facts, opinions, and inspiration for searchers
Tired of hiring finance interns who'd rather be on Wall Street? Discover the surprising traits that make a truly great search fund intern.
I've hired hundreds of interns over the years. It's a search fund rite of passage, right? You post an ad for a "financial analyst intern," hoping to score a bright young mind to help you dig through industries and unearth the perfect hidden gem of a company...
The entrepreneurial journey is fraught with questions, but one of the most common I encounter is surprisingly pragmatic: "How much money do I need to launch a search fund or pursue entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA)?" It's a question that resonates with two... (read more)
MBA student with an entrepreneurial spirit?
Wondering if the search fund model is your calling?
This post offers actionable advice on leveraging your business school experience to explore this exciting path.
You're a bright-eyed, ambitious MBA student, soaking up all the business knowledge you can get...
Think you know the search fund game? Think again. The 2024 APAC ETA Forum just turned conventional wisdom on its head with eye-opening insights from Bernard Salt, experienced operators, and leading lenders. Discover the biggest challenges of year one, the secrets to winning over lenders, and why Australia's "lifestyle first" attitude might be a hurdle for entrepreneurs.
In this inspiring episode of "The Search Fund Podcast," we delve into Alexander Schuil's remarkable journey from an early interest in entrepreneurship to achieving a significant exit through a search fund. Alexander shares his beginnings, from diverse early work experiences to pivotal educational moments that shaped his path. He discusses the strategic acquisitions that propelled his business forward, leading to a successful exit. This episode is a must-listen for mid-career professionals seeking to explore entrepreneurship through acquisition, offering valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of the search fund model. Alexander's reflections post-sale and his ongoing contributions as an investor and board member provide a comprehensive view of the search fund ecosystem. Join us to uncover how Alexander's journey can inspire your own path to entrepreneurial success.
In this compelling episode, we delve into the extraordinary journey of Rob Gaunt, the dynamic CEO of ACE Training and MultiSkills Training. Hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Cape Town, South Africa, Rob's story unfolds from his early years in Perth, Australia, where he made the transformative move at the age of eight. A vivacious and sports-loving teenager, Rob's formative years set the stage for a remarkable career marked by passion, resilience, and a commitment to excellence.
As we explore his path from a fun-loving youngster to the helm of a thriving organisation, join us in unraveling the unique narrative of Rob Gaunt—a testament to ambition, dedication, and the pursuit of success in the world of ACE Training and MultiSkills Training.
In this episode, three-time search fund entrepreneur, 20-year search fund investor, Stanford GSB professor, and now author David Dodson joins us to discuss his new book The Manager's Handbook, which derives lessons from his life and experiences with search funds.
From his humble Colorado upbringing to unconventional early jobs to success as a CEO and investor, Dodson's journey serves as a testament to the power of ambition, collaboration, determination, and solid decision making. Don't miss this insightful episode that explores the life and accomplishments of an exceptional individual.
The first formal step of your search fund journey is raising the search capital. But how much should you raise? Take into consideration how you want to run your search.
In this episode we hear from Sandy Paige, who is the self-proclaimed oldest person to launch a search fund and one of the most successful search funds to date, having just sold his company for 295 million dollars.
While selling to a search fund entrepreneur is not the correct succession solution for every business, it can be a great option for many aspiring sellers. The model has a track record of hundreds of successful acquisitions, and here are a few of the reasons for that success.
Ryan is about four months into his search. He's fallen in love with a few opportunities and made offers, but none of these opportunities has moved forward.
Ryan is 2-3 months into his search fund journey and is speaking with 20-30 business owners per week and has eight deals in the pipeline.
Jake Cervilla wanted to be a business owner since age 12. Now he is owner and CEO of Interland Design. In this episode, Jake remembers the business owners he looked up to throughout his career before making an acquisition only months before the COVID lockdown.
We've all heard the big success stories, but what does the data tell us about how much a search fund entrepreneur can really make? Here's what we know.
Ryan Bernsmann is one month into his search for a company to acquire. Hear how he manages the process.
Tiago recounts a conventional corporate journey turned unconventional. He and his partner acquired two businesses about a year apart, marking the first acquisitions in Portugal's budding search fund market.
In this episode, Guido recounts his journey to owner and CEO of Farmoderm. Guido shares the struggles of one of Italy's first search fund entrepreneurs.
When you raise a search fund, who are your investors? Many of them fit into these eight categories.
In this episode, Manny recounts his search fund journey from engineering to entrepreneurship, a path that landed him in the CEO seat of Contract Sweeping Services. Manny acquired two companies from the same owner, right at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss the impact of his visa status on his entrepreneurial journey.
In the early days of my search fund experience, I drove myself nuts trying to please all of my investors. Here's how to avoid the same fate.
A tongue-in-cheek discussion around the grammatical quandaries of entrepreneurship through acquisition.
A story about a seller whose motivations were questionable, and the time that the search fund entrepreneur risked losing.
Find out what's going through the mind of a search fund entrepreneur as he embarks on his journey. This episode describes the value of time management in the searchers' journey.
Here's a comprehensive summary of recent developments in the Asia Pacific search fund ecosystem, and my preliminary theories as to why it’s taken so long for the model to find its way around the region.
Find out what's going through the mind of a searcher as he embarks on his journey. This episode describes the value of industry experts to Rob in the initial phase of search.
If you are a high-caliber operator looking to acquire and operate a business in Australia, you may be a good fit for our team, and we would love to begin a conversation with you.
hello@smeventures.com
+61 (0)280 114 183
The search for the perfect acquisition target can feel like a grind. In this post, we explore practical strategies for staying motivated, including building a robust pipeline, making proactive offers, and finding your support network. Discover how to embrace the entrepreneurial journey and achieve your CEO aspirations.