What Align5 does

Align5 is a privately held strategic coaching and M&A advisory firm founded in 2015 by John Ratliff, Denise Richmond, and Chad Williams, headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania with a secondary office in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The firm serves growth-oriented entrepreneurs and family enterprises, providing coaching engagements that move companies through what align5 calls the Entrepreneurial Company Lifecycle™, from startup through exit, alongside sell-side and buy-side M&A advisory delivered in conjunction with STS Capital Partners for transactions typically in the US$100M+ enterprise value range. align5's product surface centers on three streams: longer-term strategic coaching engagements covering company culture, employee engagement, Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) implementation, buy-side acquisition strategy, growth finance, and exit preparation; episodic M&A advisory with a sell-side process designed to maximize transaction value for entrepreneur-led private companies; and event-based programs including the Exit Strategy Retreat and CEO Bootcamp held at The Retreat in Marathon, Florida.

The firm's underlying technology is not software but two proprietary, trademarked methodologies—the Entrepreneurial Company Lifecycle™ framework and the Execution Planning System™—which structure coaching deliverables around no more than five key priorities with accountability mechanisms. Supporting content is distributed through a Knowledge Center (blog, video library, events), a twice-weekly email newsletter reaching 15,000+ entrepreneur subscribers, speaking engagements led by John Ratliff and Kevin O'Connor, and ongoing community ties via John's CEO roles at Scaling Up Coaches and GazellesPRO. M&A advisory is delivered through a partnership with STS Capital Partners, founded in 2003, which provides international deal execution reach in exchange for align5's operational expertise and entrepreneur relationships.

The business model is professional services revenue, predominantly engagement-based coaching and event-driven advisory fees; no pricing is publicly disclosed and partnerships with John Ratliff ([email protected]) and Kevin O'Connor ([email protected]) are the primary commercial entry points. The firm operates a highly selective engagement model, choosing only growth-oriented, values-aligned entrepreneurs and delivering services personally through senior partners. Notable advisory transactions include DSi's acquisition by Counsel On Call (closed September 2017), Horizon Services' acquisition by Sun Capital Partners, MaximTrak's acquisition by RouteOne (effective December 2016), and CFI's acquisition by BGC Partners. No external institutional funding has been disclosed, and ownership appears to remain with the founding team.

Name

Align5

Legal name

align5

Website

https://align5.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Align5 is a privately held strategic coaching and M&A advisory firm founded in 2015 that helps growth company entrepreneurs and family enterprises scale their businesses and prepare for strategic exits using proprietary coaching methodologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Management Consulting

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA)

Keywords

• Strategic coaching services
• M&A advisory services
• Growth company consulting
• Exit strategy advisory
• Executive coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

West Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Coaching Services: Longer-term strategic coaching engagements and multi-day strategic planning sessions for growth company entrepreneurs. Coaching covers Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0), company culture, employee engagement, operating processes, buy-side acquisition strategy, growth finance, and exit preparation.
2. M&A Advisory Services: Sell-side advisory for entrepreneurs on path to maximize value in connection with sale of their company. Also provides buy-side advisory for identifying and integrating strategic acquisitions. Works exclusively with entrepreneur-led, private companies.
3. Speaking Engagements: John Ratliff and Kevin O'Connor are highly-sought speakers on topics including company culture, employee engagement, business strategy, acquisitions, and strategic exits. Fees charged for speaking engagements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Align5 is a strategic coaching and M&A advisory firm that helps growth-company entrepreneurs scale their businesses and prepare for strategic exits. Its core offerings are multi-day strategic planning sessions, longer-term strategic coaching engagements covering scaling, culture, engagement, and operating processes, and buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory services for entrepreneur-led private companies. Commercial offerings are supported by paid event programs (Exit Strategy Retreat, CEO Bootcamp) and fee-based speaking engagements by its partners.

Product overview

Align5 is a strategic coaching and M&A advisory firm for growth entrepreneurs. Its core offerings consist of Strategic Coaching (using a proprietary methodology and Execution Planning System to help companies move through the Entrepreneurial Company Lifecycle), M&A Advisory Services (sell-side and buy-side advisory for private companies), and event programs including the Exit Strategy Retreat and CEO Bootcamp. Supporting these core services is a Knowledge Center containing blog content, videos, and events. The company also offers proprietary frameworks including the Entrepreneurial Company Lifecycle and distributes educational content such as whitepapers on M&A tactics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Coaching Actionable, results-driven coaching that helps business leaders break through obstacles to growth and move their companies along the Entrepreneurial Company Lifecycle, anchored by align5's proprietary coaching methodology and Execution Planning System. Targeted at growth-company entrepreneurs and executive teams at various stages from startup through exit.
• M&A Advisory Services Mergers and acquisitions advisory for entrepreneurs and family enterprises, combining entrepreneurial experience with a rigorous sell-side process designed to maximize transaction value. Provides both sell-side advisory for strategic exits and buy-side advisory for strategic acquisitions, working exclusively with entrepreneur-led private companies.
• Exit Strategy Retreat Multi-day event designed to help entrepreneurs understand the M&A process intimately and prepare for the sale of their company, held at The Retreat in Marathon, Florida. Targeted at growth-company entrepreneurs considering strategic exits.
• CEO Bootcamp Multi-day gatherings of entrepreneurs at The Retreat in Marathon, Florida, combining executive education with networking and rejuvenation. Targeted at growth-company entrepreneurs and CEOs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18% turnover rate vs 110% industry average at Appletree Answers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• STS Capital PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partneralign5 team works as part of STS Capital Partners for M&A advisory transactions. The partnership provides align5 with international M&A capabilities while STS Capital Partners leverages align5's operational expertise and entrepreneur network. Founded in 2003, STS Capital Partners specializes in transactions in the US$100M+ enterprise value range.
• Scaling Up CoachescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Ratliff serves as CEO of Scaling Up Coaches, a global coaching organization with certified coaches working with midmarket companies. align5 leverages the Scaling Up methodology (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) and the Scaling Up Coaches community for customer acquisition and service delivery.
• GazellesPROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Ratliff currently serves as CEO of GazellesPRO, the inner circle of Gazelles companies. This connection provides access to a network of growth-focused entrepreneurs.
• Virgin UniteminorOthersJohn Ratliff is active in Virgin Unite, a charitable foundation created by Sir Richard Branson focused on improving the employee experience. He is involved with the foundation's initiative on people and innovation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EOS Worldwide: Implements the Entrepreneurial Operating System for growth companies through a global network of certified coaches. Comparable to align5 in serving growth-stage companies with a proprietary operating methodology and coaching-led delivery.
• Strategic Coach: Dan Sullivan's entrepreneur coaching firm serving growth-oriented founders with structured coaching programs and tools. Most directly comparable to align5's strategic coaching practice in client profile, methodology-led offering, and founder-led delivery model.
• Generational Equity: M&A advisory firm focused on sell-side transactions for lower middle-market private companies, often founder-led. Directly comparable to align5's M&A advisory practice in client type, deal size band, and sell-side orientation.
• Vistage: CEO peer advisory and coaching organization for SMB and midmarket leaders. Comparable to align5 in targeting growth-company CEOs with group coaching and 1:1 advisory, but with significantly larger scale.
• A Neumann & Associates: M&A advisory firm serving lower middle-market, owner-operated businesses on sell-side and buy-side engagements. Comparable to align5's M&A arm in target client profile (entrepreneur-led private companies) and engagement style.
• Scaling Up Coaches: Global coaching organization built on the Rockefeller Habits / Scaling Up methodology serving midmarket companies. align5's co-founder John Ratliff is its CEO, making it the closest methodological and network peer.
• Gazelles: Verne Harnish's growth-company advisory organization and the origin of the Scaling Up / Rockefeller Habits methodology. align5 leverages this methodology and is organizationally intertwined through Ratliff's leadership of GazellesPRO.

Broad incumbents

• BCG: Global management consulting firm with deep practices in growth strategy, M&A, and organizational design. Comparable as a broad incumbent in strategic advisory for growth-stage and mid-market companies, with overlapping exit-preparation services.
• McKinsey & Company: Global management consulting firm serving large enterprises on strategy, organization, and M&A. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose growth and M&A practices overlap with align5's advisory scope, albeit at meaningfully different scale.
• Bain & Company: Global management consulting firm advising executives on strategy, operations, and M&A. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for growth-company strategic advisory work, though at much larger scale and a different price point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alignfive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Align5