August 13, 2025, Boutique investment bank Perella Weinberg is significantly strengthening its presence in the European technology advisory market, as demand for dealmaking expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology (fintech) accelerates. The firm has grown its European tech-focused team to 30 dedicated dealmakers in just four years and is now actively recruiting additional senior talent to meet a surge in market opportunities.

This expansion reflects a deliberate strategy to align with two of the fastest-growing segments in the global economy. The recent wave of transactions is being fuelled by rapid adoption of AI across multiple industries, alongside the evolution of fintech into embedded financial solutions, digital banking ecosystems, and AI-driven risk analytics.

At the centre of Perella Weinberg’s latest growth phase is a slate of strategic hires designed to deepen sector-specific expertise. Mathijn Queis, previously with Evercore, has joined as partner specialising in the software sector, bringing extensive experience in enterprise software M&A. Will Forbes, also from Evercore, will lead the firm’s insurtech and fintech coverage, an area that is witnessing strong consolidation and investment interest. Additionally, Christopher Frost, formerly with Raine Group, joins to expand coverage in gaming, media, and broader technology verticals. Complementing these hires, Holger Schmidt has been promoted from managing director to partner, reinforcing leadership capabilities within the European team.

The backdrop to this expansion is a robust rebound in M&A activity. Global M&A volume in 2025 has risen 28% year-to-date, reaching $2.6 trillion. The technology sector alone accounts for $602 billion, marking a 44% increase compared to the previous year. Within EMEA, Perella Weinberg’s technology transactions have generated $16.3 million in revenue so far this year, making it the most active regional vertical for the firm.

Timm Schipporeit, the firm’s European fintech and tech leader, emphasised that while Europe may lag the United States in certain aspects of AI development, it is producing credible, high-growth companies at the application layer. These businesses—often focused on AI integration within fintech, healthtech, and enterprise platforms—are attracting both strategic buyers and private equity investors. Schipporeit noted that these dynamics are expected to sustain elevated dealmaking activity over the next several years.

Perella Weinberg’s approach combines boutique agility with deep sector knowledge, enabling it to compete effectively with larger global banks. The firm is positioning itself as a go-to adviser for complex, cross-border technology deals, where understanding of emerging business models and valuation frameworks is critical.