Volando Partners launches to tackle the ‘growth gap’ facing scaling businesses
- Sarah Jackson
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
Up to 70% of founders say scaling is their biggest hurdle.
Operator-led advisory firm aims to bridge the gap between growth and exit with hands-on approach, and an integrated partner ecosystem.
London, UK: 11 May 2026 – Volando, founded by Abeed Janmohamed, is now operating as Volando Partners. The move evolves the decade-old growth and M&A advisory business into a more structured, partner-led firm, with Rick Ankers joining as Co-Founder and Partner, and Andy Dougan also joining as Partner.
Built on an ‘operators first, advisors second’ philosophy, Volando Partners works with founders and leadership teams at pivotal moments in their journey, from early traction through to scale, investment and exit, providing hands-on support across commercial strategy, growth execution and transaction readiness. At the core of its approach is a proprietary framework spanning product, people, prospects, profile, place and performance, helping identify where growth is being left on the table and where value can be built ahead of any transaction.
The move comes in response to a growing ‘gap’ in the market, where businesses are often too early for traditional M&A support but have outgrown early-stage advisory, leaving founders to navigate complex growth phases alone. Unlike consultants or deal-led advisors, Volando Partners takes a hands-on, execution-led approach; building value before a deal, staying close to delivery, and aligning with founders throughout the journey.
“We kept seeing the same problem,” said Abeed Janmohamed, Co-Founder and Partner at Volando Partners. “Businesses either don’t get support early enough, or they get given strategy without anyone helping them actually deliver. That’s where things slow down and opportunities get missed.”
Industry data reinforces the challenge. Up to 70% of founders say scaling is their biggest hurdle (CB Insights), while an estimated 90% of M&A deals fail to achieve expected outcomes, often due to poor preparation (Deloitte M&A Trends). For many businesses, reaching exit can take five to seven years without the right support in place (Harvard Business Review).
Together the leadership team of Volando Partners brings hands-on experience from building, scaling and exiting businesses across sectors including hospitality, travel, adtech, sport, health and wellness, media and publishing. The partners have collectively supported over 30 successful exits and delivered more than $500 million in deal value.
“Volando Partners sits in that middle ground,” said Rick Ankers, Co-Founder and Partner at Volando Partners. “We work with companies earlier, help them get into the right shape, and stay with them through growth, investment and exit. It’s about building value over time, not just stepping in when a deal is already on the table.”
“Too often, businesses treat exit as a moment rather than a process,” Ankers continues. “If you don’t build with that in mind early enough, you limit what the business can become, and what it’s ultimately worth.”
Janmohamed has led Volando since 2016 and has spent more than a decade advising high-growth businesses on commercial strategy, international expansion and M&A. He has supported over 25 transactions across adtech, data, media and technology, and helped raise more than $70 million in growth capital.
“The reality is most founders end up managing multiple advisors who aren’t properly aligned,” added Janmohamed. “We’ve built something better for founders to navigate, one team that can help you think it through, get it done, and bring in the right people when you need them. Volando Partners is that ecosystem; a network of trusted specialists who can support founders at every stage of the journey.”
Ankers is an experienced entrepreneur who has scaled and exited several businesses, most notably Platform Media, which was acquired by PodX Group in 2024. He also co-founded 21six Agency and is CEO of the newly created 21six Group.
Dougan brings over 20 years in creative, media, marketing and communication experience, with senior roles across WPP and independent agencies. Since leaving WPP he has provided growth and business advisory services to organisations including Paradise, The Retouchers, IUF Group, Optimi Health and Vittal Ltd, with depth in adtech, hospitality and entertainment.
Together they have supported a number of high-growth businesses through acquisition including GBR Continental, Nexta, Vee, The Portfolio Collective, Motortech.ai and QuMind, working across growth strategy, commercial development and transaction readiness.
"In a 24/7 connected world where change is relentless, founders have never had more on their plate or less time to think,” said Andy Dougan, Partner at Volando Partners.“Technology, AI and automation are moving the goalposts week by week. That's where seasoned operators earn their keep, helping leadership teams launch with impact, push through the barriers to scale, and stay focused on the vision they actually came in to build."
A core part of Volando Partners’ approach is its integrated ecosystem of specialist partners, spanning legal, capital, communications and creative services. This enables founders to access coordinated support across every stage of growth, rather than relying on fragmented external advisors.
Volando Partners is also part of the wider 21six Group ecosystem, giving clients access to additional strategic, creative, production and productivity capabilities to support growth at every stage.
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Sarah Jackson
07306256148
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