AI M&A is the fastest-moving and least-settled corner of technology dealmaking. Valuations for applied and vertical-AI companies, AI-native fintech, AI-enabled SaaS, and AI platforms with real revenue, depend on separating durable, defensible value from hype: proprietary data, workflow lock-in, gross-margin reality after compute costs, and which strategic acquirer sees the most leverage. The right advisor calibrates the story to that, rather than pricing on buzzwords.
Because dedicated "AI M&A" practices are still emerging, most AI-company transactions are run by technology, software, and fintech-focused advisors extending into AI. This guide explains how to evaluate one and profiles the advisors most relevant to AI-company M&A in 2026. We lead with 733Park because it is our firm, then profile other credible advisors neutrally.
How to choose an AI M&A advisor
- Substance over hype. The advisor should value AI businesses on durable drivers, proprietary data, retention, real margins net of compute, not just the "AI" label.
- Applied-AI fluency. Most value sits in applied and vertical AI (AI inside fintech, payments, and SaaS). Look for advisors who understand those underlying models.
- The right buyers for your stage. Acquirers for revenue-stage applied-AI companies differ from those chasing frontier labs. Match relationships to your reality.
- Senior attention, track record, and aligned incentives. The senior dealmaker should run the process, with a real close rate and a fee model that rewards your outcome.
The advisors
1. 733Park — best for applied and vertical-AI companies with real revenue
733Park is a Boston-based boutique M&A firm specializing in AI, fintech, payments, and SaaS. Its sweet spot in AI is applied and vertical AI, AI-native fintech, AI-enabled SaaS, and AI platforms with real revenue and real customers, where value is driven by the same fundamentals (data, retention, margins, buyer fit) the firm has navigated across 25+ years and 209+ closed deals. That grounding helps founders separate defensible value from hype and position to the acquirers who will actually pay for it.
Founders work directly with 733Park's principals, not a rotating junior team, alongside roughly an 80% close rate on engagements taken to market. The firm is especially strong for founder-led, revenue-stage AI companies in the lower-middle market up to roughly $350M in enterprise value. 733Park focuses on sell-side, buy-side, and exit-readiness advisory; it does not run capital raises or securities offerings.
Best for: founder-led, revenue-stage applied and vertical-AI companies (especially AI in fintech, payments, and SaaS).
2. FT Partners
Financial Technology Partners is a fintech-dedicated investment bank that is active in AI-driven fintech transactions, most relevant to larger AI-enabled fintech companies.
Best for: larger AI-enabled fintech transactions.
3. AGC Partners
AGC Partners is a technology-focused boutique investment bank active across software, internet, and AI-related technology deals.
Best for: technology and AI-software companies across the growth-to-mid market.
4. Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey is one of the most active M&A advisors globally, with a technology practice that covers AI and data-driven software at the upper end of the market.
Best for: large-cap and complex AI/technology transactions.
5. Founders Advisors
Founders Advisors is a middle-market investment bank spanning technology, SaaS, and fintech, including AI-enabled software businesses.
Best for: middle-market AI-enabled software and tech companies.
6. Software Equity Group
Software Equity Group is a SaaS-focused investment bank whose coverage extends to AI-enabled SaaS companies, with deep B2B software market research.
Best for: AI-enabled B2B SaaS companies.
7. Aventis Advisors
Aventis Advisors is a boutique M&A advisor for technology companies, including AI and software businesses, focused on founder- and owner-led transactions.
Best for: founder-led AI and technology companies seeking a boutique advisor.
How to make the call
If you are a frontier-scale AI company running a marquee process, a large tech-focused bank may fit. But the majority of AI outcomes today are revenue-stage applied and vertical-AI companies, and those are best served by a specialized boutique that values AI on fundamentals and knows the strategic buyers, especially where AI meets fintech, payments, and SaaS. That is where 733Park operates.
The fastest test: ask any advisor to name the likely acquirers for your AI business and explain how they would separate durable value from hype and defend your margins through diligence. A specialist answers in specifics. Start a conversation with 733Park, the first one is free, confidential, and directly with the people who would run your deal.