Wisable, an M&A advisory firm focused on small business owners, has raised $5 million in seed funding. The company is backed by the D. E. Shaw group and helps business owners navigate the process of selling their companies.
Founded in 2024, Wisable integrates experienced advisory teams, technology, and a network of qualified buyers to offer small businesses support typically available to larger companies during mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
The company plans to use technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation to simplify the business sale process. Its platform supports financial analysis, buyer outreach, information management and due diligence, while dedicated advisory teams help owners prepare their businesses for sale, identify potential buyers, and complete transactions.
“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.”
Wisable aims to address a major challenge facing small and medium-sized businesses: ownership transitions. According to McKinsey, six million small and midsize businesses are expected to face ownership transitions by 2035 including more than one million viable candidates for sale, representing up to $5 trillion in enterprise value.
Many small business owners do not have succession plans, reliable advice, or access to qualified buyers. Wisable seeks to address this gap by offering professional guidance and a structured process, helping owners achieve better outcomes when selling their businesses.
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.”
The company’s team brings more than 80 years of combined experience and has worked on transactions representing $300 million in total value. Its industry experience includes home services, automotive services, and light manufacturing.
Wisable is led by CEO Bryan O’Connell, a Harvard Business School graduate and entrepreneur who previously cofounded Huckleberry, which was acquired by Paychex in 2023. He later served as general manager of a Paychex subsidiary and previously worked at McKinsey and Morgan Stanley.
Backed by the D. E. Shaw group, Wisable focuses on businesses with at least $1 million in annual revenue. The firm provides valuation support, access to a curated buyer network, and guidance throughout the sale process, from preparation to closing.
