What DAI Magister does

DAI Magister is a boutique investment bank — legally DAI Magister Limited, FCA-authorised and headquartered in London — that advises technology, climate tech, digital infrastructure, and healthcare companies on strategic M&A and growth financings, with a particular focus on Africa/MENA and other emerging markets. The firm operates two core service lines: sell-side M&A advisory (preparation, marketing, due diligence, closing) and growth financing advisory (positioning, equity story development, investor identification, negotiation), monetised via success fees tied to transaction value plus customary retainers. It also runs TC Magister, a climate-tech-focused advisory JV with TC Capital covering Asia-Pacific (announced November 2022), and DAI Magister Academy, a pro bono advisory service launched in September 2022 targeting pre-funding African and MENA startups.

The firm is a subsidiary within DAI's global professional services platform, leveraging DAI's 65-country operating footprint and 150+-country delivery history for cross-border deal sourcing and local market intelligence. The team is small and senior-heavy, led by CEO & Founder Victor Basta, Co-Heads Risana Zitha (Africa) and Divij Ruparelia, with Marc Deschamps and Steve Bachmann as additional Co-Heads across Europe and the US. Visible landmark transactions include StormFisher Hydrogen / Hy24 ($50m, 2025), Freetrade / IG Group (£160m, 2025), M-KOPA / Broadscale & Generation IM ($75m), Twiga Foods / Goldman Sachs ($35m), Cellulant / TPG Rise, Fusemachines / CSLM ($200m SPAC), and Bright Computing / NVIDIA. The go-to-market is relationship-driven, direct senior engagement with CEOs and investors, supported by thought leadership content (Built Tough podcast, blog) and coverage in major business press.

Name

DAI Magister

Legal name

DAI Magister Limited

Website

https://daimagister.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DAI Magister is a London-headquartered, FCA-authorised boutique investment bank that provides sell-side M&A and growth-financing advisory to technology, climate tech, digital infrastructure, and healthcare companies across Africa, MENA, and other emerging markets. It operates the TC Magister JV for Asia climate tech and is backed by DAI's global platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory Fees: Financial advisory fees earned from providing sell-side M&A advisory services including preparation, marketing, due diligence support, and transaction closing assistance. Fees typically based on transaction value (success fees) with retainer components.
2. Growth Financing Advisory: Advisory services for growth equity financings including positioning, equity story development, investor identification and engagement, and financing negotiation support. Revenue derived from successful capital raises.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DAI Magister is a boutique investment bank providing sell-side M&A advisory and growth financing services to technology, climate tech, digital infrastructure, and healthcare companies across Africa/MENA and other emerging markets. The firm advises founders and management teams through preparation, marketing, due diligence, and transaction closing, with fees tied to successful deal completion. It also operates the TC Magister sub-brand (with TC Capital) for climate tech transactions in Asia and the DAI Magister Academy as a pro bono service for early-stage African/MENA startups.

Product overview

DAI Magister is a boutique investment bank offering two primary service lines: Sell-Side M&A Advisory Services and Growth Financing Services. The firm specializes in advising technology, climate tech, digital infrastructure, and healthcare companies across Africa/MENA and emerging markets. Additionally, through its TC Magister sub-brand (in partnership with TC Capital), the firm provides climate tech advisory specifically in Asia. The DAI Magister Academy offers pro bono support to early-stage companies. These services are not software products but rather financial advisory and transaction execution capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TC Magister: Climate tech focused advisory service in Asia, formed in partnership with TC Capital

Products and services

• Sell-Side M&A Advisory Services Full-service sell-side M&A advisory for companies seeking to sell or merge, including preparation, marketing, due diligence support, and transaction closing assistance. Targeted at technology, climate tech, digital infrastructure, and healthcare companies in emerging markets.
• Growth Financing Services Advisory services for companies seeking growth capital, including positioning, equity story development, investor identification and engagement, and financing negotiation support throughout the fundraising process. Typical fundraise sizes advised are $30-100m+.
• TC Magister Climate tech focused financial advisory service in Asia, formed in partnership with TC Capital. Covers sectors including EV mobility, electronics, renewables tech, circular economy, logistics, agri-tech, and space tech across Southeast Asia and broader Asia-Pacific.
• DAI Magister Academy Pro bono advisory service providing expertise and counsel to early-stage companies that may not qualify for formal support but are poised to secure significant funding within 18 months, focusing on African/MENA markets and climate tech.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $43bn in M&A transactions advised by senior team member
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• TC CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2022Partnership to create TC Magister, a financial advisory service for climate and climate tech in Asia. TC Capital is an established investment bank in Asia, and together the firms advise on climate tech transactions in Southeast Asia and broader Asia-Pacific region. DAI Magister and TC Capital have advised on over 50 transactions within the climate sector.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Marathon Capital: Boutique investment bank dedicated to clean energy, climate tech and sustainable infrastructure M&A. Closely comparable to DAI Magister's climate-tech advisory practice, including hydrogen and renewables mandates.
• BDA Partners: Global investment bank specializing in cross-border M&A advisory across Asia and emerging markets. Directly comparable to DAI Magister in cross-border emerging-market M&A focus and Asia presence.
• Drake Star Partners: Global boutique investment bank dedicated to technology, media and tech-enabled services M&A. Comparable to DAI Magister in boutique tech advisory focus and cross-border deal execution.
• Torch Partners: London-based boutique investment bank focused on technology M&A and growth financings. Closely comparable to DAI Magister in boutique scale, technology-sector focus, and growth-equity placement model (DAI Magister has hired directly from Torch).
• GP Bullhound: Global technology advisory and investment firm focused on digital M&A and growth financings. Comparable to DAI Magister in tech-sector boutique advisory, with overlapping coverage of growth-stage companies.
• Hampleton Partners: International M&A advisor for technology and tech-enabled services companies. Comparable boutique model to DAI Magister with a similar focus on growth-stage tech transactions.
• Clipperton: Paris-based boutique advisor specializing in tech and digital M&A in EMEA and emerging markets. Highly comparable to DAI Magister in serving European and emerging-market tech founders with growth and exit advisory.
• TC Capital: Singapore-based investment bank and partner of DAI Magister in the TC Magister joint venture. Comparable in climate-tech advisory, Southeast Asia focus, and boutique cross-border execution.

Broad incumbents

• DC Advisory: Mid-market cross-border M&A advisor with strong emerging-markets and technology practices. A larger, broader incumbent operating in the same advisory space as DAI Magister but at greater scale and wider sector coverage.
• Lazard: Global financial advisory and asset management firm with significant emerging-markets and energy-transition practices. A broad incumbent that increasingly competes with DAI Magister on larger climate and EM mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magister-advisors

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 DAI Magister