Clearsight Advisors
Clearsight Advisors is an independent merchant banking firm, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, that delivers M&A advisory and capital raising services to founder-led and PE-backed professional services and technology-enabled services companies across the Knowledge Economy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersMclean, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Clearsight Advisors does
Clearsight Advisors, Inc. is an independent merchant banking firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in Tysons Corner, Northern Virginia, that specializes in M&A advisory and capital raising for professional services and technology-enabled services companies. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation (acquired January 2022) and conducts securities transactions through RF M&A Services LLC, a registered broker-dealer. It operates three service lines: M&A Advisory (sell-side, buy-side, and strategic advisory), Capital Raising (growth equity and recapitalizations), and Financial Advisory and Consulting (fairness opinions, valuations, and strategic advisory). Its go-to-market is relationship-driven, targeting founder-led and PE-backed middle-market companies within the Knowledge Economy — the convergence of Business Services, Software, and Data & Analytics — with additional vertical depth in Healthcare & Life Sciences consulting. Clearsight is positioned as the only merchant bank in the Washington, DC metro area exclusively focused on technology and services sectors, with more than 100 transactions advised and over $10 billion in combined founding-team M&A track record. The senior leadership has worked together for decades across bulge-bracket and boutique banks including Houlihan Lokey, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, and Updata Capital. In February 2026, Clearsight aligned with BlackArch Partners under a single broker-dealer, creating a 100+ investment banker platform with complementary sector coverage. The firm maintains offices in Tysons Corner (HQ), Nashville, and New York, and runs a quarterly content engine (industry monitors, newsletter, annual Knowledge Economy Summit) to drive inbound deal flow. Revenue mechanics are transaction-based success fees on M&A, percentage-of-capital-raised on financings, and project/retainer fees on advisory mandates; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
Clearsight Advisors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clearsight Advisors
- Legal name
- Clearsight Advisors, Inc.
- Website
- https://clearsightadvisors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Clearsight Advisors is an independent merchant banking firm, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, that delivers M&A advisory and capital raising services to founder-led and PE-backed professional services and technology-enabled services companies across the Knowledge Economy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Clearsight Advisors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking Advisory
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sell-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAA), Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB), Fairness Opinions & Independent Financial Advice (BPAHAOAF)
Keywords
Where Clearsight Advisors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mclean
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Clearsight Advisors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- M&A Advisory Fees: Advisory fees earned on M&A transactions, typically a success fee structure based on transaction value at closing, with engagement types including sell-side advisory, buy-side advisory, and financial co-advisory mandates.
- Capital Raising Advisory: Fees earned for advising companies on equity capital raises and recapitalizations, typically structured as a percentage of capital raised.
- Financial Advisory and Consulting: Engagements including fairness opinions, strategic advisory, and consulting mandates, billed on a project or retainer basis.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Clearsight Advisors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clearsight Advisors is an independent merchant banking firm providing M&A advisory (sell-side, buy-side, and strategic advisory), capital raising (growth equity, recapitalizations, debt financing), and financial advisory and consulting (fairness opinions, valuations, strategic guidance) to professional services and technology-enabled services companies. Engagements are sourced through senior banker relationships and industry networks across the converging Business Services, Software, and Data & Analytics landscape.
Product overview
Clearsight Advisors is an investment banking firm that provides advisory services to professional services and technology-enabled services companies. The firm operates three core service lines: M&A Advisory (sell-side and buy-side transactions), Capital Raising (growth equity and recapitalizations), and Financial Advisory and Consulting (fairness opinions and strategic advisory). Clearsight is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation and operates under broker-dealer RF M&A Services LLC. The firm specializes in high-growth segments across Business Services, Software, and Data & Analytics sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $10 billion in combined M&A transaction track record across the founding team
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Clearsight Advisors
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Clearsight Advisors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Clearsight Advisors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- BlackArch PartnersflagshipBlackArch Partners and Clearsight Advisors aligned under a single broker-dealer, Regions Financial Corporation, combining two specialist M&A advisory firms. The unified platform brings together more than 100 investment bankers with complementary sector expertise — BlackArch focuses on industrial, consumer, and healthcare sectors while Clearsight leads in technology-enabled and knowledge-based sectors. Both firms continue operating under their respective brand identities while leveraging broader market connectivity, expanded international networks, and increased transaction activity across adjacent end markets.
- InvesteccoreClearsight and Investec co-advised Cinven on an investment in Flint Global. This represents an ongoing co-advisory relationship between the two firms on cross-border transactions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Clearsight Advisors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BlackArch Partners: BlackArch Partners is a middle-market M&A advisory firm aligned with Clearsight under the RF M&A Services LLC broker-dealer. Both firms operate as specialist boutiques under Regions Financial ownership with complementary sector coverage.
- Stout: Stout is a middle-market advisory firm with M&A, valuation, and consulting practices serving business services and technology-enabled services clients. Directly comparable as a scaled mid-market advisor that has acquired Clearsight-advised platforms (e.g., Pointe Advisory).
- Lincoln International: Lincoln International is a global middle-market investment bank providing M&A advisory, capital raising, and fairness opinions across business services, technology, and consumer sectors. Directly comparable to Clearsight in scale, mid-market focus, and sector specialization.
- Cascadia Capital: Cascadia Capital is a middle-market investment bank focused on technology-enabled services, business services, and consumer sectors. Closely comparable to Clearsight in boutique scale and Knowledge Economy sector focus.
Broad incumbents
- Piper Sandler: Piper Sandler is a diversified middle-market investment bank providing M&A advisory across technology-enabled services and business services. Comparable as a scaled incumbent operating across multiple verticals including Clearsight's core sectors.
- Rothschild & Co: Rothschild & Co is a global advisory firm specializing in M&A, strategic advisory, and financing solutions. Comparable as a broader incumbent with established advisory practice competing for mid-market Knowledge Economy transactions.
- Houlihan Lokey: Houlihan Lokey is a global investment bank where Clearsight's founders (Kallett, Treger, Rakowski) previously led the Business Services practice. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering M&A, capital markets, and financial restructuring services at greater scale.
- William Blair: William Blair is a full-service middle-market investment bank with strong M&A advisory in business services and technology. Comparable as a larger incumbent offering broader sector coverage and deeper staffing than Clearsight.
- Baird: Baird is a privately held middle-market investment bank with strong M&A advisory in business services and technology-enabled services. Comparable as a broader incumbent with greater staffing capacity than Clearsight.
- Jefferies: Jefferies is a global investment bank with a middle-market M&A advisory practice that competes for Knowledge Economy mandates. Comparable as a much larger incumbent that often contests mid-to-large cap deals where Clearsight might co-advise.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clearsight Advisors social profiles
Digital presenceClearsight Advisors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clearsight Advisors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Clearsight Advisors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clearsight Advisors 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 Clearsight Advisors
What does Clearsight Advisors do?
Clearsight Advisors is an independent merchant banking firm providing M&A advisory (sell-side, buy-side, and strategic advisory), capital raising (growth equity, recapitalizations, debt financing), and financial advisory and consulting (fairness opinions, valuations, strategic guidance) to professional services and technology-enabled services companies. Engagements are sourced through senior banker relationships and industry networks across the converging Business Services, Software, and Data & Analytics landscape.
Is Clearsight Advisors a public or private company?
Clearsight Advisors is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Clearsight Advisors founded?
Clearsight Advisors was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Clearsight Advisors based?
Clearsight Advisors is headquartered in Mclean, United States, in the North America region.
How does Clearsight Advisors make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. M&A Advisory Fees are the primary driver. The others are capital Raising Advisory and financial Advisory and Consulting.
Who are Clearsight Advisors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BlackArch Partners, Stout, Lincoln International and Cascadia Capital. Broad incumbents are Piper Sandler, Rothschild & Co, Houlihan Lokey, William Blair, Baird and Jefferies.
Does Clearsight Advisors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clearsight Advisors.
What industry is Clearsight Advisors in?
Clearsight Advisors's product category is Investment Banking Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAOAA, M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side), with a secondary code of FSAEAGAA, Sell-Side M&A Advisory. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.