One Degree Partners
One Degree Partners is a two-person, founder-operated boutique executive search firm founded in 2010 that places CEOs and C-suite executives at venture-funded and growth-stage technology companies, with over 500 completed searches and $87B in stated client exit value.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What One Degree Partners does
One Degree Partners is a privately held, two-person boutique executive search firm founded in 2010 by Gary Megennis and Kelly Fairweather, headquartered in San Francisco. The firm specializes in placing CEOs and their direct reports (C-suite executives including COOs, CFOs, CROs, and heads of sales, marketing, product, and people) at venture-funded and growth-stage technology companies. The founders operate the firm as equal partners and the only employees, conducting all research, sourcing, and closing themselves with no associates, researchers, or assistants, and explicitly capping their monthly workload to prioritize focus and quality on a limited number of annual engagements.
The firm has completed more than 500 executive searches across 400+ client companies, with a stated track record of $87B in total exit value across its clients. Customer logos include Google, Stripe, E*Trade, Pure Storage, MuleSoft, GrubHub, Audible, Ariba, Concur, Qlik, and Siri, among others. Its go-to-market is direct, principals-led field engagement with founders, boards, and VC-backed CEOs; there are no marketing channels beyond a professional website, partner LinkedIn profiles, and word-of-mouth referrals from prior clients.
Revenue is derived from executive search fees (retained or success-based) on individual placements. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per engagement based on role seniority and complexity. The firm is entirely founder-owned, with no outside capital, no parent entity, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed institutional investors. The competitive proposition rests on depth of executive relationships, the ability to reach candidates other firms cannot, and the value of additional introductions to board members, advisors, partners, customers, and investors beyond the core placement.
One Degree Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- One Degree Partners
- Legal name
- One Degree Partners
- Website
- https://onedegreepartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- One Degree Partners is a two-person, founder-operated boutique executive search firm founded in 2010 that places CEOs and C-suite executives at venture-funded and growth-stage technology companies, with over 500 completed searches and $87B in stated client exit value.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where One Degree Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
One Degree Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Executive Search Services: Fee-based executive search services for venture-funded and growth-stage tech companies, placing CEOs and their direct reports (C-suite executives). Revenue likely derived from retained search fees or success-based placement fees.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
One Degree Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
One Degree Partners is a boutique executive search firm that places CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CROs, and direct reports (Heads of Sales, Marketing, Product, and People) for venture-capital and growth-stage technology companies. All search work is performed personally by the two co-founders, with no associates, researchers, or assistants, and the firm intentionally limits its monthly workload to focus deeply on each engagement.
Product overview
One Degree Partners is a boutique executive search firm operating as a single unified service offering. The firm specializes exclusively in placing C-suite executives (CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CROs) and direct reports in heads of sales, marketing, product, and people roles for venture-funded and growth-stage technology companies. Founded in 2010 by Gary Megennis and Kelly Fairweather, the firm functions without associates, researchers, or assistants — the two co-founders handle all work themselves from research to close. The company does not offer discrete product modules or technology platforms; rather, it provides a curated executive search service limited to a small number of annual engagements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Services
Companies that use One Degree Partners
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
One Degree Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
One Degree Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
One Degree Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spencer Stuart: One of the largest global executive search firms with a dedicated technology, media, and telecommunications practice serving venture and growth-stage companies. Comparable to One Degree Partners in core function (C-suite placement) but vastly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a strong technology and venture-capital practice. Direct competitor to One Degree Partners for C-suite placements at venture-funded tech companies, with broader service offerings and international footprint.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a Technology, Media, and Telecommunications practice serving high-growth and venture-backed companies. Closely comparable to One Degree in targeting tech CEOs and direct reports, but with much broader global infrastructure.
- Riviera Partners: Tech-focused executive search firm specializing in placing C-suite and senior engineering, product, and design leaders at venture-backed technology companies. Most directly comparable niche competitor to One Degree Partners in tech executive search.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a strong technology practice and partnership model. Comparable to One Degree Partners in CEO and direct-report placements, though operating at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
- ON Partners: Boutique executive search firm focused on placing C-level executives and senior leaders at venture-backed and growth-stage technology companies. Directly comparable to One Degree Partners in target market, deal size, and founder-led engagement model.
- True Search: Executive search firm specializing in placing C-suite executives and senior leaders at venture-backed technology companies globally. Direct competitor to One Degree Partners in the tech executive search niche, with comparable target clients and boutique-style service.
- Caldwell Partners: Executive search firm with a dedicated technology practice serving venture and growth-stage companies. Comparable to One Degree Partners in C-suite placements and tech sector focus, though operating with a larger partner bench.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Largest global organizational consulting firm combining executive search with broader talent, leadership, and HR advisory services. Overlaps with One Degree Partners in executive search but offers a much wider portfolio beyond tech specialization.
Emerging players
- Kindred Partners: The predecessor firm co-founded by the same founders (Gary Megennis and Kelly Fairweather) in 2001 before they launched One Degree Partners in 2010. Highly relevant for understanding the founders' track record and network lineage, though it now operates as a separate entity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
One Degree Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
One Degree Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
One Degree Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
One Degree Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about One Degree Partners
What does One Degree Partners do?
One Degree Partners is a boutique executive search firm that places CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CROs, and direct reports (Heads of Sales, Marketing, Product, and People) for venture-capital and growth-stage technology companies. All search work is performed personally by the two co-founders, with no associates, researchers, or assistants, and the firm intentionally limits its monthly workload to focus deeply on each engagement.
Is One Degree Partners a public or private company?
One Degree Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was One Degree Partners founded?
One Degree Partners was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is One Degree Partners based?
One Degree Partners is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does One Degree Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Services.
Who are One Degree Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds Associates, Riviera Partners, Egon Zehnder, ON Partners, True Search and Caldwell Partners. Korn Ferry is listed as a broad incumbent. Kindred Partners is listed as an emerging player.
Does One Degree Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for One Degree Partners.