# Drake Star

> Drake Star is a partner-led global investment bank focused entirely on technology. From nine offices, its bankers advise founders, corporates, and investors on acquisitions, company sales, recapitalizations, private placements, and growth financing across software, fintech, digital media, HR tech, digital services, industrial technology, consumer technology, and mobility and sustainability. The firm positions deep sector research and cross-border execution as its alternative to both sprawling universal banks and narrowly local boutiques.

- **Founded:** 2004
- **Headquarters:** New York, United States
- **Founders:** Ralf Philipp Hofmann (Managing Partner and Co-Founder), Julian Ostertag (Managing Partner and Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** 100+ senior professionals across nine offices; LinkedIn lists 51-200 employees.
- **Products:** Sell-side M&A, Buy-side M&A, Private placements and growth financing, Strategic advisory, Carve-outs and joint ventures
- **Notable:** Completed more than 500 transactions representing over $22 billion in disclosed deal volume., Built a team of more than 100 senior professionals across nine offices in the United States, Europe, and Dubai., Named Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year in the 2026 M&A Advisor International M&A Awards.

## Products & services

- **Sell-side M&A** — Prepares companies or business units for sale, identifies likely strategic and financial buyers, runs outreach, supports diligence, and negotiates transaction terms.
- **Buy-side M&A** — Helps corporate and financial buyers define acquisition strategy, identify and approach targets, value businesses, conduct diligence, and execute acquisitions.
- **Private placements and growth financing** — Advises growth companies on equity and debt capital raising, including investor positioning, process management, and financing terms.
- **Strategic advisory** — Provides market analysis, valuation, transaction planning, recapitalization, and corporate-finance advice to founders, boards, and corporations.
- **Carve-outs and joint ventures** — Structures and executes divestitures of corporate business units and collaborative ventures between strategic parties.
- **Corporate venture advisory** — Helps corporate venture teams source, assess, and diligence emerging technology companies aligned with strategic goals.
- **Sector research** — Publishes recurring market reports covering gaming, sports tech, HR tech, fintech, software, digital services, industrial technology, and related markets.

## Achievements

- Completed more than 500 transactions representing over $22 billion in disclosed deal volume.
- Built a team of more than 100 senior professionals across nine offices in the United States, Europe, and Dubai.
- Named Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year in the 2026 M&A Advisor International M&A Awards.
- Named Boutique TMT Investment Bank of the Year at the 2025 USA and Global M&A Atlas Awards.
- Earned more than 60 industry awards, including over 45 Deal of the Year honors, according to the firm.
- Advised Hipster Whale on its announced sale to Atari, Vinli on its sale to SOFICO, and Engagedly on its merger with Energage in 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Advised Engagedly on its completed merger with workplace-culture platform Energage.
- **2026-07** — Published its Q2 2026 Global Gaming Report, reporting a 12-month high in gaming investment.
- **2026-06** — Won Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year at The M&A Advisor's 17th Annual International M&A Awards.
- **2026-06** — Advised mobile-game studio Hipster Whale on its announced sale to Atari.
- **2026-06** — Advised automotive AI and connected-vehicle data company Vinli on its sale to SOFICO.
- **2026-05** — Advised Advanced Track and Trace on its sale to Sansara.
- **2026-02** — Advised AI document-intelligence and payments company Gini on its sale to Banyan Software.

## Links

- Website: https://www.drakestar.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drake-star
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DrakeStar_
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Drake-Star-Partners-1044299945684985/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/drake-star
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-15