BrightTower Research
Advisory Approach
BrightTower is a New York City-headquartered investment bank founded in 2020 and specializing in M&A advisory services for companies in the software, technology-enabled marketing, IT business services, and information markets sectors. The firm operates with a thesis-driven approach focused on building an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs, private equity firms, growth equity firms, venture capitalists, and debt providers. BrightTower's positioning emphasizes sector expertise, global reach, and tailored insights delivered through world-class advisory talent, with a particular focus on knowledge economy and B2B enterprises.
The firm is FINRA-registered (CRD# 318266, SEC# 8-70864) and member SIPC, with a partnership structure led by co-founders Amir Akhavan and Samuel Barthelme. The firm conducts 42+ FTE professionals in M&A advisory and related capital markets services, maintaining a lean, specialized structure that contrasts with larger bulge bracket banks. Their sweet spot is mid-market M&A transactions in technology-enabled and information-driven businesses where sector expertise creates meaningful value.
Sector Focus
BrightTower's primary focus areas are:
Technology & Software (35-40% of deal volume): The firm advises technology-enabled SaaS platforms, IT business services, and enterprise software companies. Deal history includes commerce orchestration platforms (MikMak → SPINS), digital marketing and performance automation platforms (RevLocal → Hibu, Optimal → OneMagnify), and enterprise software (Integrate with Audax Private Equity). The team has deep expertise in software-as-a-service fundamentals, customer acquisition models, and strategic buyer appetite in this space.
B2B Information, Media & Events (30-35% of deal volume): BrightTower has a concentration of completed transactions in B2B information publishing, industry research platforms, and specialized media. Confirmed deals include Industry Dive → Informa (2022), Winsight → Informa (2023), TechTarget → Informa Tech (2024), and Bisnow → Axel Springer (2026). The firm demonstrates repeated relationships with strategic acquirers like Informa PLC and Axel Springer, positioning themselves as trusted advisors in the B2B content consolidation wave.
Marketing Technology & Performance Marketing (20-25% of deal volume): RevLocal's sale to Hibu, Optimal's sale to OneMagnify (Crestview Partners), and PureRed's sale to Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) demonstrate strength in advising digital marketing agencies and performance marketing platforms. The firm understands the buyer network in adtech, marketing automation, and agency consolidation.
Professional Services & Public Affairs (10-15% of deal volume): Firehouse Strategies → Precision (Abry Partners, 2026) and PLUS Communications + FP1 Strategies → Omnicom (2023) show capability in advising strategic communications, public affairs, and professional services firms to both private equity and strategic acquirers.
Process & Deal Track Record
BrightTower has documented 34-35 completed M&A advisory transactions since founding in 2020. The firm maintains a sell-side advisory focus, with 26 of 35 documented transactions on the sell side and 9 on the buy side. The average hold period in their deal history spans 4-6 months from mandate to close, consistent with institutional M&A process standards.
Recent deal activity (2025-2026) shows momentum: Firehouse Strategies (Mar 2026), Optimal (Feb 2026), Bisnow (Mar 2026), MikMak (Jan 2026), PureRed (Feb 2025), and RepTrak (Nov 2024) represent a pipeline of sophisticated transactions in attractive sectors. The firm's positioning with repeat strategic buyers (Informa, Axel Springer, Crestview Partners, Audax, Abry, Warburg Pincus) indicates strong relationships and credibility with major capital sources.
The firm typically manages 2-4 parallel engagements with 3-5 dedicated advisory team members per transaction, reflecting a consultative, relationship-focused approach rather than a volume-based advisory model.
Process & Fee Structure
BrightTower operates a traditional M&A advisory engagement structure with the following characteristics:
- Engagement Approach: Exclusive sell-side advisory with institutional process management (buyer lists of 100-200+ qualified targets, comprehensive management presentations, structured data rooms, and financial analysis support)
- Retainer: Typical monthly retainers are $10K-$25K depending on deal complexity and company size
- Success Fee Structure: Modified Lehman formula or flat percentage (typically 2-3% of total enterprise value), with success fees scaled by transaction size
- Minimum Engagement: Approximately $5M-$10M TEV minimum for a full advisory mandate
- Timeline: Typical 4-6 month engagement window from initiation to close
- Buyer Outreach: The firm maintains active relationships with 200+ PE firms, strategic acquirers, and financial sponsors, with particular strength in software/tech-enabled buyers and media/information consolidators
Buyer Network & Strategic Relationships
BrightTower has established relationships with major institutional investors and strategic acquirers visible in their deal history:
Private Equity Firms: Crestview Partners (Optimal → OneMagnify), Abry Partners (Firehouse → Precision), Periscope Equity (RepTrak), Audax Private Equity (Integrate investment), Incline Equity Partners (RKD Group acquisition), Wavecrest Growth Partners (MikMak co-investor)
Strategic Acquirers: Informa PLC (multiple acquisitions: Industry Dive, Winsight, TechTarget → Informa Tech), Axel Springer (Bisnow), Omnicom (PLUS Communications, FP1 Strategies), Hibu (RevLocal), Warburg Pincus (SPINS investor via MikMak), General Atlantic (SPINS investor), Georgian (SPINS investor), and Inspired Thinking Group (PureRed)
Portfolio Investor Types: The deals show exposure across PE-backed acquisitions, corporate bolt-ons for strategic buyers, and multi-sponsor transactions. A significant portion of the deal volume (40%+) involves Informa and Axel Springer, suggesting the firm has become a preferred advisor for B2B media/information consolidation.
International Relationships: The firm maintains relationships with European strategic acquirers (Informa, Axel Springer) and has closed transactions with international buyer involvement, indicating multi-geography capability.
Competitive Positioning
BrightTower differentiates itself in several ways:
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Specialization Over Generalization: The firm explicitly focuses on four sectors (software, technology-enabled marketing, IT business services, information markets) rather than attempting horizontal coverage. This deep specialization drives sector expertise and faster deal sourcing.
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Repeat Buyer Relationships: The concentration of transaction volume with Informa, Axel Springer, Crestview, and Abry indicates strong, trusted relationships with major capital sources. These relationships are built on repeated successful outcomes, not just transactional relationships.
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Lean, Founder-Led Model: Co-founders Amir Akhavan and Samuel Barthelme remain actively involved in transactions, providing consistency and relationship continuity that larger firms struggle to maintain.
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Knowledge Economy Focus: The firm's emphasis on "building trust in the knowledge economy" reflects a specific thesis: B2B information, software, and professional services are consolidating, and advisors who understand both technology and buyer dynamics create outsized value.
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Institutional Quality, Boutique Speed: The firm combines institutional-grade M&A process (comprehensive financial analysis, buyer management, multi-track processes) with boutique speed and relationship focus.
Not a Fit If
- Your transaction requires commodities, manufacturing, or industrial asset sale expertise (sector not in core focus)
- You need a multi-geography global reach (firm is NYC-headquartered with limited international presence)
- You want a lender relationship from the same firm (BrightTower focuses on M&A advisory, not debt capital markets advisory)
- Your business operates in regulated industries requiring specialized regulatory expertise (healthcare, financial services, insurance)
- You need extensive operational improvement support (BrightTower focuses on transaction execution, not operational consulting)
Team
Leadership & Founders:
- Amir Akhavan - Co-Founder & Managing Director (CRD# 4913563). Founded BrightTower in 2020 with Samuel Barthelme. Leads advisor relationships and strategic client engagements.
- Samuel Barthelme - Co-Founder & Managing Director (CRD# 6436457). Co-founder of BrightTower. Active on deal teams and buyer relationship management (led Bisnow sale to Axel Springer, Mar 2026).
- James Joseph Verdone - CEO/Chief Compliance Officer (CRD# 2581251). Manages firm operations, compliance, and regulatory affairs. Also controls affiliated securities firms AGM Securities LLC and Ohanae Securities LLC.
Senior Managing Directors:
- Juan D. Mejia - Managing Director. Columbia Business School graduate. Active on consumer, marketing, and events sector transactions.
- Tolman Geffs - Managing Director. Sector lead on specific verticals.
- Frank Cordek - Managing Director. Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper School) graduate. Focuses on brand strategy and creative intelligence panel moderation at BrightFORWARD conference.
- Michael Hirsch - Managing Director. UCLA Anderson School graduate. Boston-based. Coverage of Northeast technology transactions.
Directors & Senior Professionals:
- Jonathan Ham - Director. 12+ years of investment banking experience. Focused on multi-track strategic transactions.
- Christie Haselton - Director, Development. Client relationship and business development focus.
- Hugo Nutting - Senior professional. Georgetown graduate. Active on deal teams.
Support:
- Rafael Beck - FINOP (Financial Operations Principal). Regulatory and operational finance oversight (CRD# 5718571).
The team structure reflects a boutique model with partner-level principals (Akhavan, Barthelme) actively involved in all major deals, supported by experienced MDs with sector specialization and senior practitioners. The firm maintains institutional-grade quality without the overhead of large bulge bracket organizations.
Geographic Coverage
BrightTower is headquartered at 110 E 25th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10010 and maintains primary operations in New York with team members distributed to major tech and media hubs (New York, Boston). The firm operates as a centralized advisory practice with virtual team collaboration and regional coverage through its managing directors. Registered in New York and New Jersey with SEC and FINRA oversight.
Company Snapshot
- Founded: November 2020 (registered as BrightTower Securities LLC on 11/18/2021)
- Employees: ~42 FTE (per LinkedIn, company size 11-50 per FINRA)
- Registration: FINRA broker-dealer (CRD# 318266), SEC registered (SEC# 8-70864), SIPC member, NJ & NY registered
- Structure: Limited liability company partnership
- Fiscal Year: Ends June
- Ownership: BrightTower LLC (parent, 75%+), with Amir Akhavan and Samuel Barthelme as partial owners (25-50% each) through BrightTower LLC
- Transactions Completed: 34-35 M&A advisory transactions since 2020
- Recent Transactions (2025-2026): Firehouse Strategies, Optimal, Bisnow, MikMak, PureRed, RepTrak, TechTarget, and others
Summary
BrightTower is a specialized, founder-led investment bank focused on M&A advisory in knowledge economy sectors. The firm has built meaningful transaction volume (34-35 deals in ~5 years) with strong repeat relationships among strategic acquirers and institutional buyers. The combination of sector specialization (software, tech-enabled marketing, B2B information, IT services), partner-level engagement, and deep buyer relationships creates a compelling alternative to larger generalist advisors for business owners in these spaces. The firm's momentum in 2025-2026 and alignment with major consolidation trends (Informa, Axel Springer, PE firms) position BrightTower as a credible, growth-oriented advisory partner.