Progress Partners
Progress Partners is a Boston-based boutique investment bank founded in 2002, providing M&A advisory, capital raising, and strategic growth advisory to digital-first businesses across AdTech, SaaS, MediaTech, GovCon, retail, and digital health sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Progress Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Progress Partners
- Legal name
- Progress Partners, Inc.
- Website
- https://progresspartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Progress Partners is a Boston-based boutique investment bank founded in 2002, providing M&A advisory, capital raising, and strategic growth advisory to digital-first businesses across AdTech, SaaS, MediaTech, GovCon, retail, and digital health sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Progress Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking
- NAICS
- Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Venture Capital Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAC)
Keywords
Where Progress Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Progress Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- M&A Advisory: The firm earns fees for advising on mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Services include buy-side and sell-side advisory, valuations, due diligence support, and transaction facilitation.
- Capital Raise Advisory: Progress Partners assists clients in raising debt and equity capital, including growth equity, minority investments, and financing for acquisitions.
- Strategic Growth Advisory: Ongoing strategic advice engagements helping clients identify growth opportunities, optimize operations, and plan exit strategies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Progress Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Progress Partners is a full-service investment bank that advises buyers and sellers on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raises for digital-first businesses. The firm specializes in technology, media, marketing, and software sectors, offering buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory, equity and debt capital raises, strategic growth advice, and exit planning supported by an Executive-in-Residence advisor network.
Product overview
Progress Partners is a full-service investment bank specializing in technology and digital-focused sectors. The firm operates as a unified advisory platform offering four core service lines: Growth through Acquisition, Growth through Capital, Strategic Advice for Growth, and Successful Exit Strategies. These services are delivered across seven sector practices (Consumer Goods & Services, Digital Health & Wellness, Retail & Commerce, AdTech, SaaS & Services, GovCon & Defense, and MediaTech) supported by an Executive-in-Residence advisor network. The firm also operates Progress Ventures as a separate but affiliated venture investment vehicle. The overall offering is advisory-service based rather than a software product or platform architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Progress Ventures: The venture arm of Progress Partners, focused on high-growth opportunities in the adtech/martech and media technology space. Now in its fourth $35 million fund.
Products and services
- Growth through Acquisition Buy-side M&A advisory service helping clients identify and execute acquisition strategies to drive growth, including target identification, valuation, due diligence, and deal execution. Aimed at digital-first businesses seeking inorganic growth through strategic acquisitions.
- Growth through Capital Capital raise advisory service helping clients secure equity, debt, or hybrid financing from investors including private equity, growth equity, venture capital, and family offices. Supports financing for acquisitions, growth initiatives, and operational scaling.
- Strategic Advice for Growth Strategic advisory service providing market intelligence, sector expertise, and guidance on growth strategies for digital-first businesses. Supports clients beyond pure transaction execution with ongoing strategic counsel.
- Successful Exit Strategies Exit planning and execution services including sell-side M&A advisory, divestiture advisory, IPO readiness, and succession planning designed to maximize shareholder value. Supports founders, boards, and private equity owners through exit events.
- Executive-in-Residence Program Advisor network connecting Progress Partners' clients with experienced industry executives who provide strategic guidance and operational expertise during M&A engagements. Cohort onboarding (e.g., January 2026 cohort) is publicly highlighted as part of the firm's value-add.
Companies that use Progress Partners
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Progress Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Progress Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Progress VenturescoreProgress Ventures is an affiliated entity within the Progress network, focused on venture investments in adtech, martech, and media technology. The two entities share knowledge and expertise on core trends impacting businesses they work with, and Progress Ventures is currently in its fourth $35 million fund.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Progress Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LUMA Partners: LUMA Partners is a leading digital media-focused investment bank providing M&A advisory and capital raising services to AdTech, martech, and digital media companies. Highly comparable to Progress Partners given overlapping sector focus (AdTech/digital media) and similar boutique scale with senior banker-led model.
- AGC Partners: AGC Partners is a technology-focused investment bank with deep expertise in software, cybersecurity, and digital media M&A. Direct competitor to Progress Partners in tech M&A advisory with similar middle-market deal size focus and sector-driven service model.
- Cascadia Capital: Cascadia Capital is a middle-market investment bank specializing in technology, software, and digital media sectors. Comparable to Progress Partners in target client profile (growth-stage tech companies), service offerings (M&A and capital raising), and boutique mid-market positioning.
- Drake Star Partners: Drake Star is a global technology-focused investment bank with strong presence in software, digital media, and AdTech. Direct competitor to Progress Partners given sector overlap and similar M&A advisory and capital raising offerings for tech-enabled businesses.
- Woodside Capital Partners: Woodside Capital Partners is a technology-focused boutique investment bank advising on M&A and financings for software, internet, and digital media companies. Strong comparability to Progress Partners in vertical specialization, mid-market deal focus, and senior banker engagement model.
- Union Square Advisors: Union Square Advisors is a technology-focused middle-market investment bank providing M&A and capital raising advisory. Comparable to Progress Partners in software/tech vertical focus, mid-market transaction size, and relationship-driven senior banker coverage model.
- Evolution Media Capital: Evolution Media Capital is an investment bank focused on media, entertainment, sports, and digital content M&A. Direct comparability to Progress Partners' MediaTech vertical with similar boutique structure and senior-led transaction execution.
- MHT Partners: MHT Partners is a middle-market investment bank focused on technology, media, and business services. Comparable to Progress Partners in middle-market tech M&A advisory, sector specialization, and full-service investment banking model.
- Clipper Advisors: Clipper Advisors is a middle-market M&A advisor with focus on technology, business services, and consumer sectors. Comparable to Progress Partners in mid-market deal size, sector diversity, and sell-side/buy-side advisory focus.
Broad incumbents
- Houlihan Lokey: Houlihan Lokey is a large global investment bank with a strong middle-market technology M&A franchise. While much larger than Progress Partners, it competes for the same mid-market tech/M&A mandates and represents the broader incumbent competition that Progress Partners benchmarks against.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Progress Partners social profiles
Digital presenceProgress Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Progress Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Progress Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Progress Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Progress Partners
What does Progress Partners do?
Progress Partners is a full-service investment bank that advises buyers and sellers on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raises for digital-first businesses. The firm specializes in technology, media, marketing, and software sectors, offering buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory, equity and debt capital raises, strategic growth advice, and exit planning supported by an Executive-in-Residence advisor network.
Is Progress Partners a public or private company?
Progress Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Progress Partners founded?
Progress Partners was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Progress Partners based?
Progress Partners is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Progress Partners make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. M&A Advisory is the primary driver. The others are capital Raise Advisory and strategic Growth Advisory.
Who are Progress Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LUMA Partners, AGC Partners, Cascadia Capital, Drake Star Partners, Woodside Capital Partners, Union Square Advisors, Evolution Media Capital, MHT Partners and Clipper Advisors. Houlihan Lokey is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Progress Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Progress Partners.
What industry is Progress Partners in?
Progress Partners's product category is Investment Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEALAC, Venture Capital Fundraising Placement. Its NAICS code is 52391 and its SIC code is 6211.