Leland+ for Search Fund & ETA
How to Run an Efficient Small Business Search
Buying a small business sounds simple until you actually start searching. Suddenly you are juggling deal flow, broker calls, industry research, financial review, diligence, and legal concepts. All while trying to keep your life and job moving. This session is for the person who is ramping into acquisition entrepreneurship and wants real guidance, not a generic accelerator curriculum and not “just ask ChatGPT.” If you are smart, motivated, and serious about buying a business but feel overwhelmed by the volume of decisions and the lack of a clear path, this will click. We will walk through what an efficient search actually looks like in the real world: the phases of search, where people waste time, what progress looks like, and what it realistically takes to get competent. Spoiler: 5 hours a week is usually not enough. Most people underestimate the reps required (think hundreds of hours, not a weekend), and the main goal is to compress the learning curve by focusing on the highest-leverage work. What you will leave with: - A clear picture of the search process end-to-end and what “good” looks like at each stage - The real time commitment and why most searches stall - Practical ways to run search faster and cleaner (systems, workflows, decision filters) - A map of the core skill areas you need to build: deal sourcing, industry analysis, financial fluency, diligence, and negotiation A simple decision framework for your next step: learn it, hire it out, or partner Who this is for: - You want to buy a small business, but you do not want to wander for 12 months figuring it out the hard way - You want more hands-on support than an accelerator, and more signal than generic online content - You are ready to put in the work, but you want a more efficient path and fewer dead ends We will also share a bit of our own search context - what we have tried, what has worked, what has not - and why we believe 1:1 support can meaningfully cut down ramp time when you apply it correctly. If you have been circling ETA and keep thinking “this is a lot,” you are not wrong. Come get a sharper path.
How to get a Search Fund internship with no PE background
Most candidates aiming for a search fund internship are not underqualified. They’re mis-targeted. They chase prestige instead of fit, spend weeks reaching out to the wrong searchers, and then wonder why nothing moves. I’m Reuben, founder of Parceros Capital. I’ve raised money, built operating plans, and run internship cohorts where I review work, coach output, and decide who’s ready to be trusted with real responsibility. I’ve also helped people land internships at other search funds when it was clear the fit was better elsewhere. That’s part of how I think about this ecosystem: reputation matters, and you never know where one strong reference can take you. This webinar is for undergrads and MBAs who want a real shot or professionals desiring a career switch without a private equity background. I’ll walk you through how search fund internship hiring actually works, what “fit” really means (stage, thesis, geography, working style), and how to position yourself as valuable on day one. The mindset shift is simple: stop leading with what you want to get out of it and start leading with what you can contribute. We’ll also get clear on what interns should do that doesn’t replace paid contractors. Contractors handle specialized execution. Interns create leverage and trust. If you understand that difference, your outreach lands differently. I’ll share a Fit Scorecard you can use to build a smarter target list, plus a practical outreach structure that earns replies. I’ll also do a quick teardown of a common outreach message and show you what I’d change to make it credible. At the end, I’ll share an optional next step for anyone who wants hands-on help: a short 1:1 sprint where we build your best-fit target list, tighten your narrative, and leave you with outreach copy and a proof-of-work plan you can run immediately. If you want to move fast, RSVP and come ready to work.
