Lingua Franca Search

What Lingua Franca Search does

Lingua Franca Search, operating under the co-brands LF Partners and LFP, is a boutique executive search and strategic advisory firm founded in 2017 and based in Reston, Virginia. The firm serves high-growth fintech companies from seed stage through IPO, delivering three integrated service lines: Executive Search (placing C-suite and VP-level leaders, including executives in residence), Strategic Advisory (operator-led guidance on growth, credit, finance, operations, and talent challenges), and Venture Build (co-creating new businesses alongside clients with capital, operating support, and go-to-market execution). The firm does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its core asset is a network of scaled operators and former fintech executives who deliver engagements personally.

The firm's commercial model is professional services, with revenue generated through retained executive search engagements (typically upfront retainers plus success fees on placement) and advisory engagements structured as ongoing retainers or project-based consulting. A newer Venture Build stream introduces potential equity participation or co-investment alongside advisory fees. Customer acquisition is relationship-driven rather than marketing-led, relying on direct outreach, referrals, and word-of-mouth within the fintech community. Disclosed scale metrics include 100+ clients served, 300+ C-suite and VP-level placements completed, an 80% repeat-client rate, and a 95% long-term placement retention rate.

Named clients include Bitso, SoFi, Affirm, Remitly, BlueVine, Capchase, Aplazo, and TBC Uzbekistan, spanning crypto, digital banking, BNPL, remittances, and emerging-market consumer lending. Leadership comprises Ben Sabloff (Founder and board member), Thomas King (President), and John Crenshaw (Advisor, Capital One veteran). The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional backing, consistent with its positioning as a founder-owned boutique practice.

Name

Lingua Franca Search

Legal name

LF Partners

Website

https://lfsearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lingua Franca Search (LF Partners / LFP) is a boutique executive search and strategic advisory firm founded in 2017, placing C-suite and VP-level leaders and providing operator-led advisory and venture-build services to high-growth fintech companies from seed to IPO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Strategic Advisory

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained search firm
• Strategic advisory services
• Leadership recruitment
• Fintech executive placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Reston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Executive Search: Retained executive search services for high-growth tech companies, placing C-suite and VP-level executives. Revenue is generated through retained search engagements, typically involving upfront retainers and success fees upon placement completion.
2. Strategic Advisory: Operator-led strategic advisory services addressing real scaling problems in growth, credit, finance, operations, and talent. Advisory engagements may be structured as ongoing retainers or project-based consulting arrangements.
3. Venture Build: Partnership to create new businesses combining capital, operating support, and go-to-market execution from day one. This represents a newer revenue stream involving equity participation or co-investment alongside advisory fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Lingua Franca Search is a boutique executive search and strategic advisory firm that places C-suite and VP-level executives into high-growth fintech companies. The firm delivers three integrated service lines: Executive Search (retained leadership hiring for scaling teams), Strategic Advisory (operator-led coaching on growth, credit, finance, operations, and talent), and Venture Build (partnerships to co-create new businesses combining capital, operating support, and go-to-market execution).

Product overview

Lingua Franca Search (also referred to as LFP or LF Partners) is an executive search and strategic advisory firm operating as a single unified service offering rather than a software platform. The company delivers three integrated service lines: Executive Search (for hiring C-suite and VP-level leaders), Strategic Advisory (for operator-led guidance on scaling challenges), and Venture Build (for co-creating new businesses). These services are interconnected—the same team provides executive placement and strategic coaching, and the advisory practice supports clients through complex transitions and growth phases. The company serves fintech companies from seed stage through IPO.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Retained executive search service that helps high-growth tech companies hire C-suite and VP-level leaders who scale teams, performance, and culture, including placement of executives in residence for critical roles.
• Strategic Advisory Operator-led strategic advisory providing coaching and leadership advice to address real scaling problems in growth, credit, finance, operations, and talent, often structured as ongoing retainers or project-based consulting.
• Venture Build Partnership service to create new businesses combining capital, operating support, and go-to-market execution from day one, with engagement structured via equity participation or co-investment alongside advisory fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% long-term placement retention rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with one of the largest dedicated financial services and fintech practices, placing C-suite and board leaders. Directly competes with LFP for senior fintech mandates but operates at much larger scale with global offices.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Major global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a strong Financial Services Practice. Competes with LFP on C-suite fintech searches and offers additional leadership consulting, but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep financial services and board practice. Competes with LFP on C-suite and board placements in fintech, with a similar advisor-led, relationship-driven culture.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a substantial Financial Services sector practice covering banking, fintech, and asset management. Direct overlap with LFP's fintech C-suite and VP-level mandate focus.
• Crist Kolder Associates: Boutique executive search firm focused specifically on financial services C-suite and board placements. Closely comparable in scale and fintech/financial-services vertical focus to LFP's retained search business.
• Options Group: Executive search and talent advisory firm specializing in financial services and fintech, placing senior leaders across trading, banking, risk, and technology functions. Closely comparable to LFP in fintech executive placement.
• Glocap Search: Boutique executive search firm focused on financial services, fintech, and alternative investments. Comparable to LFP in scale and vertical specialization, with similar operator-style placements.
• Daversa Partners: Executive search firm focused on go-to-market, product, and technology leadership for high-growth technology and fintech companies. Comparable to LFP in serving venture-backed and growth-stage fintech clients.
• JM Search: Boutique executive search firm focused on C-suite placements in growth-stage and private equity-backed companies, with a financial services practice. Comparable in boutique scale, vertical focus, and operator-led model.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm with a dedicated Financial Services practice. Competes in fintech C-suite search but is much broader in scope, spanning RPO, consulting, and assessment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Lingua Franca Search