Aerial view of a golf course with a green, two sand bunkers, and trees casting long shadows.

Back·Swing

In golf, the Backswing is the swing sequence that brings the club to its apex before striking the ball, and the crux of any well-executed stroke.

An effective backswing is the culmination of countless hours of practice, focus, repetition and refinement. So is our investment strategy. Bringing a wealth of expertise and years of experience to bear, Backswing Ventures deploys precisely these traits to create and deliver excellence to our founders and investors.

Who We Are

Backswing was founded in 2020. Fund I was an industry-diversified fund that has generated significant returns to date. Fund II was launched in 2023 with a focus on companies in the Security and Defense Industries. Fund III was launched in 2025 and is actively investing into companies with a National Security or Defense Focus.

A group of people sitting at a wooden table during a meeting, with notebooks and a pen on the table, in a sunlit room with large windows.

Our Investment Thesis

01

Focus on the Founders

We invest in founders with a demonstrated passion
for their business and an unyielding
commitment to execution.

02

Focus on Profitability

We typically invest in companies generating contract revenue and are either currently profitable or we envision a pathway to profitability in 12-18 months

03

Focus on Impact

We invest in companies whose technology or delivery produces a competitive advantage and helps transform their industry.

Our Team

Managing Partner
Kyle founded Backswing in 2020 and has since launched three funds focused in the defense and national security space, generating significant returns for investors. Before Backswing, he co-founded BX3 Capital and worked at several major investment banks. He’s a graduate of Arcadia University and an avid golfer and skier.
Partner
Mike is passionate about investing in and overseeing the growth of early-stage companies. He was one of the original investors in Backswing’s Fund I and became a Partner during the formation of Fund II. Mike is involved in all aspects of the Fund’s operation, from fundraising to investment selection. Before joining Backswing, Mike enjoyed a 30-year career as a commercial real estate underwriter and lender with investment and commercial banks, including Lehman Brothers, Capital One, and PNC Bank. He has been involved in alternative investments for over 10 years. Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Principal
Audrey Haugh is a Principal at Backswing Ventures, where she supports deal sourcing, due diligence, investor relations, and fundraising across the firm’s defense and national security portfolio. She helps strengthen Backswing’s presence through strategic investor engagement, company evaluation, platform management, and relationships with organizations such as DARPA, NavalX, AFWERX, and Army DEVCOM. Her work focuses on identifying emerging dual-use technologies with potential for government and commercial adoption and supporting founders as they scale within the defense ecosystem. Audrey holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology & Exercise Science, with a minor in Entrepreneurship, from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, she is an avid skier and enjoys time with her family and two miniature schnauzers.