AT A GLANCE

From “needle-in-a-haystack” to global origination

makanta services is a global M&A advisory founded by Carlos Cesta and Sven Hensen focused on both buy-side and sell-side mandates. 

For years, the biggest challenge in sourcing was finding small, independent firms that rarely appeared in traditional databases. With Inven, Carlos and Sven now identify relevant targets faster, uncover proprietary cross-border opportunities, and operate with a data-driven origination workflow.

Key results at a glance:

  • 10× more relevant targets identified
  • 3–4× higher engagement and response rates
  • More proprietary deals → better value through lower multiples
  • Cross-border sourcing across Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East
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PROBLEM

The companies worth finding were hidden

Before adopting Inven, the makanta partners relied on traditional platforms, LinkedIn, Google, and personal networks to identify potential targets.

This approach worked well for larger firms but made it harder to uncover smaller, founder-led companies that weren’t visible in traditional databases.

“Traditional platforms like PitchBook or S&P Capital IQ gave us good coverage of the larger market,” explains Carlos Cesta, Partner at makanta services, “but independent firms, especially in IT and marketing, were almost invisible because they rarely raised capital.”

"Independent firms, especially in IT and marketing, were almost invisible because they rarely raised capital.”

Cross-border sourcing was another challenge. While the U.S. market was well covered, finding relevant companies in Germany, Italy, France, or Dubai required extensive manual research.

“Finding those companies took a lot of manual work, especially when we needed credible buyer lists and quick validation across multiple countries,” Carlos adds.

‍SOLUTION

Global discovery that finally felt built for M&A

When Carlos discovered Inven, he immediately saw the difference.

The platform’s natural-language search allowed him to surface small and niche companies that weren’t visible anywhere else. He could start with a known good example and expand it into a curated list of similar, high-fit targets.

Inven also made it possible to refine searches in ways that directly supported M&A workflows. Technology and partner mentions such as Cisco or Snowflake revealed potential integration fits. Founder backgrounds helped navigate cultural alignment for cross-border deals, and blue-chip client mentions highlighted small firms that punched above their weight.

“Being small, we can be global thanks to Inven. Even after moving from the U.S. to Rome, I could walk into client meetings with credible, data-backed insights,” Carlos says.

The discovery process became faster, more structured, and more strategic — allowing the team to focus human effort where it mattered most.

“Discovery was the bottleneck, and Inven solved it. I could finally pinpoint the small, high-potential companies that traditional tools kept missing.”

“Discovery was the bottleneck, and Inven solved it. I could finally pinpoint the small, high-potential companies that traditional tools kept missing.”
OUTCOME

A bigger, better funnel with tangible deal value

After adopting Inven, the impact was immediate. The number of relevant targets expanded roughly tenfold, and meaningful engagement rates tripled. Beyond quantity, the quality of opportunities also improved — with more proprietary deals, fewer intermediaries, and stronger value creation potential.

“It’s not only the number of deals. When you uncover proprietary opportunities that aren’t for sale, there’s tangible monetary value you enter at lower multiples and capture more upside,” says Carlos Cesta, Partner at makanta services.

"When you uncover proprietary opportunities that aren’t for sale, there’s tangible monetary value you enter at lower multiples and capture more upside."

The platform has also transformed how makanta operates globally. Carlos and Sven can now identify viable targets across continents, validate client assumptions faster, and build confidence in every mandate.

Inven replaced what used to be a patchwork of spreadsheets, Sales Navigator searches, and AI tools that often stalled or produced unreliable results. Today, a lean team can deliver on mandates that once required large teams and months of manual effort.

Quantifiable outcomes:

  • 10× more relevant targets identified
  • 3–4× higher engagement and response rates
  • More proprietary deals → better value through lower multiples
‍WHY INVEN

A partner, not just another platform 

Carlos Cesta appreciates that Inven doesn’t feel like a hard-sell data vendor, but rather a genuine partner that helps the team work smarter.

“Other providers have become overly expensive and sales-driven. Inven feels entrepreneurial, focused on solving our problems rather than pitching features,” says Carlos.

For Sven Hensen, the value lies in Inven’s data quality and efficiency.

“The coverage and search capabilities are exceptional. It saves us hours every week and allows us to focus on analysis and strategy instead of manual research,” Sven adds.

“The coverage and search capabilities are exceptional. It saves us hours every week and allows us to focus on analysis and strategy instead of manual research."

That mindset, combined with Inven’s global coverage, has allowed makanta to compete confidently with much larger firms.

“We can punch above our weight,” Carlos says. “Inven gives us the visibility and speed to do that.”

About makanta services

makanta services is a global M&A advisory founded by Carlos Cesta and Sven Hensen. The firm combines decades of buy- and sell-side experience from Fortune 500 corporations and founder-led businesses to deliver high-value, cross-border transactions.

Carlos brings a background in global corporate development, having led M&A at NP Digital, Presidio, Dentsu, and Verizon. Sven draws on 25 years in data and analytics, having co-founded and sold the consultancy mayato, and now advises founders on sell-side processes in consulting, IT, and AI. Together, they help entrepreneurs and investors identify, evaluate, and execute transformative deals with a data-driven approach.