Wisable Raises $5M Seed to Help Small Owners Sell Their Firms
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Wisable, a New York M&A advisory firm, has raised $5 million in seed funding. It plans to bring institutional-style deal execution to owners of small and midsize businesses who want to sell. The company is backed by the D. E. Shaw group and has advised owners since 2024.
It combines experienced deal teams, technology-enabled execution and a curated buyer network. Sales of small companies have traditionally lacked the resources available in larger transactions.
A large wave of ownership changes
Citing McKinsey, Wisable said about six million small and midsize businesses are expected to face an ownership transition by 2035. More than one million of them could be viable sale candidates, representing as much as $5 trillion in enterprise value.
Wisable positions and markets a client's business, finds and engages qualified buyers, and manages the deal through closing. It also uses AI and automation for financial analysis, buyer outreach, information management and due diligence.
It focuses on businesses with at least $1 million in annual revenue. Services include fast-tracked valuations and access to the buyer network. Its sector experience spans home services, automotive services and light manufacturing, among others.
The team brings more than 80 years of combined experience across about $300 million in transaction value. CEO Bryan O'Connell co-founded and led Huckleberry, which Paychex acquired in 2023. He later served as general manager of a Paychex subsidiary and previously worked at McKinsey and Morgan Stanley.
The new money is meant to expand the firm's technology-enabled advisory model as more small business owners approach retirement, succession or a possible exit.
Samantha Monge Kaser, platform lead and vice president at the D. E. Shaw group, said the firm had spent several years looking for ways to bring sophisticated resources to small and medium-sized businesses. In her words, the segment "has historically had less access to the capital, advice, and infrastructure available to larger companies."
Source: Pulse 2.0