Search Fund & Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Coaching, Events, and Resources

I have experience structuring a self-funded search, evaluating deals, conducting due diligence, working with sellers, and modeling post-transaction financials. I can help those who are considering this path, are mid-search, or are in the final innings of a deal. In 2022, as an MBA student at Yale School of Management, I took three courses on ETA and wrote two papers with A.J. Wasserstein, Pioneer in the world of Search and ETA. I fell in love with the model and determined that I needed to find a way to do this for my career. Following my MBA, I interned at a Traditional Search fund investor for the summer and learned a great deal about what investors look for in Searchers. Following a two-year stint in Management Consulting, I decided to pursue a self-funded search in my home state of Utah. After 6 months of full-time search, I found a small company at which I was hired with the intention to acquire the company (Acqui-hire) and which I will close by late Summer 2025.

TLDR: Started self-funded search fund in 2023, acquired business 8 months later, have been successfully scaling it ever since. After being the CEO for two private equity backed companies, I wanted to branch out on my own and control more of the pie. I found that constraints from the PE model sometimes negatively influenced business decisions and I wanted to have more control over how to improve and scale a business (not to mention the capital structure). Six months after beginning my search, I submitted the LOI for the business I ultimately closed on two months later. I've been running that business since June of 2024 and we've been growing it nicely while paying down debt. I explored both traditional and self-funded search and completed diligence across a wide range of industries. I've looked at proprietary and brokered deals, received compelling financing terms from lenders and equity investors alike, and have gone through the full ETA cycle. I'm a regular speaker at SMBootCamp and have robust experience with M&A from my previous investment banking and private equity experience. I feel lucky to be doing what I'm doing right now and would love to help others achieve their goals within the Search Fund/ETA space.

I am a Partner at AVENIR Unternehmerkapital, a small-cap private equity investor focused on acquiring and developing businesses in the DACH region. In this role, I am responsible for the full transaction cycle - from proprietary deal sourcing and valuation through due diligence, deal structuring and financing to closing and post-acquisition value creation. Prior to AVENIR, I spent over five years as a Principal at Boston Consulting Group, where I specialized in Corporate Finance and Strategy, advising on buy-side transactions, carve-outs, restructurings and commercial due diligences for international private equity clients and large corporates. Through this combination of hands-on investing experience and my deep advisory background across the full M&A lifecycle I can offer practical coaching at every stage of your search. I know the DACH market well and understand the specific dynamics of acquiring owner-managed businesses in this region.

Welcome to my profile! With over two decades of experience in leadership roles across various industries, I bring a wealth of knowledge to aspiring search fund entrepreneurs. As a former Searcher, now CEO and Search Fund Investor, I have successfully navigated the complexities of acquiring and managing a company, backed by a group of Italian and international investors. My journey involved screening over 400 manufacturing companies and negotiating multiple deals, providing me with firsthand insights into the search fund process. I have coached 30+ searchers, helping them refine their strategies and achieve their entrepreneurial goals. If you're looking to embark on your search fund journey, let's connect and craft a tailored plan for your success!

I started my first company at age twenty-three. I now have five companies I know a MILLION ways not to do things. Check our my kingdom at queenofwraps.com

Welcome to my profile! I have 5+ years of experience in ETA & consulting. I founded Pondr Group where I bought 3 digital marketing companies via self funded searches and sold 1 for a 10x return in 2 years prior to attending Harvard Business School where I have personally met 50+ people who have bought companies via traditional and self funded searches and 50+ investors in the space. I also founded a company Midstone Service Group that buys and holds essential service businesses. I can assist you in searching, due diligence and closing acquisitions With a robust background in both consulting and entrepreneurship, I am well-equipped to guide you through the intricacies of search-fund ventures. As a former Associate Consultant at Bain & Company, I honed my skills in private equity due diligence and growth strategy, which are crucial for identifying and scaling successful acquisitions. Currently, as a Co-founder of Midstone Service Group and Managing Partner at Pondr, I have firsthand experience in building and scaling businesses through strategic acquisitions. My academic journey includes an MBA from Harvard Business School, further solidifying my expertise in business strategy and operations. Let's connect to discuss how I can help you navigate your search-fund journey and achieve your entrepreneurial goals!

Hi, my name is Anna and I am excited to get to know you! A bit about me -- I completed a nine-month self-funded search across multiple industries before entering into a multi-unit area development agreement with a national franchise. I have a Harvard MBA and training from the leading professors in ETA. I’m deeply active in the search fund community and I look forward to being your thought partner at any stage of your search journey -- from learning more about the model, to weighing the pros/cons of funded vs. self-funded to ideating during the thesis process, reviewing/providing guidance on PPM creation (if funded), discussing search strategy (proprietary vs. opportunistic), and everything in between!

In Septembe 2023, I acquired FileOnQ, a GovTech software company. The acquisition was the culmination of a 9-month traditional search. Some of the business characteristics: 1) Strong revenue quality & sticky customer base 2) Great reputation with a 30 yr track record For the past two years, I have been the CEO of FileOnQ.

Welcome to my profile! With over two decades of experience in the restaurant and franchise industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge to aspiring search fund entrepreneurs. As the CEO of CRU, one of the largest franchised nightlife chain in the US, and former President of Sunrise Restaurants (a division of WKS Restaurant Group), I have honed my skills in operational excellence and financial performance across multi-unit businesses. My background as a Vice President at GE Capital, where I originated loans for 30 different franchised restaurant brands, equips me with a unique perspective on financing and scaling businesses. Having coached 18 individuals, I am passionate about helping you navigate the complexities of search funds and achieve your entrepreneurial goals. Let's connect and strategize your path to success!

My first search fund bought or launched 25 companies over the course of 8 years across a variety of industries, coast to coast. The thesis was that owner-operated small businesses were undervalued and would dramatically increase in value if we put them under management so they became absentee owned. We proved that investors were willing to immediately pay double our purchase price once the company hit our portfolio. In fact, investors paid us hundreds of thousands of dollars upfront to buy companies and we retained a controlling interest in all of them. I now help other ETA entrepreneurs to do the same and get top-tier companies ready to sell at top dollar.