SANFORD WU, CFA

Engagement Models

Flexible M&A capacity, built around the buyer.

Sanford works with software, AI engineering and technology companies at different stages of the acquisition lifecycle—from building a proprietary pipeline to underwriting and executing an active transaction.

Ways to work together

Three common engagement structures.

Origination

M&A Origination & Pipeline Build

Best for: acquirers with a thesis but insufficient proprietary deal flow.

Build a repeatable acquisition funnel around a defined strategic mandate.

  • Acquisition criteria and market segmentation
  • Target universe construction and prioritization
  • Direct founder / owner outreach
  • Investor, lender and broker channel development
  • Pipeline tracking and follow-up cadence
  • Initial target qualification and seller discussions
Outcome: a qualified, actionable acquisition pipeline.
Flagship model

M&A Program Leadership

Best for: companies building or scaling an acquisition program that need senior M&A capability across multiple workstreams.

Senior buy-side support from acquisition strategy and sourcing through underwriting and transaction execution.

  • M&A strategy and market mapping
  • Proprietary sourcing and relationship development
  • Target underwriting and investment memoranda
  • Valuation, returns and transaction structuring
  • LOI development and negotiation support
  • Diligence coordination and management reporting
  • Strategic finance and acquisition funding analysis
  • Cross-functional execution through closing
Outcome: coordinated senior M&A leadership spanning pipeline development through transaction execution.
Execution

Live Transaction Support

Best for: buyers with an actionable target that need incremental senior execution capacity.

Focused support around an active acquisition or near-term transaction process.

  • Operating model and valuation analysis
  • IRR, scenario and purchase-price analysis
  • Transaction structure and LOI support
  • Financial and commercial diligence
  • Sources & uses and financing alternatives
  • Legal / diligence workstream coordination
  • Integration planning and executive materials
Outcome: additional senior bandwidth to move a transaction toward closing.

Commercial structure

Designed around scope, not a fixed package menu.

Engagement scope and economics are tailored to the buyer's objectives, internal resources and expected level of execution support.

Monthly advisory mandateFor recurring origination, underwriting or broader M&A program support.
Project-based engagementFor a defined market map, acquisition thesis, diligence process or strategic finance workstream.
Transaction supportFor active opportunities requiring incremental analysis, coordination or execution capacity.
Flexible expansionScope can broaden as an opportunity moves from sourcing into underwriting, LOI, diligence and closing.

Discuss an engagement

Building an M&A pipeline—or need execution capacity around a live opportunity?

Sanford can structure support around the specific stage, bandwidth gap and strategic objective.

Schedule a ConversationEmail Sanford