Search Process

How's it going? Month 4 of the search - less glow, more grind

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.

July 16, 2026
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Illustration of an Australian main street with local businesses
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.

In this video update from early 2022, 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. The search is becoming less glow and more grind, but his hopes remain high.

Hear how COVID is affecting his pipeline, his weekly metrics, and how Ryan keeps the bar high despite a growing hunger to close. Time management remains a focus, and with that comes an emphasis on pre-qualification.

See also Ryan’s 1-month update and 2-month update.

Written by
Jake Nicholson
Founder and managing director of SMEVentures. In search funds since 2011, INSEAD Entrepreneur in Residence, and host of The Search Fund Podcast.

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Written by
Jake Nicholson
Founder and managing director of SMEVentures. In search funds since 2011, INSEAD Entrepreneur in Residence, and host of The Search Fund Podcast.

Get more insights

Join our newsletter for the latest articles, interviews and market updates.
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