L

Long Lake

Acquires and AI-transforms services businesses

Finance

Full-Time
$200k - $300k/yr
Junior, Mid
San Francisco, CA, USA+1 moreMore locations: New York, NY, USA
In Person
Finance & BankingPrivate Equity

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 1–5 years of prior experience at a leading investment bank or private equity firm.
  • Love AI and use it as an integral part of day-to-day work.
  • Drive discussions with potential management teams and current partner leadership teams without senior-level support.
Responsibilities
  • Own core workstreams across the deal lifecycle, including diligence, structuring, negotiation, and financing.
  • Request and analyze data, distill key findings on the business, and share them with the broader team.
  • Evaluate business fundamentals, including unit economics, customer behavior, pricing power, and cost structure, to identify value drivers and risks in an AI-first environment.
  • Build and underwrite detailed operating and valuation models, assessing standalone performance and the upside from operational and AI technology-driven improvements.
  • Partner with technology and operations teams at Long Lake and its verticals to scope and quantify AI-enabled value-creation opportunities before close and execute them after close.
  • Work directly with management teams to implement strategic initiatives, build reporting infrastructure, and drive change management.
  • Take ownership of outcomes across deal execution and post-close performance.
  • Execute transactions with rigor, speed, and sound judgment across all phases of the deal lifecycle.
  • Translate complex analyses into clear, decisive recommendations that drive action internally and with counterparties.
  • Identify and communicate clear, actionable value-creation opportunities and key risks during diligence.

About the company

Long Lake is an AI holding company that buys profitable, growing service-focused businesses in the American services economy and helps them grow with technology. It embeds its engineers and operators inside partner companies to deploy Nexus, a platform made of AI agents, workflows, and data that can work with different AI models and is tailored to each industry. Instead of cutting costs, Long Lake uses permanent capital and aims to own its companies for decades, focusing on growth; it has a track record of expanding EBITDA and has avoided layoffs. The company often acquires businesses across areas such as HOA and property management, construction, architecture, HR services, and specialty tax, and it scales through integration and value-adds from its AI platform. Its goal is to build a long-lasting family of companies managed with steady, growth-oriented ownership and a scalable AI transformation engine, aiming to increase the performance and reach of its portfolio over time.

Company Size

N/A

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$1.3B

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2023

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Amex GBT reported Q2 2026 revenue up 38% and 95% customer retention.
  • The company added Google, Koch, and Pfizer wins before Long Lake's September 2026 closing.
  • Koch Equity Development and committed debt financed the $6.3 billion deal, broadening backing.

What critics are saying

  • JPMorgan marketed roughly $1.5 billion debt for Amex GBT in June 2026.
  • Amex GBT suspended earnings calls and guidance after the merger announcement, reducing visibility.
  • Navan, Spotnana, and SAP Concur pressure enterprise travel margins; one failed 2027 integration ends credibility.

What makes Long Lake unique

  • Long Lake pairs permanent capital with in-house engineers and operators inside acquired services firms.
  • Nexus AI adapts shared agents, workflows, and data across industries like travel and HOA.
  • September 29, 2026 closed Amex GBT became Long Lake's 40th acquisition and largest test.

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Company News

Intellectia AI
May 5th, 2026
Global Business Travel Group shares jump 57.5% on $6.3B acquisition by Long Lake Management

Global Business Travel Group shares surged 57.5% to $9.34 following the announcement that Long Lake Management will acquire its software and services subsidiary, American Express GBT, for $6.3 billion. The deal values shares at $9.50 each, representing a 60.2% premium over the 1 May closing price. CEO Paul Abbott said the transaction validates the company's strategy and delivers substantial cash value to shareholders. Long Lake CEO Alex Taubman highlighted the acquisition reflects optimism about business travel's future, particularly the integration of AI and human agents to improve booking efficiency and travel management. The definitive agreement marks a significant validation of GBTG's business model and market position in the corporate travel sector.

MarketScreener
May 4th, 2026
Amex Global Business Travel sold to Long Lake for $6.3B in take-private deal

American Express Global Business Travel is being taken private by Long Lake Management in a $6.3 billion all-cash deal at $9.50 per share. The price represents a 60% premium to Amex GBT's closing price on 1 May and a 65% premium to its 30-day volume-weighted average. Major shareholders including American Express, Expedia Group, Qatar Investment Authority and BlackRock, collectively holding 69% of outstanding shares, have agreed to support the transaction. The merger has been unanimously recommended by a special committee of independent directors and approved by the board. American Express will sell its approximately 30% equity stake as part of the deal, expecting proceeds of about $1.5 billion and a pre-tax gain of roughly $975 million. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

Skift
May 4th, 2026
Amex GBT to Be Acquired by General Catalyst-Backed Long Lake for $6.3 Billion

Long Lake Management, backed by General Catalyst and Alpha Wave, agreed to acquire American Express Global Business Travel for $6.3 billion ($9.50/share, 60% premium). The all-cash deal is expected to close H2 2026.

DeepNewz
May 25th, 2025
General Catalyst, Khosla, Thrive Capital Target AI Roll-Ups; Long Lake Secures $670 Million | DeepNewz VC

Venture capital firms are adopting a strategy of acquiring mature businesses—such as call centers, accounting firms, and other professional service firms—and optimizing them with artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and customer reach. This approach is often compared to private equity roll-ups.