Los Angeles is one of the most active technology M&A markets in the US. This list covers 11 advisors active in 2026 - deal sizes, sector focus, and verified transactions across software, AI, cybersecurity, and digital media.
LA technology M&A in 2026
California ranked first in the country for deal volume in 2025 with 1,388 transactions valued at $173 billion. Los Angeles drives significant share of that, particularly in software, digital media, and AI-adjacent businesses.
AI-related deals in the US surged 47% year-over-year in Q1 2026, per market data. LA tech companies with AI capabilities or data infrastructure are getting premium attention from both strategic buyers and PE platforms.
Before your first advisor meeting, set up an Ellty data room and load your cap table, financials, and key contracts. LA tech buyers move fast - disorganized files slow down diligence and hand leverage back to the buyer.
Use Ellty's dynamic watermarking to protect your proprietary tech documentation when sharing with multiple buyers simultaneously.
What separates LA technology advisors
Houlihan Lokey topped M&A financial advisers in technology, media and telecom during Q1 2026 with 19 deals, per GlobalData. They're headquartered in Century City - not a coincidence.
LA has a unique tech stack: software, digital media, adtech, gaming, and direct-to-consumer technology all overlap. Your advisor needs to know which buyer pools are active in your sub-sector right now.
Boutique advisors like Solganick and Imperial Capital close deals that national banks won't look at under $100M. For founder-led software companies doing $5M-$50M in ARR, a specialist boutique gets more buyer attention than a generalist.
| Deal Type | Deal Size | Sector Focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houlihan Lokey (Technology) | Both | $50M-$5B+ | Software, AI, digital media, adtech, cybersecurity | hl.com |
| Solganick | Sell-side | $10M-$500M | Software, IT services, cybersecurity, AI, MSP, healthcare IT | solganick.com |
| Imperial Capital | Both | $25M-$1B+ | Technology, digital media, software, defense tech, aerospace | imperialcapital.com |
| Union Square Advisors | Both | $50M-$2B+ | SaaS, enterprise tech, internet, fintech | usadvisors.com |
| Jefferies (Technology) | Both | $200M-$5B+ | Software, internet, tech-enabled services, digital media | jefferies.com |
| William Blair (Technology) | Both | $50M-$2B+ | SaaS, enterprise software, tech-enabled services | williamblair.com |
| TD Cowen (Technology) | Both | $50M-$2B+ | Software, internet, digital media, adtech, SaaS | tdcowen.com |
| Piper Sandler (Technology) | Both | $50M-$2B+ | Software, SaaS, internet, digital media, cybersecurity | pipersandler.com |
| Raymond James (Technology) | Both | $25M-$1B+ | Software, tech-enabled services, IT services, SaaS | raymondjames.com |
| Lincoln International (Technology) | Both | $50M-$1B+ | Software, tech-enabled services, IT services, digital economy | lincolninternational.com |
| Harris Williams (Technology) | Both | $50M-$2B+ | Software, tech-enabled services, IT, SaaS, digital media | harriswilliams.com |
How to verify a tech advisor's track record
Ask for a closed deal list with company names, deal sizes, and buyer types from the last 24 months. A credible LA tech advisor closes 8+ transactions per year in software or adjacent sectors.
Ask specifically which deals closed in your sub-sector. SaaS M&A advisors don't always know adtech buyers. Cybersecurity advisors don't always know enterprise software multiples.
Send your documents through Ellty's secure sharing when sharing your financials with advisor candidates. You'll see who actually reviews your materials before you sign an engagement letter.
Read the Los Angeles M&A advisors overview before narrowing to technology-specific firms.
Running a tech M&A process in LA?
Set up your data room before your first advisor meeting.
Start free 14-day trialWhat an M&A deal looks like: 6 stages
LA tech sell-side processes run four to seven months. AI and software-as-a-service deals can close faster when strategic buyers are competing.
| Stage | What happens | What you need ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Preparation | Valuation, advisor selection, CIM drafted | 3 years financials, ARR metrics, tech stack summary |
| Stage 2 | Advisor engagement | Engagement letter signed, buyer list built | Engagement letter, NDA template, product roadmap |
| Stage 3 | Marketing | Teaser and CIM distributed to buyer list | Ellty data room with staged buyer access by tier |
| Stage 4 | LOI | Buyers submit bids, advisor shortlists top three | Updated financials, management deck, cap table |
| Stage 5 | Due diligence | Buyer reviews code, contracts, IP, and financials | Full Ellty room: IP docs, customer contracts, HR data |
| Stage 6 | Close | Purchase agreement signed, funds transferred | Board approvals, reps and warranties, escrow setup |
11 Los Angeles technology M&A advisors in 2026
These firms are active in software, AI, cybersecurity, digital media, and tech-enabled services M&A in Los Angeles in 2026.
1. Houlihan Lokey (Technology Group)
Houlihan Lokey is headquartered in Century City, LA, and ranked #1 in technology M&A globally with nearly 150 finance professionals. They topped the GlobalData M&A adviser rankings in technology, media, and telecom in Q1 2026 with 19 deals. No other LA-based firm comes close to this deal volume in software and digital media.
Recent Deals: Ranked No. 1 M&A advisor globally for all transactions under $1B in 2024. Advised on tech, digital media, and software transactions across LA, nationally, and globally through 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Houlihan Lokey on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, AI, digital media, adtech, cybersecurity, tech-enabled services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$5B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (Century City headquarters, global network)
Website: hl.com
2. Solganick
Solganick is an LA-based boutique focused exclusively on software and technology services M&A. They've advised on over $20 billion in transactions since 2009 and publish the most detailed quarterly tech M&A market reports in the sector. Aaron Solganick was named an LA Business Journal Leader of Influence in M&A for 2026.
Recent Deals: Active in software, cybersecurity, and IT services M&A through 2025-2026. Q4 2025 covered 1,064 technology services deals. MSP M&A surged 20% in 2025 to 466 deals totaling $4.3B in disclosed value.
LinkedIn: Solganick on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, IT services, cybersecurity, MSP, AI, cloud, data analytics, healthcare IT
Deal Type: Sell-side
Deal Size: $10M-$500M
Location: Los Angeles, CA (headquarters, also Dallas)
Website: solganick.com
3. Imperial Capital
Imperial Capital is a full-service boutique investment bank founded in 1997 in Los Angeles, with 150+ professionals across 12 industry verticals. They cover technology, digital media, aerospace and defense tech, and software from their Century City office. Imperial Capital handles transactions from $25M to over $1B across strategic and financial buyers.
Recent Deals: Advised on 204 deals to date including technology, defense tech, and software transactions. Active in LA tech M&A advisory through 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Imperial Capital on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, digital media, software, defense tech, aerospace, business services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $25M-$1B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (Century City headquarters)
Website: imperialcapital.com
4. Union Square Advisors
Union Square Advisors is a technology investment bank with 198 completed transactions and a senior-led sell-side focus. They cover SaaS, enterprise tech, fintech, and internet from offices in San Francisco and New York, with active LA coverage. Their buyer relationships span the full range of strategic acquirers in software.
Recent Deals: Active in SaaS and enterprise tech M&A through 2026 with West Coast buyer relationships and 198 completed transactions to date.
LinkedIn: Union Square Advisors on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, enterprise tech, internet, fintech, digital media
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (Southern California coverage, SF and NYC offices)
Website: usadvisors.com
5. Jefferies (Technology Group)
Jefferies runs a large technology M&A practice with coverage of software, internet, and digital media at the $200M+ level. Their LA team covers digital media and entertainment technology deals that sit at the intersection of Hollywood and tech. Jefferies is the right call for LA tech companies with cross-border buyer pools or large-cap strategic targets.
Recent Deals: Active in technology and digital media M&A through 2025-2026 with 120+ dedicated technology and financial services bankers globally and LA coverage.
LinkedIn: Jefferies on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, internet, digital media, entertainment tech, cybersecurity
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $200M-$5B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (office, global network)
Website: jefferies.com
LA tech M&A data room
Share financials and IP docs with your LA advisor securely.
Start free 14-day trial6. William Blair (Technology Group)
William Blair's technology M&A team covers SaaS, enterprise software, and tech-enabled services with a research-integrated approach. Their LA coverage extends to West Coast software companies at growth stage through acquisition exit. William Blair closes 30+ technology transactions annually with a mix of PE-backed and founder-led companies.
Recent Deals: Active in SaaS and software M&A advisory through 2025-2026 with a dedicated technology group and West Coast coverage.
LinkedIn: William Blair on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, enterprise software, tech-enabled services, internet, digital services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast coverage, Chicago headquarters)
Website: williamblair.com
7. TD Cowen (Technology Group)
TD Cowen covers software, internet, digital media, and adtech with one of the most active technology M&A practices in the country by deal volume. Their LA team combines equity research and M&A advisory for West Coast founders. TD Cowen's adtech and digital media coverage makes them a natural fit for LA-specific technology businesses.
Recent Deals: Active in software, adtech, and digital media M&A advisory across the West Coast through 2025-2026 with dedicated LA coverage.
LinkedIn: TD Cowen on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, internet, digital media, adtech, SaaS, cybersecurity
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office, national network)
Website: tdcowen.com
8. Piper Sandler (Technology Group)
Piper Sandler runs one of the most active technology investment banking practices among mid-market banks. Their technology team covers software, SaaS, internet, and cybersecurity with research-informed advisory. Piper Sandler's LA team covers West Coast founders from growth stage through strategic exit.
Recent Deals: Active in software and SaaS M&A advisory across the West Coast through 2025-2026 with a dedicated technology investment banking team and LA coverage.
LinkedIn: Piper Sandler on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, SaaS, internet, digital media, cybersecurity, adtech
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office, national network)
Website: pipersandler.com
9. Raymond James (Technology Group)
Raymond James covers software, IT services, tech-enabled services, and SaaS with a sector-dedicated team. Their LA office serves mid-market technology founders at the $25M-$1B deal size range. Raymond James pairs equity research with M&A advisory to give LA founders full buyer coverage across both strategic and financial buyers.
Recent Deals: Active in software and technology M&A advisory across the West Coast through 2025-2026 with a dedicated LA team.
LinkedIn: Raymond James on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, IT services, tech-enabled services, SaaS, digital services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $25M-$1B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office, national network)
Website: raymondjames.com
10. Lincoln International (Technology)
Lincoln International's technology team covers software, IT services, and tech-enabled services with cross-border deal capability. Their LA office serves founder-led and PE-backed technology companies. Lincoln International's global buyer network gives LA founders access to strategic acquirers in Europe and Asia that most boutiques can't reach.
Recent Deals: Active in software and tech-enabled services M&A through 2025-2026 with West Coast coverage. Lincoln International acquired TCG Corporate Finance in late 2024, adding 150+ tech specialists globally.
LinkedIn: Lincoln International on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, IT services, tech-enabled services, digital economy, AI
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$1B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast coverage, Chicago headquarters)
Website: lincolninternational.com
11. Harris Williams (Technology)
Harris Williams closes 30+ tech and tech-enabled transactions annually with deep PE relationships. Their technology practice covers software, SaaS, IT services, and digital media with a strong mid-market focus. Harris Williams' annual deal volume gives real pricing data for LA tech founders at every stage.
Recent Deals: Active in software and technology M&A with PE-backed and founder-led transactions through 2025-2026. National coverage with West Coast buyer relationships.
LinkedIn: Harris Williams on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Software, tech-enabled services, SaaS, IT services, digital media
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast coverage, national network)
Website: harriswilliams.com
How LA tech advisors build buyer lists
The best LA tech advisors start with 80-120 potential buyers and narrow to 30-40 who receive your CIM. They split this into strategic acquirers and PE platforms running active tech consolidation programs.
Strategics in the LA market include entertainment companies acquiring tech capabilities, national software companies expanding West Coast teams, and global buyers targeting US market entry through acquisition.
Ask your advisor how many buyers on the list closed tech acquisitions in your category in the last 24 months. A list of familiar logos with no recent deal history won't produce competitive bids.
Use Ellty to track which buyers open your CIM and how long they spend on your financial projections. That data tells you who's serious before your advisor makes follow-up calls.
Read the M&A process guide to understand how a well-run sell-side process drives up final price through competitive tension.
What founders get wrong before an LA tech sale
Most LA tech founders go to market with incomplete financials or unorganized customer contract files. Buyers find the gaps in diligence and reprice the deal at the worst moment.
The second most common mistake: waiting to build your data room until after signing an LOI. A disorganized data room adds four to eight weeks to a diligence timeline - that extension costs negotiating leverage.
Don't underestimate retention metrics. LA tech buyers - especially PE buyers running platform strategies - check annual recurring revenue retention, net dollar retention, and churn cohorts before making a bid.
Read the sell-side due diligence guide before you go to market. Use Ellty's mergers and acquisitions page to understand what document organization buyers expect.
How to get a warm intro to an LA tech advisor
Most LA tech advisors prefer referrals from PE firms, attorneys, or founders they've previously represented. Cold outreach to partners rarely leads to a meeting.
Your startup attorney or M&A counsel usually has direct relationships with 3-5 advisory firms. Ask them who they've seen close deals in your specific sub-sector in the last 18 months.
If you don't have a referral source, attend ACG Los Angeles events. Advisors show up to meet founders in person. One conversation builds more credibility than ten cold emails.
Check the San Francisco technology M&A advisors guide if you're also considering Bay Area firms for your process.
How Ellty helps you close a technology M&A deal in Los Angeles
With your advisor shortlist ready, organize your documents before buyer outreach begins. LA tech buyers expect complete files from day one.
- 1.Build your data room and upload tech filesAdd financials, cap table, and IP docs before outreach.
- 2.Set link permissions per buyer and deal stageControl who sees your code docs and customer contracts.
- 3.Track document views to find serious buyersSee which buyers review your tech files in real time.
Common questions about Los Angeles technology M&A advisors
- Houlihan Lokey is headquartered in Century City and ranked No. 1 in tech M&A globally in Q1 2026 with 19 deals, per GlobalData.
- Expect 2-5% for deals under $100M and 1-3% for deals above $100M. Boutiques often charge higher retainers on smaller deals.
- Use a boutique like Solganick for deals under $100M. Use Houlihan Lokey or Jefferies for deals above $200M with cross-border buyers.
- Expect four to seven months. AI and SaaS deals with competitive buyer tension can close in three to five months.
- Set it up before your first advisor meeting. Load financials, cap table, and product documentation so you look organized from day one.
- Source code ownership, customer contracts, ARR retention data, IP assignments, key employee agreements are the areas most often flagged.
