13 M&A advisors active in San Diego deals in 2026. Covers technology, life sciences, healthcare, and cross-sector businesses with firm profiles and recent deals.
San Diego runs one of the most active mid-market M&A scenes in the West. Life sciences, defense tech, and consumer businesses all transact here.
The city draws both PE sponsors and strategic acquirers. Novartis alone spent $13.7B on San Diego biotech targets in 2025 and 2026.
Buyers check customer concentration, IP ownership, and recurring revenue first. Clean books and organized records cut weeks off diligence.
Set up a virtual data room before your first advisor call. Buyers want organized financials from day one.
| Firm | Deal Type | Deal Size | Sector Focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective Investment Banking | Objective Investment Banking | Both | $5M - $300M | Technology, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Business Services | objectiveinvestmentbank.com |
| RA Capital Advisors | RA Capital Advisors | Both | $5M - $100M | Technology, Healthcare, Business Services | raca.com |
| Persient | Persient | Both | $10M - $200M | Technology, Manufacturing, Business Services | persient.com |
| Shoreline Partners | Shoreline Partners | Both | $5M - $250M | Manufacturing, Consumer, Healthcare, Technology | shoreline.com |
| LR Tullius | LR Tullius | Both | $10M - $300M | Technology, Business Services, Consumer | lrtullius.com |
| BroadOak Capital Partners | BroadOak Capital Partners | Both | $20M - $500M | Life Sciences, Biopharma Services, Diagnostics | broadoakcap.com |
| Houlihan Lokey | Houlihan Lokey | Both | $50M - $5B | Technology, Healthcare, PE-backed, Multi-sector | hl.com |
| Lincoln International | Lincoln International | Both | $50M - $2B | Technology, PE-backed, Multi-sector | lincolninternational.com |
| Capstone Partners | Capstone Partners | Both | $10M - $500M | Technology, Healthcare, Business Services | capstonepartners.com |
| Stout | Stout | Both | $20M - $500M | Technology, Healthcare, Business Services | stout.com |
| Generational Group | Generational Group | Sell-side | $5M - $100M | Business Services, Manufacturing, Technology | generational.com |
| SeaRidge Advisory | SeaRidge Advisory | Both | $5M - $150M | Technology, Business Services, Consumer | searidgeadvisory.com |
| Harris Williams | Harris Williams | Both | $50M - $2B | Technology, Healthcare, PE-backed | harriswilliams.com |
How to verify an advisor's track record
Ask for a closed deal list in your sector. A life sciences boutique doesn't reach the same buyers as a tech-focused generalist.
Advisors who know San Diego name Qualcomm, Illumina, and regional PE funds. Broad California references won't hold on a reference call.
Check whether they've run competitive processes with both strategic and PE buyers. San Diego draws both types across tech and healthcare.
Use Ellty to share financials with shortlisted advisors under NDA. You'll see who opens your files before your first call. Browse the Austin M&A advisors guide for Southwest comparison. Read the sell-side due diligence guide to prep before outreach.
Running a San Diego M&A deal?
Share financials with buyers under NDA. Track who opens them.
Start free 14-day trialHow a San Diego deal runs
San Diego M&A deals typically close in four to six months. Life sciences and defense tech deals with regulatory review can add eight to twelve weeks.
| Stage | What happens | What you need ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Preparation | Stage 1: Preparation | Run QoE, build CIM, shortlist advisors by sector | Three years P&L, customer list, IP schedule |
| Stage 2: Advisor engagement | Stage 2: Advisor engagement | Sign engagement letter, align on buyer list | Cap table, key contracts, IP ownership docs |
| Stage 3: Marketing | Stage 3: Marketing | CIM sent to buyers, NDAs signed, meetings set | Ellty data room live with CIM and financials |
| Stage 4: LOI | Stage 4: LOI | Buyers submit bids, LOIs negotiated, exclusivity signed | Clean revenue data, no open IP disputes |
| Stage 5: Due diligence | Stage 5: Due diligence | Buyer reviews legal, financial, and IP records | Full Ellty data room: contracts, IP, financials, permits |
| Stage 6: Close | Stage 6: Close | Purchase agreement signed, funds transfer | Reps and warranties signed, transition plans ready |
13 M&A advisors active in San Diego
These 13 firms advise on M&A in San Diego. Coverage spans technology, life sciences, healthcare, defense tech, and cross-sector businesses.
1. Objective Investment Banking & Valuation
A San Diego boutique named Best Investment Bank & Valuation Firm 2025 USA.
Recent Deals: Named Best Investment Bank & Valuation Firm 2025 USA. Has completed 500+ M&A engagements and 1,000+ valuations. Active in technology, healthcare, and business services M&A in San Diego through 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Objective Investment Banking LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare tech, life sciences services, business services, manufacturing
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $5M - $300M
Location: San Diego, CA
Website: objectiveinvestmentbank.com
2. RA Capital Advisors
A San Diego boutique founded in 1988 with a small, focused client base.
Recent Deals: Active in M&A and financing transactions in San Diego through 2025-2026. Keeps its client base deliberately small for senior attention. Works with technology, healthcare, and business services companies.
LinkedIn: RA Capital Advisors LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, business services, consumer
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $5M - $100M
Location: San Diego, CA
Website: raca.com
3. Persient
A San Diego and Irvine boutique for mature, profitable businesses seeking exits.
Recent Deals: Active in M&A for clients with $10M-$200M in revenue through 2025-2026. Serves manufacturing, technology, and business services companies nationally. Specializes in creative strategies for founder-owned businesses.
LinkedIn: Persient LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, manufacturing, business services, distribution
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M - $200M
Location: San Diego, CA and Irvine, CA
Website: persient.com
4. Shoreline Partners
A San Diego M&A firm active since 1992 with a Western US focus.
Recent Deals: Facilitated the acquisition of Broco Rankin by Salt Creek Capital in January 2023. Active in manufacturing, consumer, and cross-sector M&A through 2025-2026. Works with businesses from $5M to $250M in revenue.
LinkedIn: Shoreline Partners LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Manufacturing, consumer products, healthcare, aerospace and defense, technology
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $5M - $250M
Location: San Diego, CA
Website: shoreline.com
5. LR Tullius
A San Diego boutique with 200+ closed transactions and $4B+ in aggregate deal value.
Recent Deals: Facilitated the acquisition of Greenix by Gridiron Capital on July 28, 2025. Has facilitated 32 deals including 28 M&A transactions through 2026. Active in technology and business services M&A with senior-led coverage.
LinkedIn: LR Tullius LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, business services, consumer, healthcare
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M - $300M
Location: San Diego, CA
Website: lrtullius.com
Selling a San Diego business?
Set up your data room before your advisor call. Track who opens it.
Start free 14-day trial6. BroadOak Capital Partners
A life sciences boutique active in biopharma services and diagnostics M&A.
Recent Deals: Added $200M+ of permanent capital in October 2025. Launched BroadOak Fund VI with its first investment in Azure Biosystems. Has facilitated 33 deals including 30 M&A transactions through 2025.
LinkedIn: BroadOak Capital Partners LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Life sciences, biopharma services, diagnostics, research tools
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $20M - $500M
Location: San Diego, CA / Washington, DC / San Francisco, CA
Website: broadoakcap.com
7. Houlihan Lokey
The #1 ranked global M&A advisor by deal count in 2025 with a San Diego presence.
Recent Deals: Ranked #1 globally for all M&A by LSEG in 2025 with 318 deals closed. Active in technology, healthcare, and PE-backed M&A nationally and in San Diego. Covers biotech, tech, and multi-sector businesses.
LinkedIn: Houlihan Lokey LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, PE-backed, multi-sector
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M - $5B
Location: National (serves San Diego market)
Website: hl.com
8. Lincoln International
A global mid-market bank that filed for US IPO in 2026 with $214M net income in 2025.
Recent Deals: Filed for US IPO in April 2026 with $214.1M net income in 2025, up 31%. Acquired TCG Corporate Finance in late 2024, adding 150+ specialists globally. Active in technology and PE-backed M&A through 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Lincoln International LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, PE-backed, multi-sector, business services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M - $2B
Location: National (serves San Diego market)
Website: lincolninternational.com
9. Capstone Partners
A national middle-market bank with a technology and healthcare advisory team.
Recent Deals: Published sector M&A reports in 2025-2026 covering technology and healthcare. Active in technology, healthcare, and business services M&A nationally. Covers SaaS, medtech, and specialty healthcare businesses.
LinkedIn: Capstone Partners LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, business services, industrials
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M - $500M
Location: National (serves San Diego market)
Website: capstonepartners.com
10. Stout
A national advisory firm that opened its San Diego office in 2022.
Recent Deals: Expanded into San Diego in 2022 with a dedicated M&A and valuation team. Active in technology, healthcare, and business services M&A nationally through 2025-2026. Serves PE-backed and founder-owned businesses in the middle market.
LinkedIn: Stout LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, business services, PE-backed
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $20M - $500M
Location: San Diego, CA (National)
Website: stout.com
11. Generational Group
A sell-side advisory firm that opened a San Diego office in April 2024.
Recent Deals: Opened San Diego office in April 2024 to serve the growing lower middle market. Active in business services, manufacturing, and technology M&A nationally through 2025-2026. Focuses on founder-owned businesses in the $5M-$100M range.
LinkedIn: Generational Group LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Business services, manufacturing, technology, consumer
Deal Type: Sell-side
Deal Size: $5M - $100M
Location: San Diego, CA (National HQ: Dallas, TX)
Website: generational.com
12. SeaRidge Advisory
A San Diego boutique focused on founder-owned tech and business services businesses.
Recent Deals: Active in technology and business services M&A in San Diego through 2025-2026. Advises founder-owned businesses on sell-side and buy-side transactions. Covers SaaS, digital services, and specialty consumer businesses.
LinkedIn: SeaRidge Advisory LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, business services, consumer, digital services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $5M - $150M
Location: San Diego, CA
Website: searidgeadvisory.com
13. Harris Williams
A national mid-market bank with technology and healthcare coverage teams.
Recent Deals: Active in PE-backed technology and healthcare M&A nationally through 2025-2026. Published sector outlooks covering SaaS, medtech, and specialty services in 2026. Covers growth-company tech and PE-backed healthcare businesses.
LinkedIn: Harris Williams LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, PE-backed, business services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M - $2B
Location: National (serves San Diego market)
Website: harriswilliams.com
San Diego's buyer landscape in 2026
San Diego draws strategic acquirers and PE sponsors across tech and life sciences. Qualcomm, Illumina, and large pharma players all acquire from here.
Novartis, Merck, and AbbVie drove $26.2B in San Diego biotech M&A over twelve months. That pace isn't typical for a single market.
PE funds added to the mix in mid-market tech and business services. San Diego's defense tech sector drew strategic and PE interest in 2025.
Use Ellty to share financials with PE and strategic buyers separately. Set permissions so each party sees only what their NDA covers. Read the M&A process guide to understand deal mechanics. See the due diligence page to prepare your records early.
What buyers check in San Diego diligence
IP ownership is the first thing buyers check in any San Diego tech or life sciences deal. Unclear patent assignments or open licensing issues stop deals fast.
Customer concentration comes next. Buyers reprice if your top three customers exceed 50% of revenue.
Revenue quality and churn rates surface in week two for SaaS and tech businesses. Buyers want clean ARR schedules organized by customer tier.
Use Ellty to share IP schedules, customer contracts, and financial records in one data room. Trackable links show which buyers reviewed your key files before LOI. Read the sell-side due diligence guide to prep early. See the private equity page to understand how PE buyers approach diligence.
San Diego biotech M&A outlook for 2026
San Diego biotech deal volume ran far above historical norms through 2025. Large pharma spent aggressively on RNA and rare disease targets based here.
Novartis's $13.7B in acquisitions set a record for a single acquirer in this market. That level of strategic demand keeps seller expectations high.
Smaller biotech and biopharma services companies continue to attract PE attention in 2026. BroadOak's new fund targets exactly this sub-segment.
Use Ellty to share trial data, IP filings, and financial records with buyer teams. Analytics show you how long each buyer's team spent on your key documents. See the Nashville M&A advisors guide for cross-market context. Read the mergers and acquisitions page for deal structure basics.
How Ellty helps you close an M&A deal in San Diego
You've picked your San Diego advisor. Set up your data room next. Get buyers reviewing files fast.
- 1.Upload contracts, IP docs, and financial recordsOrganize by type. San Diego buyers check IP and contracts first.
- 2.Set access by buyer type and NDA statusPE buyers and strategic acquirers need different document sets.
- 3.Track who reviews your key filesSee which buyers open your IP schedule and how long they spend.
Common questions about San Diego M&A advisors
- Life sciences and technology lead deal volume. Defense tech and healthcare services also drew significant buyer interest in 2025 and 2026.
- Local boutiques like Objective, RA Capital, and Shoreline know regional buyers. National banks like Houlihan Lokey and Harris Williams reach more PE platforms.
- Most deals close in four to six months. Life sciences and defense tech deals with regulatory review can add eight to twelve weeks.
- IP ownership and customer concentration come first. Revenue quality and churn rates surface in week two for SaaS businesses.
- Before your first advisor call. Buyers want organized IP records, contracts, and financials from day one of diligence.
- RA Capital, Persient, Shoreline Partners, SeaRidge Advisory, and Generational Group all work in the lower middle market.
