Finance for Growth + Exit
If you're a founder thinking about raising, selling, or simply understanding what your business is worth, knowing who to call in Greater Bristol is a good place to start. The region has an impressive concentration of corporate finance and M&A expertise - from boutique advisors who offer senior attention on smaller deals, to national firms with the firepower for more complex situations.
This is not an exhaustive list, and it is not a recommendation of one firm over another. It is a starting point: a map of the people and organisations in and around Bristol who can help you think through your options, whatever stage you are at.
This list was informed by suggestions from founders who’ve been there and done it.
M&A and Corporate Finance Advisors
ICON Corporate Finance
Contact: Nicky Cotter
A Bristol-founded, tech-focused M&A and fundraising firm. Founded by CEO Alan Bristow in 1999, it has offices in London and San Francisco and has closed over 250 deals, with sector specialisms including FinTech, Cyber, AI, HealthTech, Digital Media, Enterprise Software and Managed Services. Best for tech founders looking to sell or raise.
https://www.iconcorpfin.com/
Shaw & Co
Contact: Rob Starr, Partner
A Bristol-headquartered advisory firm that helps SME owners buy, sell or fund the growth of a business. Founded in 2011, it has offices in Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester, and is aiming to become a leading player in the lower mid-market (deal sizes £10 million to £100 million). Past deals include the sales of Pukka Herbs to Unilever, GoProposal to Sage and Vouchercloud to Groupon. Rob was previously head of M&A, having built his career at GKN, Care UK, PwC and UHY Hacker Young, and is now a partner and co-owner.
https://www.shawcorporatefinance.com/
Unify Corporate Finance
Contact: Rhys Jennings, Director
An independent, specialist M&A boutique based on Queen Square, covering company sales, acquisitions, MBOs, raising private equity and debt, and exit readiness. It was set up in 2023 by Andrew Hodgson, former Senior Partner for KPMG in Bristol. Rhys has been active in Bristol's corporate finance scene for over a decade, starting at EY and spending six years at RSM before joining Unify in September 2024. A lovely "small team, senior attention" option.
https://www.unifycf.com/
Momentum Corporate Finance
Contact: Rich Double
A Bristol boutique founded in 2005, which has advised on over 100 transactions with an aggregate value above £3 billion, focused on sales, management buyouts and acquisitions typically valued between £10 million and £200 million. Rich joined in 2017 after three years in Deloitte's Assurance team.
https://momentumcf.com/
FRP Advisory
Contact: Mark Naughton, Partner
A national business advisory firm whose corporate finance offering spans M&A, strategic advisory and valuations, financial due diligence, capital raising and partial exits, alongside debt advisory and restructuring. Mark leads Corporate Finance from the Bristol office across the South West and Wales, having previously led Grant Thornton's Corporate Finance team in the region. Good for larger or more complex situations, including businesses under pressure.
https://www.frpadvisory.com/
Growth, investment readiness and alternative funding
BGF (Business Growth Fund)
Contact: Alex Garfitt, Georgie Stratton, Edwin Davies,
One of the UK's most active growth investors, BGF has a Bristol office and a long track record of backing ambitious founders and management teams across the South West. Founded by five major banks and now operating independently, BGF has invested over £4.7bn in more than 600 businesses across the UK since launch, with a £3bn commitment announced for the next five years - including £500m earmarked for early-stage deep tech and life sciences. BGF takes a minority equity stake and does not seek control, making it a strong option for founders who want meaningful capital and board-level support without giving up the keys. Typical deal sizes range from £2m upward, and the Bristol team covers the wider South West region.
https://www.bgf.co.uk/
Laminar Growth Partners
Contact: Dan Tapson, Founding Partner
A small team of senior operators, former investors and deal-makers working with founders, CEOs and shareholders of £3m to £150m revenue businesses. They offer fractional and non-exec support plus help getting investor- or exit-ready, sitting nicely between "advisor" and "hands-on partner".
https://www.laminargrowth.com/
VenturePath
Contact: Ian Merricks
The UK's Scaleup Investment Platform, connecting tech scaleups with VCs, founders and experts to improve investor readiness. Ian launched it in 2023 to connect £7bn of Series A-B VCs with scaleups, and it focuses on companies typically between £1 and 5+ million revenue. Best for venture-track tech businesses rather than traditional M&A.
https://www.joinventurepath.com/
Alternative Business Funding
A free online matching platform (registered in Bristol) for SME loans, asset finance and cash flow finance, offering over 140 funding choices from £500 to £50 million and approved by HM Treasury and the British Business Bank. It is an independent commercial brokerage, not a lender, and earns commission from the finance provider, so it is for debt and asset finance rather than advice.
Alternative Business Funding