Cogent Growth Partners Named the 2026 MSPInfluencer M&A Titan
Cogent Growth Partners has been named the sole winner of the 2026 ForzaDash MSPInfluencer M&A Titans Award, recognizing its specialized buy-side advisory work within the technology service provider market.
For 16 years, Cogent has helped MSPs, private equity firms, and technology service organizations identify, evaluate, acquire, and integrate complementary businesses. The company reports completing more than 200 transactions for nearly 100 clients, including privately owned MSPs, private equity firms, and PE-backed portfolio companies.
Unlike a traditional sell-side brokerage, Cogent operates as an outsourced corporate-development team for buyers. Its services include targeted acquisition outreach, due diligence, financial modeling, transaction documentation, project management, closing support, and post-closing financial true-up.
Specialization in Technology Services
Cogent focuses exclusively on technology service providers. Its team’s direct familiarity with MSP operations allows it to assess more than financial performance alone.
An attractive acquisition candidate may demonstrate recurring revenue, financial discipline, operational maturity, a well-developed technology stack, effective sales and service teams, capable management, and a documented growth record. Cogent also emphasizes integrity and the willingness of owners to contribute to a larger organization or plan a thoughtful transition.
Current acquisition mandates include vertically focused MSPs serving healthcare, legal, regulated, and professional-services markets. Cybersecurity, CMMC, and other compliance-focused providers are also receiving attention.
Planning Beyond the Closing Date
Cogent’s submission emphasized that successful M&A requires more than completing a transaction. The firm encourages buyers and sellers to begin integration planning before closing and continue that work afterward.
Operational synergies, organizational consolidation, customer retention, employee alignment, and leadership responsibilities must be deliberately addressed if the expected value of a combination is to be realized.
One Cogent client began its MSP acquisition strategy nearly a decade ago. After completing an initial acquisition followed by seven additional transactions, its IT group grew beyond $50 million in revenue. The executive who sold the first major MSP later became CEO of that IT group, demonstrating how a well-structured transaction can create continuing opportunities for sellers as well as buyers.
Cogent’s advice to MSP owners is to stop viewing a transaction only as an exit and begin considering it a potential liquidity event. Owners can improve readiness by maintaining reliable accrual-based financial records, strengthening customer and employee agreements, controlling unnecessary expenses, protecting recurring revenue, and operating the company as though a buyer could evaluate it today.
The 2026 M&A Titan Award recognizes Cogent Growth Partners for its transaction experience, MSP specialization, disciplined execution, and emphasis on creating successful outcomes for both sides of a deal.
Learn more at Cogent Growth Partners.