Ian Faler

Alliance of M&A Advisors

Executive Board Member

eAcquisition.com

We are a leading acquisition service working with our exclusive partners to build
out a portfolio of successful businesses.
Spearheaded strategic partnerships to identify and acquire high-potential businesses, resulting in a 20% portfolio growth within the first year.
Led the development and implementation of a comprehensive due diligence process that reduced acquisition risks by 30%.
Initiated and nurtured relationships with key industry leaders, enhancing our market presence and facilitating smoother acquisition negotiations.
Oversaw the integration of acquired companies, ensuring a seamless transition, and maintaining a 95% retention rate of key personnel.
Developed a proprietary evaluation model to assess potential acquisition targets, improving investment efficiency by 25%.

Founder

Baker Group Merger and Acquisition Consultants, Inc. 

Drove the strategic direction of mergers and acquisitions, leading to significant growth in market presence and profitability through effective management of multiple locations and business units.
Championed business development efforts, enhancing P&L outcomes by empowering teams, fostering a culture of individual accountability, and aligning with overarching company objectives.
Specialized in mid-market focused private equity consulting, mastering target identification through rigorous diagnostics and benchmarks to prioritize acquisition opportunities effectively.
Crafted and executed M&A strategies tailored to each client's mission and objectives, significantly enhancing client satisfaction and deal success rates. Developed compelling equity stories and exit strategies,

Senior Vice President

Mergers and Acquisitions. Private equity consultant mid market focused

Mergers and Acquisitions Consultant

Red Dot Equity

**Absorbed by eAcquisition**
Mergers and Acquisitions.  Capital, Investor,  Private Equity Consultant
Faler Consultants, US Commodity

Managing Partner

E & R Industrial

• Metalworking Specialist with emphasis on cutting tools using Computer Numerical Control machinery
• Extensive knowledge of machine functions, metal properties, and mathematics to support metalworking projects
• Position solutions as a strategic advantage for key executives
• Articulate business drivers, balance sheets, and total cost of ownership concepts with executives and decision makers
• Establish and expand relationships with key executives and decision makers within each customer organization in the territory
• Strong process discipline, align planning objectives with a pipeline development process to grow and develop territory revenue
• Develop strategic plans and accurate forecasts for territory and accounts

Metalworking Consultant

Thomson Reuters

•Business and software consultant for CPA Firms
•Consults CPA firms on their business and how to find lack of productivity, more efficiency, profits and higher quality clients
•Applies knowledge of business and its constituent workflows to conceive and position value-added solutions to promote sales and revenue growth. 
•Strategically develops and executes a growth-centric account plan and own overall strategy for growth and revenue as appropriate. 
•Responsible for forecasting, keeps management in touch with accounts in a timely fashion, gathers intelligence on competitor activity, and gives feedback to other internal stakeholders. 
•Establishes strong, long-term customer relationships and cultivate new business opportunities. 
•Tracks customer activity in internal systems in order to execute on account strategy and identify additional opportunities. 
•Advances the sale, application and evolution of products within accounts.

CPA Consultant

Blue Star Alloys

•International trader of tool steel and tungsten carbide
•Develop sales and purchase negotiation strategies.
•Skillfully uses leveraged sourcing concept to generate new sourcing opportunities.
•Identifies and works with diverse suppliers
•Evaluates current and potential suppliers
•Negotiates with suppliers to meet quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

National Sales and Purchasing Manager (Consultant/Trader)

MSC Industrial Supply

Increased portfolio from $1,200,000 to over $4,000,000 while increasing margin over 4% in under 3 years with MSC Industrial Supply

•Grew sales to achieve department and corporate sales goals by developing existing accounts and penetration of newly assigned customers
•Identifies opportunities and makes product recommendations for customer-specific operational and technical needs

Territory Sales Representative

Highland Banc

*Start Up Company

•Performed internal office management functions with emphasis on computer systems management
•Developed strategic plans for growth and increased customer satisfaction

Operations

With over 16 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions and management, I am the Founder of eAcquisition.com, a leading acquisition service that works with our exclusive partners to build out a portfolio of successful businesses. I am also an Executive Board Member at Alliance of M&A Advisors, a global network of professionals dedicated to advancing the M&A industry.

As a M&A expert, I apply my skills and knowledge to identify, evaluate, and negotiate potential deals for our clients and partners. I leverage my network and relationships to generate new business opportunities and provide strategic guidance and support throughout the acquisition process. I have a proven track record of increasing attractiveness for investors and valuation by communicating compelling equity stories and exit values. My mission is to create value and growth for our clients and partners by finding and acquiring the best-fit businesses in the mid-market segment.

We are a leading acquisition service working with our exclusive partners to build out a portfolio of successful businesses.

Finalis

Finalis® is the leading platform enabling securities brokerages to operate legally and compliantly. The firm delivers a regulatory affiliation and compliance back-office solution that supports a wide range of dealmaking including: M&A, capital raising, private placements, direct participation programs, fintech marketplaces, and alternative investment sponsors. 

At the same time, Finalis® provides additional leverage to securities brokers with the Finalis Hub, which delivers a hassle-free deal management solution and the Finalis Marketplace™, which connects brokers with one another to gain insights and explore collaborations. 

Launched in 2020 and growing rapidly, the SF- and NYC-based firm is on a mission to power dealmakers by building the world’s indispensable dealmaking platform. For more information, please visit http://www.finalis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Founder & CEO

WIN - World Identity Network 

The World Identity Network catalyzes progress towards universal identity and robust, secure digital identity systems utilizing blockchain technologies.

Chief Partnership Officer

Hult International Business School

I teach two classes in the Undergraduate Program:
• American Corporate & Business Law
• Doing Global Business: A Silicon Valley Perspective

Professor of Law & Business

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

•  Represented private equity funds, venture capital funds and portfolio companies in a wide range of matters, including general corporate counseling, compliance, mergers & acquisitions, growth equity investments, joint ventures and divestitures. Clients included TA Associates, Francisco Partners, Silver Lake, Olympus Partners, Huntsman Gay Global Capital and Gryphon Investors. 
•  Managed and closed transactions across a range of company sizes, ranging from early stage worth several million dollars to late stage worth over $1 billion.
•  Consulted on legal and commercial challenges including venture capital decisions, growth equity strategy, corporate governance and business operations.
•  Seconded to Chobani in 2016 to support legal, public policy and philanthropic initiatives and to form multiple strategic partnerships to enhance Chobani's brand.  Tripled Chobani's alliance of companies to support refugees to over 30, including Airbnb, Cisco, IBM, LinkedIn, Salesforce and UPS. 
•  Initiated pro bono representation of the Tent Foundation (New York City), National Immigration Forum (Washington DC) and Human Rights Watch (New York City) and launched multiple unprecedented firm-wide pro bono initiatives involving over 60 associates and summer associates, 18 partners and 12 legal assistants valued at over $1 million donated in billable hours.

In 2021, 16 Kirkland & Ellis share partners joined together to make a sizable investment into Finalis.

Associate

Steptoe & Johnson LLP

• Researched and wrote legal briefs and newsletters for the Litigation, Worldwide Arbitration, Homeland Security and Government Affairs & Public Policy practice areas

Summer Associate

Clifford Chance LLP

• Conducted pro bono legal research, drafted legal briefs and managed workflow for the European Roma Rights Centre, One Laptop Per Child and the DAART Campaign (a UK deaf community advocacy organization)

Legal Extern

US Department of Homeland Security

• Conducted legal and policy research to advance Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties strategic goals 
• Drafted legal memoranda on a range of topical civil rights, immigration law and related policy issues

Law Clerk

30 Summit

• Organized volunteer and donor driven conference hosting 30 young American leaders
• Coordinated effort with sponsors including the Illinois Institute of Technology, Notre Dame University and FORA.tv

Co-Founder

Pepper Financial Services Group (f/k/a Oakwood Group)

•  Business development, investor relations, economic and financial analysis and market research for a €300m private equity and venture capital fund backed by Merrill Lynch and the Compagnie Industriali Riunite (CIR) Group
•  Managed investment process for creation of Spain-based specialty mortgage originator
-  Advised origination and wrote internal credit committee (ICC) report for €30m investment
-  Spearheaded investor relations and served as information conduit between deal process and principal investors
-  Led legal and commercial team to apply for a non-deposit taking lending license from the Bank of Spain
-  Coordinated cross-border (Madrid and London) efforts across finance, legal, compliance, and HR teams
•  Wrote ICC of a successful €5m acquisition of an Italian specialty lender
•  Ran due diligence for a range of related investment opportunities in the UK, Ireland, Italy and Spain

U.S. Department of State

• Conducted counterterrorism analysis of Southeast Asia at the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism 
• Drafted policy papers, briefing memoranda and press guidance for Department principals

Rosenthal Fellow

I am Founder and CEO of Finalis®, a company that is on a mission to power dealmakers by building the world’s indispensable dealmaking platform.

I have an extensive background in M&A and private placements. As an attorney at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, I managed M&A deals for blue-chip private equity firms and strategics from term sheet negotiations and auction bids to closings.  Previously, as an associate at a London-based private equity firm, I supported cross-border deals in Europe and Australia.  

In addition to building Finalis®, I support the World Identity Network, a startup launched in collaboration with Sir Richard Branson that leverages blockchain technology to give digital identities to refugees, migrants, and other vulnerable persons. I’ve also launched refugee and migrant initiatives with Human Rights Watch, Chobani’s Tent Foundation, and the National Immigration Forum. 

I was previously Professor of Law & Business at Hult International Business School, where I taught courses on U.S. corporate law, regulations, and disruptive technology trends.

As an Argentinean-American, I’m committed to helping entrepreneurs in Latin America scale and raise capital in the United States. I’m a Limited Partner with Alaya Capital Partners, among Argentina’s premier venture capital firms, and have advised multiple companies across Latin America.

I'm the host of "Pencils Down," Finalis' podcast — https://www.finalis.com/podcast/

Federico Baradello

During our offsite, someone asked what was the biggest mistake I ever made as a founder.
I didn’t even have to think about it.

We wrote a line of code before we had product market fit.

Before Finalis became what it is today, we built an entire product, investing time, money, and energy, without confirming the market actually needed it.

It was a painful lesson that taught me something I carry with me every day:
validate first, build second.

You can’t code your way to product market fit. You have to listen your way there.

👉 Founders and entrepreneurs, what was your biggest mistake and what did it teach you?

#Startup #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Founders #Finalis

Founder & CEO at Finalis | Powering Dealmakers®

The most important liquidity event in my life happened before I was even born.


My grandparents emigrated from Italy and opened a small dry-cleaning business in rural Argentina. That business helped them build a middle-class life in a new country, raise their kids, and find stability.

Years later, when they sold the business, the proceeds paid for my father’s college education.

That moment changed everything.

College opened the door for my dad to immigrate to the United States, where he built a new life — and where I eventually grew up, studied, and started my own company, Finalis.

Our mission at Finalis is simple: to simplify the private capital markets for everyone, so that what became an opportunity for my family can become a possibility for others too.

👉 I’m curious — what was the liquidity event that changed your story?

Morgan Stanley research shows that AI’s biggest measurable impact right now is productivity.

Not only has the number of companies citing quantifiable benefits grown, but most of those benefits are tied to productivity gains — operational efficiency and performance improvements — followed by financial impact, including revenue growth, cost savings, and capital optimization.

But what are we seeing in investment banking?

At Finalis, the opportunity we see for AI is in driving massive compression in the dealmaking timeline.

We’re already seeing results by using AI to streamline compliance and automate workflows, helping bankers move from engagement letter to close 20% faster.

It doesn’t stop there — we’re also using AI to match bankers and allocators with deals that align with their strengths and focus areas.

It’s early days, but AI is already transforming our industry.
If you want to know how successful bankers are using it, join us in our upcoming session “The Real Impact of AI on Dealmaking.”

I’ll drop the link in the comments.

What about you? What quantifiable benefits are you seeing from AI in your own practice?

I’ve been writing a lot about how AI is changing investment banking.
But what does that change actually look like for the people doing the work every day?

On December 4, I’m hosting a live session called “The Real Impact of AI on Dealmaking.”

I’ll be joined by John A. Cooper (Carlsquare) and Shawn Flynn (SVH Capital) — two bankers from the Finalis ecosystem who are already using AI to source smarter, accelerate diligence, and strengthen client relationships.

They’ll share what it really looks like to bring AI into live deals: the challenges, the wins, and the lessons that matter for boutique and mid-market firms.

👉 I’ll drop the registration link in the comments so you can save your seat.

I’d love your input, what questions should we ask John and Shawn during the session?

#AI #InvestmentBanking #DealFlow #CapitalMarkets #Finalis

Goldman Sachs’ CIO just asked a question every banker should think about: 
“Will the last person walking out of Goldman Sachs be an engineer or a banker?”

Speaking at the Evident AI Symposium, Marco Argenti said it started as an inside joke within his team.

Argenti’s question was meant as a joke, but it underscores a fundamental point:
the shape of investment banking is changing.

Not just the structure of firms, but the skills and tools that define success.

👉 How would you answer Marco’s question?

#AI #InvestmentBanking #FutureOfWork #CapitalMarkets #Finalis

Goldman says AI adoption in finance will double.
The question is: will performance follow?

39% of financial institutions use AI today.
That number will hit 81% within three years.

But look under the hood:
• 61% of firms say the technology isn't mature enough.
• 47% admit they lack the in-house expertise to scale it.

The truth?
AI isn't failing because it's too early.
It's failing because most firms aren't architected for it.

Everyone wants faster forecasting and sharper decision-making --
but they're still wrestling with fragmented data, compliance friction, and legacy infrastructure that can't learn.

We see this gap at Finalis every day.

The firms winning with AI aren't the ones spending the most --
they're the ones rebuilding their foundations:
• Structuring clean, compliant data
• Automating their back and middle offices
• Freeing human talent for judgment, not admin

AI doesn't replace expertise.
It amplifies it -- but only if the system beneath it is sound.

That's why the next decade of Wall Street won't belong to the biggest institutions.
It'll belong to the best-architected ones.

Because in the end, AI won't reward ambition. It'll reward architecture.

👉 What's breaking first in your world -- the data, the process, or the conviction?

#AI #InvestmentBanking #Innovation #WallStreet #Finalis

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The Battle

Ian Faler

Federico Baradello

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The Battle

Ian Faler

Federico Baradello

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Federico Baradello's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreFederico Baradello's LinkedIn Performance