What Torch Partners does

Torch Partners is an independent boutique investment bank providing M&A and private capital markets advisory services to technology businesses, founder-led companies, and private equity sponsors. Founded in 2003 and headquartered at 33 Cavendish Square, London, with a Paris office, the firm operates across four sector verticals: Digital Infrastructure (data centres, fibre, towers, wireless), Software, Data & Analytics and Tech-Enabled, FinTech (including RegTech, payments, neo-banks, wealthtech), and Digital Consumer. Its three core service lines are sell-side and buy-side M&A advisory, private capital markets (growth equity, Series B/C through pre-IPO, secondaries, GP-led continuation funds), and SPAC/IPO advisory (including dual-track processes and sponsor-backed take-privates).

The firm is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (Torch Partners Corporate Finance Limited, FRN 195597) and operates a FINRA-regulated US broker-dealer (Torch Partners Corporate Finance Inc.). Its senior team comprises Founder/Chairman Rupert Robson, Vice-Chairman Jean-Baptiste Toulouse, CEO Tom Roberts, COO Renata O'Donnell, and six Managing Directors sector-aligned across the four verticals. The team is drawn from sixteen nationalities, and the firm is independently owned with no disclosed PE/VC backing or parent company.

Torch's revenue model is professional-services advisory fees on a deal-by-deal basis: transaction-driven success fees and retainers with no publicly disclosed pricing. Over the past two years the firm has advised on over $15bn of M&A enterprise value and since 2021 has raised over $1.5bn of private capital for clients across the US, Europe, Asia and MENA. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via senior banker relationships and repeat client engagements, with marketing primarily through deal announcements, professional referrals, and industry events rather than traditional channels. Headcount is in the 11-50 band and the firm is privately held with no disclosed financials.

Name

Torch Partners

Legal name

Torch Partners Corporate Finance Limited

Website

https://torchpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Torch Partners is an FCA- and FINRA-regulated boutique investment bank advising on M&A and private capital markets for technology businesses and private equity sponsors across Digital Infrastructure, Software/Data & Analytics, FinTech, and Digital Consumer verticals, headquartered in London with a Paris office.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Sell-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB), Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE), Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory) (BPAHAOAL)

Keywords

• Mergers acquisitions advisory
• Private capital markets
• Technology investment banking
• SPAC IPO advisory
• Growth equity advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory: Advisory fees from sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions, including sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, and dual-track processes.
2. Private Capital Markets: Capital raising and structuring advice for growth equity, Series B/C through pre-IPO financing, primary and secondary transactions, and GP-led Continuation Funds.
3. SPAC/IPO Advisory: Advisory services for SPAC transactions, dual track SPAC and M&A processes, IPOs, sponsor-backed take-privates, and public carve-outs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Torch Partners is an independent investment bank providing M&A and private capital markets advisory services to digital and technology businesses. The firm offers three core service lines: sell-side and buy-side M&A advisory (including dual-track processes), Private Capital Markets (growth equity, Series B/C through pre-IPO financing, primary and secondary transactions, and GP-led Continuation Funds), and SPAC/IPO Advisory (SPAC transactions, dual track SPAC and M&A processes, IPOs, sponsor-backed take-privates, and public carve-outs). Advisory is delivered across four technology focus areas: Digital Infrastructure, Software/Data & Analytics/Tech-Enabled, FinTech, and Digital Consumer.

Product overview

Torch Partners is an independent investment bank providing advisory services for digital and technology businesses. The firm offers three core service lines: (1) Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) advisory for sell-side and buy-side transactions; (2) Private Capital Markets for capital raising and structuring; and (3) SPAC/IPO Advisory. The firm operates across four technology sectors: Digital Infrastructure, Software/Data & Analytics/Tech-Enabled, FinTech, and Digital Consumer. The company is headquartered in London with offices in Paris, and serves clients globally on transactions ranging from growth equity to M&A and public offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M&A Advisory Sell-side and buy-side mergers and acquisitions advisory services, including dual-track processes, for technology businesses across Digital Infrastructure, Software/Data & Analytics, FinTech, and Digital Consumer sectors. The service covers valuation, positioning, buyer/seller identification, deal structuring, negotiation, and execution support for founders, management teams, corporates, and private equity sponsors.
• Private Capital Markets Capital raising and structuring advice for technology companies, covering growth equity rounds (Series B/C through pre-IPO financing), primary and secondary transactions, and GP-led Continuation Funds. The service connects clients to a global investor base spanning the US, Europe, Asia, and MENA and includes positioning, investor targeting, and execution of private financings.
• SPAC/IPO Advisory Advisory services for SPAC transactions, dual track SPAC and M&A processes, IPOs, sponsor-backed take-privates, and public carve-outs in the technology sector. The service covers strategic positioning, capital markets process management, and execution support for issuers and sponsors pursuing public-market or take-private outcomes.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clipperton: Independent advisory firm specialized in Tech, Digital and Internet companies across Europe, advising on M&A, growth financing and IPOs. Direct peer in founder-led European tech M&A.
• DC Advisory: Global mid-market investment bank with strong European presence advising on M&A across TMT, FinTech and digital infrastructure. Comparable in mid-market tech advisory breadth.
• Qatalyst Partners: Independent tech-focused M&A advisory firm advising on landmark transactions in software, internet and digital sectors. Direct peer in independent tech M&A advisory.
• Hampleton Partners: Tech-focused M&A advisory firm serving software, digital media and IT services companies across Europe. Direct peer in mid-market European tech M&A with comparable boutique positioning.
• Drake Star Partners: Global tech-focused boutique IB advising on M&A and growth equity across software, digital media, and tech-enabled services. Closely comparable in sector focus and mid-market tech deal profile.
• GP Bullhound: Pan-European tech specialist boutique investment bank advising on M&A and growth capital for digital and software businesses. Direct comparable on tech-focused mid-market advisory with strong European footprint.
• Silverpeak: Independent advisory firm for technology and tech-enabled services companies, advising on sell-side M&A and growth financings. Comparable boutique tech advisory with similar deal-size focus.
• Arma Partners: London-headquartered boutique IB advising technology, digital infrastructure and internet companies on M&A and capital raises. Strong overlap with Torch's digital infrastructure practice.
• William Blair (Global Technology): Global investment bank with a dedicated technology investment banking group covering software, FinTech and digital infrastructure M&A. Directly competes for European tech mandates, having also recruited from Torch's FinTech team.

Broad incumbents

• Jefferies (Technology Group): Large full-service investment bank with a dedicated global Technology, Media and Telecom group covering M&A and capital markets. Broad incumbent competing for the same tech mandates Torch pursues, but at larger deal sizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Torch Partners