Union Square Advisors
Union Square Advisors is a private technology-focused investment bank founded in 2007 providing M&A advisory, capital solutions, and proprietary AI readiness assessments to technology companies, private equity, venture capital, and family offices, having advised on 198 transactions exceeding $125 billion.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Union Square Advisors does
Union Square Advisors is a privately held, technology-focused investment bank founded in 2007 by Carter McClelland (Chairman) and Ted Smith (President). Headquartered in San Francisco with a secondary U.S. office in New York and a UK subsidiary regulated by the FCA, the firm has advised on 198 strategic transactions valued at over $125 billion since inception. The firm deliberately limits itself to investment banking advisory — with no trading, research, or lending conflicts — and serves public and private technology companies, private equity sponsors, venture capital firms, and family offices across subsectors including AI/ML, enterprise applications, cybersecurity, HealthTech, GRC, FinTech, defense and dual-use technology, supply chain, and HCM.
The firm delivers three integrated service pillars: Mergers & Acquisitions (sell-side, buy-side, divestitures and carve-outs, activism and hostile defense, fairness opinions, and de-SPAC transactions); Capital Solutions (credit and capital structure advisory, equity and structured capital, GP and fund-level advisory, liability management and special situations); and AI Solutions, a proprietary AI readiness, defensibility, and transaction-timing assessment offering. Underlying the firm is a proprietary AI-powered assessment framework built on 400+ diligence meetings, 2,000+ data sources, and 300+ years of combined team experience, with 50% of analytics and deal workflows now AI-powered since the firm began its AI transformation in 2022 and formalized by a dedicated Head of AI Strategy hire in March 2026.
Revenue is generated through standard investment banking advisory fee structures — engagement retainers, success fees tied to transaction completion, and hybrid arrangements scaled to deal value. The firm has no third-party distribution; all engagements are initiated through senior-led direct outreach supported by the firm's relationship network across the technology, PE, and VC ecosystems, supplemented by annual USA Outlook reports and senior leadership media engagement (notably Ted Smith on Bloomberg TV's The Close). The principal client mix tilts toward mid-to-large-cap technology sell-side and capital raises advised for PE-backed portfolio companies.
Union Square Advisors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Union Square Advisors
- Legal name
- Union Square Advisors LLC
- Website
- http://www.usadvisors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Union Square Advisors is a private technology-focused investment bank founded in 2007 providing M&A advisory, capital solutions, and proprietary AI readiness assessments to technology companies, private equity, venture capital, and family offices, having advised on 198 transactions exceeding $125 billion.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Union Square Advisors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Technology Investment Banking Advisory
- NAICS
- Other Financial Investment Activities (5239), Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE), Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)
Keywords
Where Union Square Advisors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Union Square Advisors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- M&A Advisory Services: The firm provides strategic mergers & acquisitions advice and execution services to public and private technology companies, private equity, venture capital, and family offices. Revenue is generated through advisory fees, success fees tied to transaction completion, and engagement retainers.
- Capital Solutions Advisory: Capital structure advisory, capital raising, and placement services for private equity sponsors and technology companies across the full capital stack, including equity, structured capital, credit, GP & fund-level advisory, and liability management.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Union Square Advisors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Union Square Advisors is a technology-focused investment bank that provides strategic Mergers & Acquisitions advisory and execution services, Capital Solutions (capital structure advisory, capital raising, and placement across the full capital stack), and proprietary AI-powered assessment services. The firm serves public and private technology companies, private equity and venture capital firms, and family offices. Since inception in 2007, the firm has advised on 198 strategic transactions valued in excess of $125 billion.
Product overview
Union Square Advisors is a leading technology-focused investment bank offering three integrated service pillars: Mergers & Acquisitions (strategic advisory and execution), Capital Solutions (capital raising and placement), and AI Solutions (proprietary AI-powered assessment frameworks). Founded in 2007 with offices in San Francisco and New York, the firm has advised on 198 strategic transactions valued in excess of $125B. The firm works with public and private technology companies, private equity, venture capital, and family offices across sectors including AI + ML, Enterprise Applications, Cybersecurity, HealthTech, GRC, Defense & Dual-Use Technology, and other technology segments. The three services are integrated: Capital Solutions uniquely combines M&A advisory context with AI readiness assessment, providing a differentiated perspective for sponsors and portfolio companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Capital Solutions
- AI Solutions
Companies that use Union Square Advisors
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Union Square Advisors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature1 record
Union Square Advisors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Union Square Advisors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Qatalyst Partners: Qatalyst Partners is a leading technology-focused investment bank that provides M&A and capital solutions to technology companies. Direct counterpart to Union Square Advisors given similar tech-only focus and senior-led execution model.
- GP Bullhound: GP Bullhound is a technology advisory and investment firm focused on M&A and growth capital for technology companies globally. Comparable boutique advisory model with tech-only mandate and similar middle-market deal focus.
Broad incumbents
- Houlihan Lokey: Houlihan Lokey is a global investment bank with a significant technology M&A practice. Larger full-service incumbent that frequently competes with Union Square Advisors on mid-market and growth tech transactions.
- Centerview Partners: Centerview Partners is a leading independent advisory firm with a strong technology and entertainment practice. Larger boutique that competes for premium tech M&A engagements and often appears on the same buyer/seller lists.
- Evercore: Evercore is a global independent investment bank with a dedicated technology M&A franchise. Larger incumbent advisor that frequently competes on mid-to-large-cap technology transactions.
- Jefferies (Technology Group): Jefferies is a full-service global investment bank with a dedicated technology, media, and telecommunications group. Larger bulge/middle-market incumbent that frequently competes on tech sell-side and capital markets mandates.
- PJT Partners: PJT Partners is a global advisory firm spanning M&A and capital advisory with meaningful technology exposure. Larger incumbent that competes on technology sponsor-led and strategic transactions.
- Lazard: Lazard is a global financial advisory firm with a long-standing technology sector practice. Full-service incumbent frequently engaged on larger technology M&A transactions.
- Goldman Sachs (Technology, Media & Telecom Group): Goldman Sachs operates a leading TMT M&A franchise as part of its full-service bulge bracket offering. Competes on the largest technology transactions where boutique advisors are typically sub-advised or co-advisors.
Emerging players
- Forest Capital: Forest Capital is a technology-focused boutique advisory firm that provides M&A and capital raising services to emerging technology companies. Smaller, earlier-stage peer operating in overlapping tech subsectors with a similar senior-relationship-driven model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Union Square Advisors social profiles
Digital presenceUnion Square Advisors compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Union Square Advisors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Union Square Advisors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Union Square Advisors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Union Square Advisors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Union Square Advisors
What does Union Square Advisors do?
Union Square Advisors is a technology-focused investment bank that provides strategic Mergers & Acquisitions advisory and execution services, Capital Solutions (capital structure advisory, capital raising, and placement across the full capital stack), and proprietary AI-powered assessment services. The firm serves public and private technology companies, private equity and venture capital firms, and family offices. Since inception in 2007, the firm has advised on 198 strategic transactions valued in excess of $125 billion.
Is Union Square Advisors a public or private company?
Union Square Advisors is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Union Square Advisors founded?
Union Square Advisors was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Union Square Advisors based?
Union Square Advisors is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Union Square Advisors make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. M&A Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are capital Solutions Advisory.
Who are Union Square Advisors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Qatalyst Partners and GP Bullhound. Broad incumbents are Houlihan Lokey, Centerview Partners, Evercore, Jefferies (Technology Group), PJT Partners, Lazard and Goldman Sachs (Technology, Media & Telecom Group). Forest Capital is listed as an emerging player.
Does Union Square Advisors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Union Square Advisors.
What industry is Union Square Advisors in?
Union Square Advisors's product category is Technology Investment Banking Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAB, Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory, with a secondary code of BPAHAOAE, Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital). Its NAICS code is 5239 and its SIC code is 6211.