Insights
Clavana Launches to Redefine M&A Deal Origination
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.
Clavana Launches to Redefine M&A Origination
London / New York - 22 September 2025 - Clavana, a next-generation M&A origination and deal sourcing firm, today announced its official launch.
Founded by Clive Cooper and Lara Hughes-Francis, Clavana partners with private equity funds and acquisitive corporates to unlock vetted, off-market opportunities worldwide.
Both previously senior leaders at big data and AI-powered Finquest, Cooper (former Head of Global Private Equity and CRO) and Hughes-Francis (Director, Private Equity, UK & Europe) spun out a top-performing origination team, combining data science expertise with senior outreach specialists. They have since expanded with senior hires from leading M&A advisory firms.
A Distinctive Model for Modern Dealmakers
Clavana was built on a simple belief: people power deals, not spreadsheets. The firm represents a new breed of M&A origination: modern, human, and fiercely effective.
Clavana combines proprietary research and in-house data science with senior origination expertise, delivering a rigorously executed, human approach that provides full-spectrum coverage and qualified introductions aligned directly to clients’ investment theses.
The firm provides:
Deep market coverage: Rigorous market mapping that reveals fragmented universes, uncovers hidden long-tail opportunities, and delivers proprietary access ahead of competitive auctions.
Qualified introductions: Direct access to business owners genuinely open to real conversations.
Proprietary pipelines: Deal flow built beyond recycled databases and mass outreach.
Transparent progress : Weekly visibility on funnel movement and measurable outcomes.
An energising client experience: Sharp, responsive, and focused on results.
Unlike traditional models, Clavana’s approach is systematic yet human. Every introduction is intentional, grounded in rigorous research, and every outreach is purposeful, contextual, and founder-centric - geared towards understanding what truly matters to both buyers and sellers, and delivering the best outcomes for both.
Global Reach, Human Approach
Operating globally with a senior, lean, and agile team across the UK, North America, and APAC, Clavana accelerates M&A strategies without the inefficiencies of legacy models.
The M&A origination industry has long been defined by junior teams, generic databases, mass outreach, opacity, and noise. In a world where firms lean heavily on AI and quantity over quality, the human-centred approach has been lost.
“We built Clavana to change that. With meticulous attention to detail, precision research, transparency, and a culture that puts people at the heart of dealmaking,” commented Co-Founders Clive Cooper and Lara Hughes-Francis.
“Experience sets us apart. We’ve lived the serious side of banking, consulting, and investment advisory, and we know what moves the needle because we’ve sat on boards, run companies, and negotiated deals ourselves. Every introduction we make is intentional - built on rigorous research and delivered through trusted senior conversations, not mass outreach.”
About Clavana
Clavana is a next-generation M&A origination firm partnering with private equity funds, portfolio companies, and acquisitive corporates around the world. Clavana delivers proprietary deal origination through extensive market mapping, qualified introductions, and transparent processes that cut through the noise and create clarity and momentum for today’s dealmakers. Clavana is headquartered in the US, with a global, remote-first team.
For more information:
Visit www.clavana.com
Follow Clavana on LinkedIn
Contact info@clavana.com.