strategicfounders

Our Story

Started by serial entrepreneur Hernus Carelsen, Strategic Founders emerged from a simple yet powerful realisation.

After building and scaling multiple businesses, Hernus experienced firsthand the unique challenges that come with growing a company from 20 to 200 employees. It's a phase where traditional startup advice no longer applies, yet corporate playbooks feel disconnected from reality.

The frustration was real—well-meaning advice from employees who'd never faced founder-level decisions, corporate executives removed from the grind of building something from scratch, and endless opinions from those who'd never actually built a business themselves.

What was missing? A space where founders/owners could speak candidly with peers who truly understood. People who'd lived through the same sleepless nights, made similar tough calls, and navigated the grey areas that don't appear in any business book.

Strategic Founders is that space—a close-knit, invitation-only Sydney community where like-minded entrepreneurs gather for honest, unfiltered conversations.

We meet 9 times a year in early morning sessions lasting 2 hours, usually at Cliftons in Sydney CBD. No pitches, no agendas—just real founders/owners sharing real experiences, challenges, and breakthroughs with people who get it.

Because sometimes, the best business advice comes from someone who's sitting in the same boat, rowing in the same direction.