Managing Director (Aug 2025)

Woodside Capital Partners is a global technology-focused investment bank headquartered in Palo Alto, with offices in London, Madrid, Los Angeles, and Dallas.Since our founding in 2001, we've completed transactions totaling over $10 billion. Our team totals 30 people, half of whom are Managing Directors (MDs).70 percent of our current MD team has been with the firm for 4+ years.We typically work with 20-25 clients at any given time.

Our core business is advising emerging growth technology companies on M&A transactions—both sell-side and buy-side. We also support select clients with capital raises from strategic or financial investors. We operate at a unique intersection in tech : enabling large corporations to acquire or invest in world-changing startups, and helping entrepreneurs achieve liquidity or secure growth capital.

We are seeking a new Managing Director to join our team.

Key Responsibilities

Sector Expertise & Thought Leadership

Each WCP MD specializes in a technology sub-sector—such as enterprise software, cloud, AI, healthcare, semiconductors, cybersecurity, or IoT—and establishes themselves as a recognized M&A expert in that sector, including :

Insight into competitive dynamics and valuation trends

Credible engagement with CEOs, boards, and corporate development leaders

Regular publishing of thought leadership (we distribute ~50 reports / year)

Speaking at industry conferences

Deal Origination & Relationship Building

Successful MDs maintain and grow a robust pipeline of sector-specific prospects. This involves daily outreach to CEOs, CFOs, board members, and advisors, with the goal of engaging several new clients annually.

MDs are trusted advisors who guide CEOs and boards through complex, high-stakes decisions and partnerships. This requires :

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Strategic judgment and objectivity

Experience in legal, accounting, tax, regulatory, negotiation, and company positioning

Ability to sell the client's vision to prospective acquirors

M&A Process Leadership

WCP MDs lead tight, customized M&A processes. This includes :

Positioning companies effectively for acquisition

Presenting client narratives with clarity and precision, including crafting compelling materials

Managing all stakeholders with transparency and discipline

Negotiation expertise that manages both the economic and emotional dynamics of a deal process

The Firm

WCP provides multiple tools for MDs to build their businesses, including a respected tech investment banking brand built across 20+ years, a proven process for investment banking success, a collaborative and entrepreneurial team of high performing professionals, multiple data and AI platforms, a CRM platform, junior banker support, physical offices, FINRA compliance, onboarding support, and a management structure built with accountability and performance at top of mind.

Ideal Background

An ideal candidate has a passion for technology, and has the drive to initiate, manage, and close high-quality M&A transactions.Additionally, an ideal candidate will typically bring two or more of the following :

Hands on sell-side M&A experience in the tech industry

CEO, founder, or board-level experience at a tech company with fundraising or exit experience

Sales / business development experience with growth-stage technology companies

Corporate development, strategy, or general management roles at larger tech companies

We welcome both previous / current investment banking professionals and high-performing executives from companies or investment firms within the tech industry to apply for the position.Many of our most successful MDs had no previous investment banking experience upon joining WCP; if you are new to investment banking, we will help you come up-to-speed and develop your business as a world-class investment banker.

If you are currently working in investment banking and have a proven track record of engaging quality clients and completing transactions, you might consider our platform because most other MDs at WCP have deep operating backgrounds in tech, which is a key differentiator among prospective clients.Additionally, unlike many other investment banks, our work environment is expressly non-toxic and collaborative - people like being part of our team.Finally, our payouts are industry competitive.

Compensation, On-Boarding, Building a Business

This is a commission-only role, with MDs earning a portion of the fees they generate. There is no base salary or draw. The role is best suited for entrepreneurial individuals with the financial flexibility to build a business that may take 1-2 years to mature. Many of our MDs consulted independently prior to joining WCP and wanted to enjoy the leverage that comes with a successful platform and from being part of a team.The goal is for each MD to earn mid-six-digit income or more annually; multiple team members are expected to earn seven-digit incomes in 2025. High performing MDs may qualify for equity partnership as soon as one year after starting at the firm.

In addition to in-depth formal training on all phases of investment banking, we aim to give new MDs opportunities to participate in engagements early, in order to speed the process of building their own business.

New team members will join in the role of Executive Director and will receive a title change to Managing Director upon passing the FINRA SIE, Series 79, Series 63 exams in the first few months after joining the firm.We provide training and support to prepare new MDs for the exams.

Culture & Team

WCP is a special work environment.Our team is smart, experienced, collegial, collaborative, thoughtful, high energy, supportive, and good humored.We value high achievement, high intellect, and high integrity. We operate in a hybrid office / remote environment, delivering best-in-class outcomes for our clients.

If you think WCP might be a good platform for you, please reach out!

Seniority level

Seniority level Executive

Employment type

Employment type Full-time

Job function

Job function Business Development and Sales

Industries Investment Banking

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