designed to mobilise private capital into the Defence asset class. More information is available at reveille2026.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Stephen Baxter Lead Investor and Founding Partner (steve@beatenzone.vc)
Peta Ellis General Manager (peta@beatenzone.vc)
ABOUT STEVE BAXTER (www.stevebaxter.com.au)
Steve is a passionate Australian, Queenslander and veteran. He has been investing into the Australian technology scene since 2011 with over 90 companies funded. He was the founder of South Australian dial up ISP SE Net, and co-founder of Brisbane based whole telecommunication company PIPE Networks. Following successful exits, Steve started River City Labs, Startup Catalyst, River Pitch and TEN13 as well spending one year as Queensland Chief Entrepreneur and four seasons on the Channel Ten show Shark Tank.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Reveille (noun) a bugle call sounded to wake military personnel and signal the start of the day. The name reflects the event’s purpose: to wake Australia’s defence investment community to the scale of opportunity and capital now in motion.