Michael Ivanov

Partner Carlsquare

Michael Ivanov is a Partner at Carlsquare in London, where he leads the firm's commerce technology M&A practice across Europe and the US. With 15 years focused exclusively on software transactions, he has developed deep domain expertise in the technologies reshaping how brands and retailers sell, market, and operate — spanning commerce enablement, vertical SaaS, MarTech, order management, payments, and data/AI.

Michael advises founders, management teams, and financial sponsors on mergers, acquisitions, and growth financings within the retail technology ecosystem. He brings a practitioner's understanding of buyer strategies, valuation dynamics, and competitive positioning across the sector, informed by years of tracking acquisition activity from both strategic acquirers and private equity investors on both sides of the Atlantic.

A close observer of how AI is transforming the commerce software stack, Michael is particularly focused on how embedded intelligence is shifting product expectations, customer retention, and exit readiness for software businesses serving retail and consumer brands. He works with companies at every stage of the growth and transaction lifecycle, helping them navigate an increasingly consolidated and fast-moving market.

Carlsquare is a partner-led global technology investment bank, advising high-growth companies, mid-market leaders, and private equity investors on M&A, growth equity, and debt financing. The firm spans 12 locations across 8 countries and 2 continents, combining international reach with deep local expertise across its core sectors including software, consumer, and business services.