M&A Origination Associate

About Lighthouse Software Group

Lighthouse Software Group is an operating group of Valsoft Corporation, a global acquirer and operator of vertical market software businesses. Valsoft acquires and builds mission-critical software companies serving highly specialized industries and holds them for the long term.

With 150+ companies and 4,000+ employees across 20+ countries, Valsoft’s decentralized model empowers businesses to operate independently while benefiting from operational best practices and long-term capital.

Lighthouse is responsible for sourcing, acquiring, and operating vertical market software companies globally. As we continue to grow, we are seeking driven individuals who thrive on building relationships and want to play a central role in powering our acquisition pipeline.

About the Role

As an M&A Origination Associate, you will own and drive Lighthouse’s acquisition pipeline efforts within a defined set of verticals — leading the end-to-end sourcing and relationship management function that powers our growth. You will help form best practices for how Lighthouse identifies, engages, and closes relationships with exceptional software businesses.

This is a high-impact, high-autonomy role and a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Lighthouse’s growing portfolio of software companies. The core of this role is M&A origination with exposure to the deal execution process. Your primary focus will be on building pipeline, nurturing founder relationships, and driving top-of-funnel activity.

The ideal candidate is a natural relationship builder with strong commercial instincts, someone who is energized by conversations with entrepreneurs and motivated by the challenge of uncovering great software businesses.

Key Responsibilities

Deal Origination & Pipeline Management

• Own and lead Lighthouse’s deal origination efforts for a defined set of verticals

• Maintain and grow Lighthouse’s deal pipeline by actively sourcing new business opportunities through outbound outreach, market mapping, and network development

• Develop and refine outbound engagement strategies to connect with founders, CEOs, and business owners of vertical market software companies

• Qualify inbound and outbound opportunities against Lighthouse’s financial and strategic acquisition criteria

• Maintain disciplined CRM tracking, pipeline reporting, and funnel analytics

Relationship Building & Founder Engagement

• Build and nurture long-term relationships with software entrepreneurs, understanding their business challenges, growth opportunities, and catalysts for a sale

• Serve as a trusted point of contact for founders throughout their journey — from initial conversation through to a potential transaction

• Represent Lighthouse’s value proposition and long-term ownership philosophy in all founder interactions

• Develop a deep understanding of the verticals you cover, including market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and key players

Deal Support & Collaboration

• Support the initial evaluation of potential acquisition targets by gathering and analyzing financial and operational data

• Collaborate with Lighthouse’s M&A and leadership teams throughout the due diligence and deal execution process

• Contribute market intelligence and founder insights to inform Lighthouse’s broader acquisition strategy

What Makes This Role Unique

• Origination-first — you own the pipeline, with direct collaboration with M&A execution teams

• Direct, daily interaction with founders and CEOs of software businesses

• High autonomy to develop and execute your own sourcing strategy within defined verticals

• Opportunity to shape how Lighthouse approaches origination as the platform scales

• Long-term ownership model (buy-and-hold, not flip-and-exit) that resonates with founders

• Exposure to the broader M&A lifecycle and a clear path toward increased scope and leadership

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 3–5 years of experience in business development, M&A origination, sales, or account management, with a strong focus on the software or technology sector

• Demonstrated track record of independently identifying and sourcing investment opportunities, strategic partnerships, or new business relationships

• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to assess a software business, identify value creation themes, and communicate clearly on opportunities with underwriting teams

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills — comfortable building rapport with founders, CEOs, and senior executives

• A genuine passion for entrepreneurship, technology, and the long-term compounding potential of great software businesses

• Self-motivated and comfortable operating with high autonomy in a lean, entrepreneurial environment

• Organized and process-driven, with discipline around CRM hygiene and pipeline management

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