Tech groups - early stage

No doubt, the top tech groups (i.e. GS TMT, Q, MS Menlo) are pretty well known. However, I'm curious about which bank groups are most dominant in early stage tech M&A or IPOs

For example, I'm talking more about the Snowflakes and Snaps of the world when they were still new as opposed to dealing with more mature tech clients like Apple, Intel, etc. Or, in other words, which bank groups are most dominant working with top startups that engage in M&A and go public?

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I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking about (1) who works with early stage / early growth startups (i.e. Seed --> Series C) or (2) who works with these startups when they are closer to IPO or executing a large acquisition / sale?

  1. There isn't much reason for early stage startups to engage bankers. As they get towards later stages bankers may start trying to build relationships with them ahead of a big exit event, but it's just not a service early stage startups need. 
  2. The same banks you listed GS / MS / Qatalyst are often the ones leading transactions for "startups" of that stage and caliber. 
 

All the top tech BB groups have venture / earlier stage coverage strategies these days. And considering the current private company valuation environment, a fast-growing software company in an exciting area can command a 20x+ multiple on run-rate revenue. So pretty quickly a new company can be worth close to a billion dollars (more if strategic value to a big tech player). All more reason the same players that cover the big tech players are zoned in on covering the good "small" / newer players.

 

Early stage start-ups don’t engage bankers for their earlier rounds. It also does not make commercial sense for the banker since earlier rounds tend to be too small to generate sufficient fees for the bank. 

 

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