Serial Entrepreneurs Mike and Kass Lazerow Buy Merraine Group and Launch Merraine Growth to Help Venture-backed Companies Land Critical Talent

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Serial entrepreneurs and investors Mike and Kass Lazerow have taken a controlling interest in Merraine Group, an executive search and staffing firm founded by David Gantshar, who remains CEO and Partner. The firm launched Merraine Growth, a practice to help growth-stage companies hire faster.

"I've made the wrong hires. Not the ones you laugh about later, the ones that cost you a year," said Mike Lazerow, co-owner of Merraine Group. "Founders kept asking us who we use, and for a long time we didn't have a good answer. Now we do."

Kass and Mike Lazerow are New York Times bestselling authors of "Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story" and co-founders of Buddy Media, sold to Salesforce for $745 million. They have invested in over 100 companies, including Facebook, Etched AI and Liquid Death.

Merraine Group serves clients across venture capital, private equity, healthcare and nonprofit sector. Merraine Growth, its venture-facing practice, has placed roles across AI, fintech and healthtech.

"I spent 25 years building this firm and wasn't looking to sell," said Gantshar. "Mike and Kass bring the networks and operating experience to help us grow."

"Founders need a partner who moves at their speed, that is Merraine Growth," said Dina Ufberg, COO and Partner.

The Roles Everyone Else Has Open for Months

Merraine Growth has closed placements across venture-backed tech, including a Head of Sales for Carda Health, the nation's largest virtual cardiac and pulmonary rehab provider; a senior accounting leader for a late-stage AI company; and a Machine Learning Lead and Head of Engineering for a Chicago fintech.

Carda Health has grown revenue 400% since partnering with Merraine Growth, becoming the nation's leading virtual care provider. "Merraine knows our model well enough to screen like an internal teammate," said Harry DiFrancesco, CEO and Co-Founder of Carda Health. "It's not just a vendor, it's a critical partner."

Merraine Growth fills roles from first sales hires and technical talent to C-suite and board-level placements.

Founders and investors can reach Merraine Growth at [email protected] or merraine.com/merraine-growth.

About Merraine Group

Merraine Group is a 25-year executive search and staffing firm serving clients across technology, private equity, venture capital, healthcare and the nonprofit sector. Merraine Growth serves venture-backed startups from first hires to board-level search.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Merraine