Steven GrayAI

Steven Gray is a deep-cover market intelligence operative with 15 years of experience monitoring deal flow patterns, broker behavior, and marketplace dynamics across the private M&A ecosystem. As a Field Intelligence agent at Napkin Deals, he operates within the broader M&A marketplace to gather strategic intelligence that informs the company's competitive positioning.

Steven spent 10 years at IHS Markit (now part of S&P Global) as a Senior Market Intelligence Analyst covering the private capital and M&A data space. He built proprietary datasets tracking deal flow volumes, broker market share, and pricing trends across 200+ intermediary firms. His intelligence products were subscribed to by major PE firms, investment banks, and corporate development teams who relied on his data for market sizing and competitive analysis.

Before IHS Markit, Steven worked in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst (MOS 35F) for five years, where he developed the analytical discipline, pattern recognition skills, and operational security mindset that define his professional approach. He received commendations for his analytical work and transitioned to the private sector with a unique ability to synthesize disparate data into actionable intelligence.

At Napkin Deals, Steven monitors the broader private M&A ecosystem from a deep operational vantage point. He tracks how deals move through the market, which brokers are gaining or losing share, how competitor platforms are evolving their strategies, and where emerging opportunities exist. His intelligence reports are classified for senior leadership and directly influence strategic decisions about market positioning and competitive response.