Opportunity Network (matchmaking)

Opportunity Network is an invite-only business matchmaking platform. Members post and connect to actionable deals and investment opportunities ranging from early-stage funding to M&A, commercial partnerships, and JVs, both domestically and internationally. In 2020, the platform reached 30,000 members in 130 countries and a total transaction flow of $306BN. The company is headquartered in Barcelona and has offices in London and New York City and representatives in 40 other countries.[1]

Opportunity Network
TypePrivately held
IndustryMatchmaking
FoundedLondon, UK (2014)
FounderBrian Pallas
Headquarters
London
Area served
Worldwide
Websiteopportunitynetwork.com

Opportunity Network members are vetted through partner institutions made up of banks and professionals’ associations. Today, Opportunity Network has partnerships with Credit Suisse, UBS worldwide, Citizens Bank and YPO in the United States,[2][3] London Stock Exchange Group,[4] Intesa Sanpaolo in Italy,[5] Vietinbank in Vietnam and ABN Amro in Netherlands, amongst others.[6]

History

Opportunity Network was launched in 2014 in New York City by the American and Italian Brian Pallas.[7] Pallas was attending Columbia Business School, where Boston Consulting Group had sponsored him to complete his MBA after spending two years at the firm in Milan.[8] Pallas created a monthly newsletter where members of the business school’s Family Business Club could anonymously list the business transactions they were interested in.[9] In 2015 the company reached a 100 million dollars valuation.[10][11] In 2016 the company closed a round of funding at around 150 million dollars, which included Boston Consulting Group among the investors.[12]

References
  1. "Opportunity Network s'installe au Maroc". La Tribune (in French). Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. Brian Patrick Eha, Citizens seeks edge in middle market with tech partnership, American Banker, published February 7, 2017, retrieved May 24, 2017
  3. "Imprese: Opportunity Network 'conquista' Citizens Bank e triplica ricavi". Adnkronos. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  4. Seamus Conwell, Corporate matchmakers cash in on M&A boom, CNBC, published July 17, 2015, retrieved May 23, 2017
  5. Celia Guimaraes, La startup Opportunity Network partner di Intesa Sanpaolo, Rai News24, published April 13, 2015, retrieved May 24, 2017
  6. "UBS partners with B2B match-making platform Opportunity Network - Private Banker International". Verdict. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  7. Guttman, Amy. "'Before You Even Think Of Asking, Think Of Giving First': Secrets Of A Million Dollar Startup". Forbes. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  8. "Tech's the way to connect a wealth of deals across borders". The Straits Times. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  9. Richard Newton, Opportunity Network helps family businesses find the right deals, Financial Times, published on February 21, 2016, retrieved May 23, 2017
  10. Amy Guttman, How A Business School Student Used His Personal Network To Build A Startup Valued At $100 Million, Forbes, published on October 29, 2015, retrieved May 23, 2017
  11. Guttman, Amy. "Meet An Entrepreneur Who Doesn't Believe In Venture Capital". Forbes.
  12. "UK Fintech firm eyes Vietnam's banking sector". VietNamNet. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
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