Drake Star Partners
Drake Star Partners is a global boutique investment bank founded in 2003 that provides M&A advisory and corporate finance services to technology, media, and communications companies, serving entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, and corporates across eight international offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Drake Star Partners does
Drake Star Partners is a global boutique investment bank founded in 2003 that provides mergers and acquisitions advisory and corporate finance services exclusively to technology, media, and communications companies. The firm is headquartered in New York and operates eight fully staffed international offices in London, Paris, Munich, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berlin, and Dubai, plus a West Palm Beach office, employing more than 100 senior professionals across eight sector verticals: Software/SaaS, HR Tech, Digital Media, FinTech, Digital Services, Industrial Tech, Mobility & Sustainability, and Consumer & Retail Tech. Its core capabilities include sell-side and buy-side M&A mandates, private placements, growth equity financings, and strategic corporate finance advisory for entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, and large technology corporates.
The firm was formed through the 2016 merger of Redwood Capital and LD&A Jupiter and has since completed more than 500 transactions representing over $22 billion in cumulative deal volume. Drake Star's business model is purely fee-based, with revenue derived from advisory mandates and transaction success fees; specific pricing structures are not publicly disclosed. The firm complements its transaction work with a substantive proprietary research publication program covering Gaming, Sports Tech, HR Tech, MSP, FinTech, Telemedicine, and Retail Tech, which functions as a top-of-funnel marketing channel and reinforces sector credibility. US securities activities are executed through Drake Star Securities LLC (FINRA-regulated, SIPC member) and UK activities through Drake Star UK Limited (FCA-authorized via Razlin Ltd).
Drake Star's competitive position rests on sector specialization, senior-led relationship coverage, and cross-border execution capability at a boutique scale, evidenced by consecutive 'Boutique TMT Investment Bank of the Year' recognitions at the M&A Atlas Awards, multiple Deal of the Year awards, and individual banker accolades including International Investment Banker of the Year and Americas Rising Star. The firm also operates Drake Star Academy, an internal training program (FROSH 1-3) for junior professional development, indicating investment in bench depth. Drake Star is privately held, does not publish financial results, and has no parent company.
Drake Star Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Drake Star Partners
- Legal name
- Drake Star Partners Limited
- Website
- https://drakestar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Drake Star Partners is a global boutique investment bank founded in 2003 that provides M&A advisory and corporate finance services to technology, media, and communications companies, serving entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, and corporates across eight international offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Drake Star Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking (M&A and Corporate Finance Advisory)
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB)
Keywords
Where Drake Star Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Drake Star 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 Fees: The firm earns advisory fees for acting as exclusive financial advisor on M&A transactions, including sell-side mandates, buy-side transactions, and divestitures for tech companies.
- Corporate Finance Advisory: Fees generated from capital raising advisory including private placements, growth equity financings, and other corporate finance transactions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Drake Star Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Drake Star Partners is a global investment bank providing M&A advisory and corporate finance services to technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) companies. Core services include sell-side and buy-side M&A mandates, private placements, growth equity financings, divestitures, and strategic advisory, delivered across eight sector verticals including Software/SaaS, HR Tech, Digital Media, FinTech, Industrial Tech, Mobility & Sustainability, and Consumer & Retail Tech. The firm supplements deal execution with sector-specific research publications covering gaming, sports tech, HR tech, MSPs, fintech, telemedicine, and retail tech.
Product overview
Drake Star Partners is a global investment bank offering M&A and corporate finance advisory services for technology companies. The firm provides sector-specific research reports (Global Gaming Report, Sports Tech Report, HR Tech Reports, MSP Market Reports, FinTech Sector Reports, Telemedicine Reports, and Retail Tech Market Report) alongside core advisory services. The company operates across multiple technology sectors including Software/SaaS, HR Tech, Digital Media, Digital Services, FinTech, Industrial Tech, Mobility & Sustainability, and Consumer & Retail Tech. Additional offerings include Drake Star Academy, an internal training program for junior professionals. The firm does not offer a unified software platform but rather delivers advisory services supported by proprietary market research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- M&A Advisory Services Buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory, divestitures, carve-outs, and strategic advisory mandates for technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) companies across the firm's eight sector verticals.
- Corporate Finance Advisory Capital raising, growth equity financing, private placement, and strategic corporate finance advisory services for technology companies across all eight of Drake Star's sector verticals.
Companies that use Drake Star Partners
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Drake Star Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Drake Star Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Ralf HofmanncoreDrake Star Managing Partner Ralf Hofmann provides expert commentary and market outlook on HR technology trends, consolidation activity, and AI adoption in HR tech sector.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Drake Star Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PJT Partners: PJT Partners provides M&A and strategic advisory services including in technology and digital media, competing with Drake Star on larger mandates while serving broader sectors such as healthcare, energy, and financial services.
- Canaccord Genuity: Canaccord Genuity has a dedicated technology investment banking practice handling M&A and capital raising for software, digital media, and fintech companies, overlapping meaningfully with Drake Star's mid-market tech coverage.
- Lazard: Lazard's global technology M&A advisory practice competes with Drake Star on larger cross-border tech transactions while also serving a much broader set of industries and clients.
- Jefferies: Jefferies runs a large global technology, media, and telecom investment banking franchise, offering Drake Star direct competition in tech M&A while covering a broader range of sectors and capital markets services.
- Stifel: Stifel Financial's investment banking group includes a sizable technology, media, and communications practice that competes with Drake Star on mid-market tech M&A and growth equity financings in the US and Europe.
- William Blair: William Blair is a diversified global investment bank with a sizable technology investment banking group, competing with Drake Star on tech M&A and equity capital markets while also serving broader industries.
Direct peers
- Hampleton Partners: Hampleton Partners is a tech M&A advisory firm serving software, digital media, and fintech sellers and buyers across Europe and the US, directly competing with Drake Star on similar mid-market tech mandates and sector-specialist positioning.
- GP Bullhound: GP Bullhound is a tech-focused boutique investment bank with comparable sector coverage (software, fintech, digital media) and overlapping European and US footprint, making it Drake Star's closest direct competitor for tech M&A mandates in the mid-market.
- Lincoln International: Lincoln International is a global mid-market investment bank with a deep technology, media, and telecom practice that competes directly with Drake Star on sell-side, buy-side, and capital raising mandates for tech companies in the $50M-$1B EV range.
- Oakley Advisory: Oakley Advisory is a UK-based independent corporate finance advisory firm with a dedicated technology and media practice, competing with Drake Star on European tech M&A mandates of similar size.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Drake Star Partners social profiles
Digital presenceDrake Star Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Drake Star Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Drake Star Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Drake Star Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Drake Star Partners
What does Drake Star Partners do?
Drake Star Partners is a global investment bank providing M&A advisory and corporate finance services to technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) companies. Core services include sell-side and buy-side M&A mandates, private placements, growth equity financings, divestitures, and strategic advisory, delivered across eight sector verticals including Software/SaaS, HR Tech, Digital Media, FinTech, Industrial Tech, Mobility & Sustainability, and Consumer & Retail Tech. The firm supplements deal execution with sector-specific research publications covering gaming, sports tech, HR tech, MSPs, fintech, telemedicine, and retail tech.
Is Drake Star Partners a public or private company?
Drake Star Partners is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Drake Star Partners founded?
Drake Star Partners was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Drake Star Partners based?
Drake Star Partners is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Drake Star Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. M&A Advisory Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Finance Advisory.
Who are Drake Star Partners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PJT Partners, Canaccord Genuity, Lazard, Jefferies, Stifel and William Blair. Direct peers are Hampleton Partners, GP Bullhound, Lincoln International and Oakley Advisory.
Does Drake Star Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Drake Star Partners.
What industry is Drake Star Partners in?
Drake Star Partners's product category is Investment Banking (M&A and Corporate Finance Advisory). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAB, Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory, with a secondary code of FSAEAGAB, Buy-Side M&A Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 6211.