Storm Duncan (born September 23, 1969) is an American investment banker, entrepreneur, and business strategist. He is widely recognized for his expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly within the technology sector. Duncan has been ranked among the top five Tech M&A bankers of all time by VentureBeat (2024) and is listed as one of the Top 50 M&A Dealmakers in the World by the Atlas M&A Awards. He is the founder, CEO, and managing partner of Ignatious, a boutique investment bank specializing in technology M&A.
Early Life and Education
Storm Duncan was born in Casper, Wyoming, United States. He attended Yale University, where he earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and American Studies in 1992. During his time at Yale, he was actively involved in the Yale Political Union and the Sigma Chi fraternity. Duncan later pursued his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Accounting at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, graduating with distinction in 1994.
Career
Duncan began his career in investment banking as an Associate in M&A at UBS (formerly PaineWebber) before moving to Lehman Brothers, where he became Vice President of Technology. He later joined Credit Suisse, serving as the Global Head of Technology Advisory for over a decade. During his tenure, he played a critical role in overseeing major transactions in the technology sector.
In 2016, Duncan became the Global Head and Managing Director of the Technology Investment Banking division at Jefferies, leading the firm's turnaround and significantly growing its technology banking franchise.
In 2022, Duncan founded Ignatious, a boutique advisory firm focusing on mergers and acquisitions and private capital raising for emerging growth technology companies. Under his leadership, Ignatious has been recognized as one of the top-ranked technology M&A advisory firms by VentureBeat and the Atlas M&A Awards.
Awards and Recognition
Duncan has received several industry accolades, including:
Ranking among the Top 5 Tech M&A Bankers of All Time by VentureBeat (2024).
Inclusion in the Top 50 M&A Dealmakers in the World by the Atlas M&A Awards.
Winner of the 2024 M&A Leadership Award and Storm Duncan investment banker multiple "Deal of the Year" awards.