Daversa Partners
Daversa Partners is a US-based executive search firm that places C-suite and executive leaders for venture-backed and growth-stage companies, concentrated in AI, defense, enterprise software, digital health, and consumer sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersWestport, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Daversa Partners does
Daversa Partners is a US-based executive search firm that builds C-suite and executive leadership teams for venture-backed and growth-stage companies. Founded by Paul Daversa in 1993 and headquartered in San Francisco (with a Westport, CT presence), the firm operates with 101–250 employees and concentrates on high-growth verticals—frontier AI, defense, enterprise software, digital health, consumer, and robotics. Its client roster includes OpenAI, Cursor, CoreWeave, Snowflake, Figma, Brex, Chime, DoorDash, Oura, Abridge, Scale AI, PsiQuantum, Saronic, MrBeast, Cognism, Nscale, Crusoe, Clay, and Mercor, indicating depth in both AI-native startups and scaled technology enterprises.
The firm has reorganized its service delivery around an AI-first methodology, embedding artificial intelligence across the full search lifecycle—candidate research, talent mapping, evaluation, and deal strategy—differentiating itself in a category traditionally driven by relationships rather than technology. Its go-to-market is consultative and direct: founders, venture investors, and boards engage Daversa on retained or contingency search mandates for senior roles (CEO, CFO, CTO, CRO, CHRO, CLO).
Revenue is generated through executive search retainer and contingency fees, typically structured at 20–33% of placed executive's first-year compensation, with multi-month to multi-year engagement cadences. The firm does not disclose revenue or unit economics. Brand credibility is anchored by five consecutive years on Forbes' America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms list (based on 18,000+ peer survey recommendations) and the 2026 AI Excellence Award 'Individual of the Year' for the CEO.
Daversa Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Daversa Partners
- Legal name
- Daversa Partners
- Website
- https://daversapartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Daversa Partners is a US-based executive search firm that places C-suite and executive leaders for venture-backed and growth-stage companies, concentrated in AI, defense, enterprise software, digital health, and consumer sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Daversa Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)
Keywords
Where Daversa Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Daversa Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Executive Search Retainer and Contingency Fees: Executive search firm revenue derived from retained search engagements and contingency placements for C-suite and executive-level positions. The Cognism case study indicates $413,000 spent across three search firms (including Daversa) for five C-suite placements, suggesting typical executive search fee structures (often 20-33% of first-year compensation).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise executive search engagements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Daversa Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Daversa Partners is an executive search firm that places C-suite and senior executive leaders for venture-backed and growth-stage companies. The firm partners directly with founders, investors, and boards to identify and recruit top-tier executive talent across frontier AI, defense, enterprise software, digital health, and consumer sectors, leveraging an AI-augmented research and evaluation process across the full search lifecycle.
Product overview
Daversa Partners is an executive search firm, not a technology product company. It provides retained executive search and recruitment services to venture-backed companies. The company places executives across critical functions (CEO, CFO, CTO, CRO, CHRO, CLO) for high-growth companies in sectors including frontier AI, defense, enterprise software, digital health, consumer, and robotics. The firm has built leadership teams for prominent AI firms including OpenAI, Cursor, Baseten, CoreWeave, Snowflake, Figma, and others. The company does not offer a software product, platform, or module—the core offering is advisory search services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Services Retained and contingency executive search engagements that identify, evaluate, and place C-suite and senior executives for venture-backed companies. The firm emphasizes alignment with founders and investors and takes ownership in client outcomes. Clients include OpenAI, Cursor, Baseten, CoreWeave, Snowflake, Figma, Brex, Chime, DoorDash, Oura, Abridge, Scale AI, PsiQuantum, Saronic, MrBeast, Mercor, Nscale, Crusoe, Clay, and Cognism.
Quantifiable outcome
- Five consecutive years on Forbes' America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms list based on 18,000+ survey recommendations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Daversa Partners
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Daversa Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Daversa Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Daversa Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Riviera Partners: Executive search firm specializing in placements for venture-backed and high-growth technology companies. Directly overlaps Daversa's customer base of VC-backed AI, enterprise software, and consumer tech firms.
- Egon Zehnder: Privately held global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Comparable to Daversa in retained search approach and senior placement focus, though typically weighted toward larger enterprise clients across multiple industries.
- Caldwell Partners: Publicly traded executive search firm (CWL) with retained search across multiple sectors including technology. Comparable business model and service offering to Daversa, though with broader geographic and industry coverage.
- True Search: Privately held executive search firm with a strong tech and venture-backed focus, including offices in major US tech hubs. Closely comparable to Daversa in target customer profile and C-suite placement model for VC-backed companies.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm publicly listed on NASDAQ (HSII) with a similar retained search model across C-suite and board placements. Directly comparable to Daversa in core service offering, though larger and more diversified across geographies and industries.
- Spencer Stuart: Privately held global executive search firm historically focused on CEO and board director placements. Operates the same retained search model as Daversa and competes for the same venture-backed and growth-stage senior mandates.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Privately held global executive search firm focused on senior leadership across technology, financial services, and other sectors. Direct competitor for C-suite placements at venture-backed and growth-stage companies, with comparable vertical specialization.
Emerging players
- Glocap Search: Boutique executive search firm with a strong focus on venture-backed and growth-stage technology companies. Comparable to Daversa in customer segment but with a narrower functional mix and smaller scale.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Large publicly traded organizational consulting firm (KFY) with a sizable executive search practice alongside broader talent management and advisory services. Competes with Daversa for senior placements but operates a much wider service portfolio and global footprint.
- Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with significant presence across multiple sectors. Competitor to Daversa for senior placements at growth-stage and enterprise clients, with a more international footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Daversa Partners social profiles
Digital presenceDaversa Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Daversa Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Daversa Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Daversa Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Daversa Partners
What does Daversa Partners do?
Daversa Partners is an executive search firm that places C-suite and senior executive leaders for venture-backed and growth-stage companies. The firm partners directly with founders, investors, and boards to identify and recruit top-tier executive talent across frontier AI, defense, enterprise software, digital health, and consumer sectors, leveraging an AI-augmented research and evaluation process across the full search lifecycle.
Is Daversa Partners a public or private company?
Daversa Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Daversa Partners founded?
Daversa Partners was founded in 2024. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Daversa Partners based?
Daversa Partners is headquartered in Westport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Daversa Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Retainer and Contingency Fees.
Who are Daversa Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Riviera Partners, Egon Zehnder, Caldwell Partners, True Search, Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart and Russell Reynolds Associates. Glocap Search is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Korn Ferry and Odgers Berndtson.
Does Daversa Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Daversa Partners.
What industry is Daversa Partners in?
Daversa Partners's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAI, Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.