FirstCapital
FirstCapital is a London- and Silicon Valley-based international investment bank advising high-growth technology companies on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and growth capital transactions in the $50m–$500m deal range. It serves software, internet, and tech-enabled services clients through a proprietary SMART dealmaking framework.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What FirstCapital does
FirstCapital is an international investment bank headquartered in London, with a secondary office in Silicon Valley, that provides corporate finance advisory services exclusively to high-growth technology companies. Founded in 1999 by Hazel Moore OBE and co-led with CEO Jason Purcell, the firm focuses on the mid-market deal band of $50m–$500m across three core vertical clusters: software (including SaaS, vertical software, and cybersecurity), internet and digital media, and tech-enabled services. Revenue is generated on a professional-services basis through four advisory service lines — Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Growth Capital, and Strategic Advice — with fees negotiated transaction-by-transaction.
The firm differentiates through its proprietary SMART Dealmaking Framework, a five-step methodology (Strategic Insight, Marketing, Access, Rigorous Negotiation, Transaction Close) that is applied across mandates and personally overseen by a managing director. FirstCapital is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 192132) and operates as a private limited company in England and Wales (First Capital Corporation Limited). Its buyer-side relationships span Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Google, IBM, PayPal, and eBay, alongside a network of global growth and private equity investors.
FirstCapital's commercial model is a relationship-led, senior-banker-intensive advisory practice with a lean team of 11–50 employees. The firm originates mandates through its own industry networks, its long-standing client and buyer relationships, and ongoing thought-leadership content, with each engagement delivered directly by managing directors supported by analysts and associates. There is no external parent company, no institutional equity ownership, and no subsidiaries disclosed; the firm is independently held by its founders and partners.
FirstCapital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FirstCapital
- Legal name
- First Capital Corporation Limited
- Website
- https://firstcapital.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FirstCapital is a London- and Silicon Valley-based international investment bank advising high-growth technology companies on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and growth capital transactions in the $50m–$500m deal range. It serves software, internet, and tech-enabled services clients through a proprietary SMART dealmaking framework.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FirstCapital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking & Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Management Buyouts (MBO/MBI) & Sponsor-Led Transactions Advisory (FSAEAGAI)
Keywords
Where FirstCapital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
FirstCapital 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: Revenue generated from advising high-growth technology companies on mergers and acquisitions transactions. The firm earns fees for strategic advisory services including positioning, marketing, access to decision makers, negotiation, and transaction management through to close.
- Private Equity Advisory: Advisory services for private equity transactions including providing liquidity to early shareholders, management buyouts, and bringing new resources for growth through acquisition.
- Growth Capital Advisory: Advisory services helping companies find the right investors to accelerate growth, whether expanding into new markets or developing new products.
- Strategic Advice: Advisory services helping companies define where value lies and set strategic paths for achieving goals, including strategic acquisition decisions and partnership development.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
FirstCapital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FirstCapital is an international investment bank that advises high-growth technology companies on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and growth capital transactions, with typical deal sizes of $50 million to $500 million. Services are delivered through the firm's proprietary SMART Dealmaking Framework, covering strategic insight, marketing, access to global buyers and investors, rigorous negotiation, and transaction close. The firm operates from London and Silicon Valley, focusing on software, internet/digital media, and tech-enabled services companies.
Product overview
FirstCapital is an international investment bank providing advisory services to high-growth technology companies. The firm offers four core services: Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory (helping companies sell or be acquired), Private Equity Advisory (connecting companies with financial buyers), Growth Capital Advisory (securing investment from VCs, PE, and strategic investors), and Strategic Advice (long-term transaction planning). These services are delivered through the firm's proprietary SMART Dealmaking Framework, a five-step methodology covering Strategic Insight, Marketing, Access, Rigorous Negotiation, and Transaction Close. The firm focuses on software, internet, digital media, and tech-enabled services companies with deal values typically between $50m-$500m, operating from offices in London and Silicon Valley.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory Advisory services for high-growth technology companies seeking to sell or be acquired, including strategic positioning, buyer identification, negotiation, and transaction management delivered through the SMART Dealmaking Framework.
- Private Equity Advisory Advisory services connecting high-growth technology companies with financial buyers for liquidity events, management buyouts, and growth capital from private equity firms.
- Growth Capital Advisory Advisory services helping high-growth technology companies identify and secure investment from venture capital, private equity, and strategic investors to accelerate expansion into new markets or new products.
- Strategic Advice Long-term strategic advisory helping high-growth technology companies define growth objectives, identify value opportunities, and develop execution plans for strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and exits.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sold clients to major tech acquirers including Microsoft (Multimap), Facebook/Meta (Bloomsbury AI, one of early AI deals in Europe), Apple, Google, IBM, PayPal, eBay
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use FirstCapital
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
FirstCapital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
FirstCapital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- DaySmart SoftwarecoreFirstCapital advised Slick Software on its acquisition by DaySmart Software, a global provider of business management solutions. DaySmart is backed by L'Oréal's corporate venture capital fund BOLD. The acquisition strengthens DaySmart's presence in the UK beauty and wellness sector.
- LogicbrokercoreFirstCapital advised on the sale of Virtualstock to US-based Logicbroker. Logicbroker is an Intelligent Commerce Network powering enterprise retailers, brands, suppliers, and distributors. The transaction created a global leader with more than 15,000 retail and brand partners worldwide and GMV of over $13 billion.
- Banyan SoftwarecoreFirstCapital advised Presspage on its acquisition by Banyan Software, an Atlanta-based company that acquires, builds and grows software businesses. Working with Banyan allows Presspage management to accelerate its roadmap and drive further growth.
- ZalandocoreFirstCapital advised DeepAR on its acquisition by Zalando, one of Europe's leading online platforms for fashion and lifestyle. The acquisition accelerates Zalando's 3D roadmap via production of 3D assets and elevated content at scale.
- EasyPark GroupcoreFirstCapital advised Parkopedia on its acquisition by EasyPark Group. The acquisition, supported by Vitruvian Partners, Verdane and Searchlight Capital Partners, creates a seamless end-to-end driver experience built on highly accurate data and global payment capabilities.
- insightsoftwarecoreFirstCapital advised Legerity on its sale to insightsoftware, a global provider of reporting, analytics, and performance management solutions backed by Hg Capital and TA Associates. The acquisition accelerates Legerity's global growth trajectory.
- MessageBirdcoreFirstCapital advised 24sessions on its strategic sale to MessageBird, one of the fastest growing tech unicorns in Europe. The transaction combines video engagement with MessageBird's omnichannel cloud communications platform.
- LXTcoreFirstCapital advised clickworker on its acquisition by AI training data provider LXT.
- The Access GroupcoreFirstCapital advised ClassForKids on its acquisition by The Access Group, a major UK software company.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FirstCapital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GP Bullhound: European tech-focused boutique investment bank advising on M&A, growth capital, and IPOs for software and digital companies. Highly comparable to FirstCapital in target client (European tech founders), deal size band, and sell-side advisory model.
- Drake Star Partners: Global tech-focused boutique investment bank with strong European presence advising on M&A, growth equity, and public offerings in software, digital media, and tech-enabled services — directly comparable client base and service offering to FirstCapital.
- Arma Partners: European-headquartered independent advisory firm focused on the technology sector, providing M&A and financing advisory. Direct competitor for European software sell-side mandates in the same deal size band as FirstCapital.
- Hampleton Partners: Tech M&A advisory boutique covering software, digital, and tech-enabled services across Europe and the US. Comparable in deal size focus, sector specialization, and senior-led delivery model.
- Clipperton: Paris-based boutique investment bank specialized in tech and digital M&A, advising European growth-stage software companies. Comparable client profile (European tech founders seeking US/global buyers) and sell-side focus.
- Oakley Advisory: London-based boutique advisory firm focused on technology and tech-enabled services M&A in the UK and Europe. Direct peer for sell-side mandates in the same mid-market software and digital media segment.
- Silverpeak: Tech-focused boutique investment bank advising on sell-side M&A and strategic transactions for software, internet, and digital media companies. Direct competitor for European and transatlantic mid-market tech mandates.
Broad incumbents
- Livingstone Partners: Global mid-market M&A advisory firm with offices in Europe and the US, advising across technology, consumer, industrials, and services. Comparable on mid-market deal size and cross-border execution, but broader sector coverage than FirstCapital.
- Lincoln International: Global mid-market investment bank with dedicated technology, media, and telecom group advising on M&A and capital raising. Comparable on cross-border mid-market tech mandates, though larger and broader in sector coverage.
- PJT Partners: Global advisory firm with a technology M&A franchise advising on strategic transactions, capital raises, and shareholder advisory. Comparable at the upper end of FirstCapital's deal range, though substantially larger and broader in scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FirstCapital social profiles
Digital presenceFirstCapital compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
FirstCapital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FirstCapital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
FirstCapital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FirstCapital 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 FirstCapital
What does FirstCapital do?
FirstCapital is an international investment bank that advises high-growth technology companies on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and growth capital transactions, with typical deal sizes of $50 million to $500 million. Services are delivered through the firm's proprietary SMART Dealmaking Framework, covering strategic insight, marketing, access to global buyers and investors, rigorous negotiation, and transaction close. The firm operates from London and Silicon Valley, focusing on software, internet/digital media, and tech-enabled services companies.
Is FirstCapital a public or private company?
FirstCapital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FirstCapital founded?
FirstCapital was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FirstCapital based?
FirstCapital is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does FirstCapital make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. M&A Advisory Fees are the primary driver. The others are private Equity Advisory, growth Capital Advisory and strategic Advice.
Who are FirstCapital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GP Bullhound, Drake Star Partners, Arma Partners, Hampleton Partners, Clipperton, Oakley Advisory and Silverpeak. Broad incumbents are Livingstone Partners, Lincoln International and PJT Partners.
Does FirstCapital have an API?
No public API is recorded for FirstCapital.
What industry is FirstCapital in?
FirstCapital's product category is Investment Banking & Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAG, Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital), with a secondary code of FSAEAGAI, Management Buyouts (MBO/MBI) & Sponsor-Led Transactions Advisory. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.