The Search Fund Blog
facts, opinions, and inspiration for searchers
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Ramen and roommates
Yes, you can get paid to search, but the journey is still pretty tough.
Do searchers compete?
With so much homogeneity in the search fund world, some level of competition is inevitable. But it can and should be reduced with greater transparency.
Snake farm maintenance services (a.k.a. the power of specificity)
Organizing your search around narrowly defined industries has various benefits.
Partner vs. dog
A search fund entrepreneur’s decision to partner or go it alone has long-term impacts. Here are some things to consider before taking the plunge.
A guy and his gadget
Many small businesses fall under the "guy and his gadget" category and need to mature further before becoming viable targets for search funds.
How to answer the question, "Why would I pay you to search?"
A guide for answering one of the most common objections posed by investors new to the search fund model.
Talent, sourcing, coaching, and focus. That's why.
What explains the outsized returns of the search fund model? Here we explore some possible answers.
Pontifications on globalizing the search fund model
As the search fund model expands globally, the investor community would be wise to consider how to effectively manage that expansion.
The Toronto deal: a search fund story of time lost
Time is an entrepreneur’s most valuable asset. Here’s a search fund story of time lost.
In praise of audiobooks: edification for the time-poor entrepreneur
Search fund entrepreneurs are hungry for knowledge but short on time. Audiobooks are a great tool to learn on the go.
Pack your bags: when the search fund entrepreneur should travel
Should a search fund entrepreneur travel frequently and quickly? Or use travel time more sparingly?
To accelerate or not to accelerate: the value of accelerators to search fund entrepreneurs
With search fund accelerators on the rise, we examine their true value to the search fund entreprenuer.
Never eat alone: thoughts on search fund relationships
Applying learnings from one of the greatest books on business relationships to the search fund process.
In Context: Stanford's 2018 Search Fund Primer
Analysis and commentary on the 2018 Stanford search fund study.
Your network is worthless. Roll up those sleeves.
Who you know will help, but likely not as much as you would expect.
Roll-ups (not the fruit snack)
A roll-up strategy is initially appealing to many searchers, but consider the risks.
Kissing frogs: the importance of volume in search fund sourcing
How many companies does a search fund entrepreneur talk to before closing a deal? In deal sourcing, quantity breeds quality.
8 reasons (not) to launch a search fund
Launching a search fund is the wrong choice for most people. For others, it's the only thing that makes sense.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. (a.k.a. Learning from other searchers)
Take advantage of the much-lauded search fund ecosystem.