Drake Star
Global technology investment bank advising entrepreneurs, companies, funds and investors on M&A, private placements and growth financing.
- Highest 2026 tier: Tier II
- Technology-focused global investment bank
- 2 Advisory Ranking categories
Overview
Drake Star specializes in technology and technology-enabled sectors. Its advisory work covers M&A, private placements, strategic financing and capital decisions for growth companies and their shareholders.
The firm’s capital-markets relevance is concentrated in private capital, IPO readiness, shareholder liquidity and the choice among strategic sale, private financing and public-market pathways. Sector research supports investor targeting and valuation context.
Drake Star is included in 2 2026 Advisory Ranking categories. The highest recorded classification is Tier II.
Firm facts
| Legal name | Drake Star Partners |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Firm type | Technology-focused global investment bank |
| Principal offices | New York, London, Paris, Munich, Berlin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dubai |
| Primary focus | M&A, private placements and growth capital |
| Senior leadership | N/A |
| Highest 2026 Advisory Ranking tier | Tier II |
Principal activities
Private placements
Growth equity, strategic investment and other private-capital raising.
M&A advisory
Sell-side, buy-side and strategic transactions for technology businesses.
Capital-markets readiness
Financing strategy, investor positioning and evaluation of private or public-market options.
Drake Star works with clients on assignments that may combine strategy, specialist analysis, implementation support and organizational adoption. The precise scope depends on the mandate, sector, geography and client requirements.
Sector and mandate coverage
Sector coverage
- Software and SaaS
- Digital media
- FinTech
- Digital services
- Industrial technology
- Mobility and sustainability
Transaction and mandate types
- Private placements
- Growth capital
- M&A
- Cross-border transactions
- Shareholder liquidity
- IPO readiness
Market position
Drake Star is positioned as a technology-focused global investment bank. Its market position reflects advisory scope, senior involvement, transaction experience, investor relationships and ability to coordinate complex financing or strategic processes.
Distinctive focus: Sector-specialist technology advice supported by a multi-office international network and proprietary research.
Competitive context
Drake Star competes with independent investment banks, issuer-side capital-markets advisers, debt-advisory boutiques and specialist private-capital firms. The relevant peer set varies by instrument, market, sector, transaction size, geographic scope and whether the assignment requires execution, strategic advice or both.
Comparable firms are selected according to overlap in business model, client segment, service coverage, geographic activity and mandate profile. Inclusion does not imply equivalence in scale, ranking or market position.
Leadership
| Person | Current position | Institutional background |
|---|---|---|
| Ralf Philipp Hofmann | Managing Partner and Executive Committee Member | Technology M&A and global leadership |
| Eric Ward | Managing Partner | Technology and digital-sector advisory |
| N/A | Senior global leader | Current leadership is presented on the firm website |
Leadership information reflects the public sources reviewed for this profile. View the firm’s website ↗
Corporate and regulatory information
Drake Star operates through jurisdiction-specific entities. Securities and investment-banking services are subject to the regulatory framework applicable to the relevant office and engagement.
View registered-entity details
| Operating brand | Drake Star |
| Principal entity | Drake Star Partners |
| Regulatory status | Jurisdiction-specific |
| Registration identifier | N/A |
| Primary jurisdictions | United States and Europe |
Principal offices
- New York
- London
- Paris
- Munich
- Berlin
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Dubai
Rankings and recognition
Ranking inclusion is editorially determined. The existence or maintenance of a Wiki profile does not influence ranking eligibility, tier or position.
Related Economy analysis
Selected Economy Markets articles providing context for the firm’s advisory environment:
- Middle-Market Private Equity: Returns, Scale and Manager Selection
- Private Equity Technology Due Diligence in the AI Era
- The Silent Reshuffle of the Advisory Market
Related institutions and subjects
Sources and data transparency
The profile is based on the following publicly available institutional, regulatory and editorial sources:
- Drake Star — capabilities, sectors and offices.
- Leadership — current firm leadership.
- Legal and regulatory — entity disclosures.
- Advisory Ranking — Top 20 Capital Markets Advisory 2026 — inclusion and tier classification.
- Advisory Ranking — Top 20 M&A Advisory Boutiques 2026 — inclusion and tier classification.
