Clavana is proud to welcome Darr Smith - world-ranked US triathlete with eight professional wins, 19 podiums, and a recent top-10 finish at the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Series Weihai. Darr's decade of high-performance racing, with over 100 professional starts, has shaped a rare and "elite" blend of endurance, consistency, and competitive clarity perfectly aligned with Clavana’s approach to origination.

Clavana is proud to welcome Paul Schommer - US Olympian, World Cup biathlete, and trusted leader within US Biathlon - to our Origination Team. Known for his elite blend of endurance, precision, and composure under pressure, Paul now brings his competitive mindset and authentic, people-centred approach to private-markets origination as he prepares for Milano–Cortina 2026.

Clavana is proud to welcome Madigan Munro - World Championship mountain biking medallist, multi-time U23 National and Pan-American Champion, and Team USA athlete. One of the most versatile and disciplined riders in American cycling, Madigan now brings her precision, emotional intelligence, and high-performance mindset to private-markets origination, while continuing to compete internationally.

Clavana is proud to welcome Chris Del Bosco, three-time Olympian, X Games medallist, and Ski Cross World Champion, to its Origination Team. One of the most respected competitors in the sport, Chris now brings his precision, resilience, and high-performance mindset to private-markets origination while leading a resurgence of U.S. Ski Cross and targeting Milano–Cortina 2026.

Clavana is proud to welcome Kali Wilding, Team USA sprint kayaker and rising international competitor, to its Origination Team. Whilst still representing the U.S. on the world stage, Kali brings her elite performance mindset, curiosity, and human connection to private-markets origination at Clavana.

Clavana is thrilled to welcome Teal Cohen, Olympian and World Champion rower, to its Origination Team. Fresh off gold medals at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai and the Head of the Charles Regatta, Teal continues to train with Team USA whilst building her career in private-markets origination with Clavana.

Clavana, a next-generation M&A origination and deal sourcing firm, today announced its official launch.

Founded by seasoned dealmakers Clive Cooper and Lara Hughes-Francis, Clavana partners with private equity funds, portfolio companies, and acquisitive corporates to unlock vetted, off-market M&A opportunities worldwide.

Learn what buy-side M&A is, how private equity firms source deals, and why proactive origination creates proprietary opportunities before auctions.