Wisable has raised $5 million in seed funding as the M&A advisory firm looks to bring institutional-style deal execution to owners of small and midsize businesses.
The New York-based company is backed by the D. E. Shaw group and has been advising small business owners since 2024. Wisable combines experienced deal teams, technology-enabled execution, and a curated buyer network to support business owners through sale processes that have traditionally lacked many of the resources available in larger M&A transactions.
The company is targeting a large market for ownership transitions. Citing McKinsey, Wisable said approximately six million small and midsize businesses are expected to face an ownership transition by 2035. More than one million of those businesses could be viable sale candidates, representing as much as $5 trillion in enterprise value.
Wisable works with owners to position and market their businesses, identify and engage qualified buyers, and manage transactions through closing.
The firm also uses AI and automation to streamline financial analysis, buyer outreach, information management, and due diligence.
Wisable’s team brings more than 80 years of combined experience across approximately $300 million in transaction value. Its sector experience includes home services, automotive services, light manufacturing, and other industries.
The company focuses on small businesses generating at least $1 million in annual revenue and provides services including fast-tracked valuations and access to a curated buyer network.
CEO Bryan O’Connell previously co-founded and led Huckleberry, which was acquired by Paychex in 2023. He later served as general manager of a Paychex subsidiary and previously worked at McKinsey and Morgan Stanley.
The new capital is intended to support Wisable’s efforts to expand its technology-enabled M&A advisory model as more small business owners approach retirement, succession, or potential exits.
KEY QUOTES:
“I’ve sold businesses myself, and I know how consuming and unfamiliar the process can be when you’re also trying to run the company. At Wisable, we give owners an experienced team on their side, a rigorous process and broader buyer reach for what may be the most important financial decision of their lives.”
Bryan O’Connell, CEO Of Wisable
“We’ve spent several years evaluating ways to bring sophisticated resources to small and medium-sized businesses, a segment that has historically had less access to the capital, advice, and infrastructure available to larger companies. Wisable is a key part of that effort, bringing technology and institutional-quality M&A advisory to owners navigating a sale.”
Samantha Monge Kaser, Platform Lead And Vice President At The D. E. Shaw Group
