Buddy Media founders buy executive search firm Merraine to fix startup hiring
What's the deal? Serial entrepreneurs Mike and Kass Lazerow have taken a controlling interest in Merraine GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a 25-year-old executive search and staffing firm founded by David Gantshar, who remains chief executive officer. The pair also launched Merraine GrowthDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a practice aimed at helping growth-stage companies hire faster. Terms were not disclosed.
Who's buying? The Lazerows co-founded Buddy Media, sold to Salesforce for $745 million, and are New York Times bestselling authors of "Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story." They have invested in over 100 companies, including FacebookDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Etched AIDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Liquid Death.
What's the endgame? Merraine Group serves clients across venture capital, private equity, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector. Merraine Growth, its venture-facing practice, targets roles from first sales hires and technical talent to C-suite and board placements across AI, fintech, and healthtech.
Why now? The Lazerows say founders repeatedly asked them for hiring recommendations. "Founders kept asking us who we use, and for a long time we didn't have a good answer. Now we do," said Mike LazerowDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The track record: Merraine Growth has placed a head of sales for virtual cardiac rehab provider Carda HealthDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → — which has grown revenue 400% since partnering with the firm — plus a senior accounting leader for a late-stage AI company and a machine learning lead for a Chicago fintech.
Who's running it? Gantshar stays on as chief executive officer after 25 years building the firm. "I wasn't looking to sell. Mike and Kass bring the networks and operating experience to help us grow," he said. Dina Ufberg serves as chief operating officer and partner.
The signal: Investor-operators are moving beyond capital, buying into the services their portfolio companies rely on. By owning a search firm, the Lazerows fold recruiting — one of the hardest problems for scaling startups — directly into their operating playbook.
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