The acquisition expands AI-powered capabilities across research commercialization, IP management, and industry partnerships worldwide.
February 5, 2026—Merit Holdings today announced its acquisition of FirstIgnite Inc., a fast-growing AI-driven platform serving technology transfer and university partnership professionals with business development, market intelligence, and IP analytics capabilities. The transaction builds on Merit Holdings’ 2025 acquisition of Inteum Co. LLC, a leading technology provider of enterprise intellectual property management systems for technology transfer offices.
FirstIgnite and Inteum have collaborated closely over the past year through platform integrations and joint customer initiatives. With this acquisition, Merit Holdings formalizes that collaboration and accelerates the development of a unified, AI-powered solution spanning the full technology transfer lifecycle, from IP management and opportunity discovery to partner engagement and data-driven decision making.
Together, the platforms bring complementary strengths with a shared focus on modernizing research commercialization through intelligent automation, advanced analytics, and seamless workflows between universities and external partners.
Subject to customary closing conditions, the combined organization will continue to support all existing customers while delivering deeper integration across IP management, business development, and AI-enabled insights — providing institutions with a more comprehensive, scalable solution for advancing innovation and industry collaboration.
Rob Sloman, CEO of Inteum Co. LLC, said:
“Today marks an important step forward for our customers. By increasing the integration of Minuet, Inteum’s class leading IP management platform with FirstIgnite’s AI driven market intelligence and workflow automation, we are building a more complete and practical system for technology transfer teams to manage, evaluate, and advance innovation.”
Chase Bonhag, CEO of FirstIgnite Inc., said:
“This partnership brings together Inteum’s decades-long leadership in IP management with FirstIgnite’s modern AI-driven approach to commercialization, outreach, and relationship building. Together, we’re creating a more complete solution that helps universities manage, promote, and commercialize their research more effectively—while staying focused on the people and partnerships that make innovation possible.
We’re energized by what this means for our customers, partners, and teams. We’re just getting started on the value we intend to bring to the market.”
John Burke, Founder and CEO of Merit Holdings, said:
“Inteum and FirstIgnite have already proven the value of working together in service of their customers. As part of Merit, they can now collaborate more deeply and invest with a long-term mindset, aligning their efforts to help technology transfer teams operate more efficiently and achieve better commercialization outcomes. We’re excited to support both teams as they continue to build thoughtfully, with customers at the center.”
About FirstIgnite Inc.
FirstIgnite Inc. provides AI powered software for technology transfer and university/ industry partnership professionals. Its tools support university technology transfer, corporate relations, and advancement professionals around the world.
About Inteum Co. LLC
Inteum Co. LLC provides enterprise software solutions for intellectual property and technology transfer management. Its platform supports universities, research institutions, and innovation driven organizations worldwide.
About Merit Holdings
Merit is a purpose-driven software holding company focused on forging long-term partnerships with hyper-specialized vertical market software businesses. Merit’s mission is to be a trusted partner for business owners seeking a unique alternative to traditional private equity offering lasting partnership and continued investment in their people, products, customers and values. We are in the early stages of building a world-class investing and operating organization where success is measured in decades, not quarters or years. Our team consists of former operators and investors with a proven track record in software. We have led and partnered with some of the fastest-growing companies in vertical software (growing them from <$10 million to over hundreds of millions in annual recurring revenue) and advised countless others. We aspire to be a different kind of investor—one who strives to build great companies and provide a permanent home for businesses. Over the next several decades, we aim to acquire and grow dozens of additional companies. Our partner companies will run independently yet benefit from shared expertise, resources, capital, community, and an engaged investor base. Our capital comes from a small group of world-class entrepreneurs and investors who share a similar mindset and value system. We’re nimble, hard-working, love what we do, and put people and families first.
