Wisable, an M&A advisory firm serving small business owners and backed by the D.E. Shaw group, today announced $5 million in seed funding. Wisable has been advising small business owners since 2024, combining experienced deal teams, technology-enabled execution, and a curated buyer network to deliver advisory support typically reserved for larger M&A transactions.

According to McKinsey, six million small- and midsize-businesses are expected to face an ownership transition by 2035, including more than one million viable candidates for sale, representing up to $5 trillion in enterprise value. Yet many owners approach these transitions without a succession plan or access to trusted information, while a fragmented and underdeveloped market makes it difficult for them to reach qualified buyers. Together, these barriers can keep owners from achieving the exit they deserve.

Wisable addresses this gap through a new and modern approach to M&A advisory for the small-to-medium-sized business (SMB) market. Each client works with their own advisory team that helps position and market their business, identify and engage qualified buyers, and facilitate the transaction, while AI and automation streamline financial analysis, buyer outreach, information management, and due diligence.

Wisable’s team brings more than 80 years of combined experience across $300 million in total transaction value, with sector experience spanning home services, automotive services, light manufacturing, and more.

“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,” said Bryan O’Connell, CEO of Wisable. “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.”

O’Connell, a Harvard Business School graduate and serial entrepreneur, previously co-founded and served as CEO of Huckleberry (acquired by Paychex in 2023) before serving as general manager of a Paychex subsidiary. His earlier career includes roles at McKinsey and Morgan Stanley.

Samantha Monge Kaser, Platform Lead and Vice President at the D. E. Shaw group, said, “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. We’ve engaged with that segment in several ways, including investing in founder-owned businesses and building technology-enabled companies to support owners through growth and transition. Wisable is a key part of that effort, bringing technology and institutional-quality M&A advisory to owners navigating a sale.”

For more information about Wisable or to evaluate an exit strategy, visit www.wisable.com.

About Wisable

Wisable is an M&A advisory firm built for owners of small businesses with $1 million or more in annual revenue. Backed by the D. E. Shaw group, Wisable brings small business owners the rigor and resources traditionally associated with larger transactions, along with fast-tracked valuations and access to a curated network of serious buyers. The firm supports owners from deal preparation through close. For more information, visit www.wisable.com.

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