LifeSci Search

What LifeSci Search does

LifeSci Search is a global retained executive search firm that recruits C-suite executives, senior leaders, board members, and investment professionals for the life sciences industry. Operating as a business unit within the broader LifeSci Partners platform, the firm serves biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medtech, and digital health companies alongside life sciences-focused investment platforms (hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital). Service coverage spans the United States, Europe, and Israel through offices in New York, Boston, London, Geneva, Paris, Milan, and Tel Aviv.

The firm offers four core service lines: Executive Search, Investment Professional Search, Board & Advisory Search, and Fractional & Interim Leadership. It also operates a sub-product, LifeSci Search Accelerate, which provides fixed-price retained search for early-stage startups. Its underlying capability is built on the LifeSci Partners network of 300+ colleagues, including over 40 PhDs and MDs, providing scientific credibility and access to candidate pipelines. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery relies on recruiter expertise, market intelligence, and relationship networks.

LifeSci Search generates revenue through milestone-based retained search fees tied to completed engagement stages rather than calendar time, supplemented by recurring monthly fees from fractional and interim placements (with an Interim Credit Program that converts interim hours to credit toward permanent searches). Pricing for the Accelerate product is fixed and one-time per engagement. The go-to-market motion is direct, sales-led engagement with life sciences enterprises and investment platforms, primarily in the US, Europe, and Israel. The firm reports 300+ cumulative placements across 9+ countries, an average time to fill of 3 months, a 98% placement retention rate, and a 67% repeat business rate. In September 2025, the firm acquired LifeSci Associates to integrate fractional and interim executive services with its core search practice.

Name

LifeSci Search

Legal name

LifeSci Search

Website

https://lifescisearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LifeSci Search is a global retained executive search firm that places C-suite executives, board members, and investment professionals for life sciences companies and investment platforms across the US, Europe, and Israel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search (BPACAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Life sciences recruitment
• Biotech executive placement
• Board advisory search
• Interim leadership staffing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: LifeSci Search operates on a retained executive search model, placing C-suite, senior executives, and board-level leaders for life sciences companies. The firm uses milestone-based pricing where fees are tied to completed stages rather than calendar time.
2. Fractional and Interim Leadership Services: Provides interim and fractional executives who step in immediately to sustain momentum, accelerate fundraising, and keep development on track. Features flexible monthly fees plus credit from interim hours toward the next permanent executive search.
3. LifeSci Search Accelerate: Fixed-price retained executive search offering specifically designed for early-round startups with limited resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LifeSci Search is a retained executive search firm that places C-suite executives, board members, advisory board members, investment professionals, and fractional/interim leaders for life sciences companies and life sciences-focused investment platforms. Operating as a business unit within LifeSci Partners, the firm serves biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medtech, and digital health companies across the United States, Europe, and Israel using milestone-based pricing and a 300+ colleague network that includes over 40 PhDs and MDs.

Product overview

LifeSci Search is a global executive search firm serving the life sciences industry, operating as part of LifeSci Partners. The company offers a unified platform of talent solutions that includes four core services: Executive Search (placing C-suite and senior leaders), Investment Professional Search (placing fund-level leaders), Board & Advisory Search (placing board directors and advisors), and Fractional & Interim Leadership (interim and fractional executives). The LifeSci Partners Platform underpins all services with access to investors, capital markets expertise, milestone-based pricing, and an Interim Credit Program. A specialized sub-offering, LifeSci Search Accelerate, provides fixed-price executive search tailored for early-stage startups on seed or Series A funding. The September 2025 acquisition of LifeSci Associates expanded the portfolio to include fractional and interim executive services, enabling clients to transition from fractional to permanent placements as organizational needs evolve.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LifeSci Search Accelerate: Fixed-price, high-value retained executive search offering designed specifically for early-stage biotech and life sciences startups with limited resources, providing access to top-level talent at startup-friendly pricing.

Products and services

• Executive Search

Quantifiable outcome

• $9.2B capital raised by client companies
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• LifeSci AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2025LifeSci Search acquired LifeSci Associates in September 2025 to expand talent solutions capabilities. The acquisition enables clients to engage fractional executives or interim leaders to drive growth, manage change, or guide transitions, and shift to full-time C-level, SVP, VP, and Board placements as organizational needs evolve.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JM Search: Executive search firm with a strong life sciences practice placing CEOs, commercial leaders, and board members for biotech and pharma companies of varying stages, directly comparable in scope and client type.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a Healthcare sector practice placing senior executives and board leaders across biotech, pharma, and medtech, overlapping with LifeSci Search's core C-suite and board offering.
• Coulter Partners: Specialist executive search firm focused exclusively on life sciences, placing senior leadership across biotech, pharma, and digital health; one of the closest direct competitors in the retained life sciences search niche.
• Slone Partners: Life sciences-focused executive search firm placing executives and board members for biotech, diagnostics, and CRO/CDMO organizations, competing in the same retained search market as LifeSci Search.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a Healthcare & Life Sciences practice that places CEOs, CMOs, CSOs, and board members for life sciences clients, competing head-to-head with LifeSci Search on senior mandates.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Health and Life Sciences practice serving biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies, directly comparable on C-suite and board search.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Healthcare, Life Sciences and Services practice placing C-suite and board leaders for biotech and pharma companies, directly competing for the same retained mandates as LifeSci Search.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Large global organizational consulting firm with a significant Life Sciences practice providing executive search, assessment, and advisory services, offering broader portfolio solutions than LifeSci Search's specialized offering.
• DHR Global: Global executive search firm with a Healthcare & Life Sciences practice serving biotech, pharma, and medtech clients; broader portfolio across industries than LifeSci Search but overlapping in life sciences mandates.

Others

• LifeSci Advisors: Sister firm within the LifeSci Partners ecosystem providing investor relations and capital markets advisory to life sciences companies; not a direct search competitor but operates as an adjacent ecosystem participant sharing clients and referral channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifescisearch
• Xx.com/SearchLifesci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 LifeSci Search