Shows
The Search Fund PodcastWater Direct: Adam JohnsonThis episode charts the unique path of Adam Johnson, CEO of the critical UK infrastructure company, Water Direct. Adam recounts his journey from an entrepreneurial Texas upbringing to the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley tech sales at startups like WePay and Voxbone, experiences that forged a distinct perspective on adaptability and storytelling. He shares how a Texas blizzard became the "AHA moment" that revealed the hidden value in Water Direct, leading him to acquire the company through the search fund model he discovered during his MBA. This episode highlights the translation of skills between seemingly unrelated industries and the...
2025-06-3053 min
The Search Fund PodcastSEYSES: George BerczelyGeorge Berczely's journey from corporate executive to search fund entrepreneur is a testament to adaptability and personal growth. He shares his candid experiences navigating the search process, acquiring SEYSES, and the challenges of integrating into a new role and industry. This episode highlights the personal transformation that comes with embracing entrepreneurship and the invaluable lessons learned along the way.ChaptersEarly Life and Education (2:20)Career Beginnings and McKinsey Experience (9:21)Transition to Deutsche Post and DHL (10:56)Discovering Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (20:02) The Search and Acquisition of SEYSES (25:10) Operating SEYSES: Challenges and Successes (28:37) Future Pla...
2025-04-1440 min
The Search Fund PodcastBriscoe Protective: Alexander SchuilIn 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...
2024-02-221h 00
2023-12-1249 min
The Search Fund PodcastThe Manager's Handbook: David DodsonIn this episode, two-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.
2023-07-1151 min
Collab TrendsProfessor Newton Campos | O futuro promissor dos Search FundsProfessor Newton Campos, que cresceu cercado por engenheiros de software e placas de
circuito impresso na década de 1980. Desde então, fez de tudo um pouco na
criação e crescimento de pequenos negócios pelo mundo. Com larga experiência em
projetos de Empreendedorismo, Newton pesquisa e ensina Empreendedorismo por
Aquisição, tendo publicado livros, estudos e cursos nesta área para
universidades como IE, MIT, Chicago, Oxford e FGV.
Searh Fund Primer: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/about/centers-institutes/ces/research/search-funds/primer
Glossary of Search Fund Terms: https://iebo...
2023-05-1035 min
The Next StepWhat happens when a search and acquisition goes sour?Sometimes a search goes wrong. It’ll start with a sense of unease, and only really become apparent after the acquisition, but it can be a stressful, morale-crushing experience when it happens. That’s the experience that Nick Bamford had at one point during his own search journey. That case study forms the basis of this important session of the inaugural EtA Forum.
Nick – who is now happily running SRO Technology, found himself in a situation with an (eventually) hostile seller and management issues across the board when he took over a business. Analysis and due diligence indica...
2023-03-1046 min
The Next StepWhat happens when a search and acquisition goes sour?Sometimes a search goes wrong. It’ll start with a sense of unease, and only really become apparent after the acquisition, but it can be a stressful, morale-crushing experience when it happens. That’s the experience that Nick Bamford had at one point during his own search journey. That case study forms the basis of this important session of the inaugural EtA Forum.
Nick – who is now happily running SRO Technology, found himself in a situation with an (eventually) hostile seller and management issues across the board when he took over a business. Analysis and due diligence indica...
2023-03-1046 min
The Search Fund PodcastExplora BioLabs: Sandy PaigeIn this episode we hear from Sandy Paige, who is the self-proclaimed oldest person to launch a search fund. While I'm not sure that's true anymore, I think it might have been true when he launched a traditional search fund in 2017, focused exclusively on Northern California, at age 48. Most investors actually declined to back his search, possibly due to his unique profile and geographical limitations. But Sandy now has the distinction of being not only the oldest, but also one of the most successful search funds to date, having just sold his company for 295 million dollars.
2022-09-2856 min
The Next StepThe Flavours of Search : What flavour of EtA might suit you as an Entrepreneur or an Investor? With Rob Gaunt, CEO of ACE TrainingThis year, the Australian EtA and Search Fund community is looking forward to its first big event for the region. The EtA Forum (www.etaforum.com.au) will be held in Manly Beach in Sydney, on Friday 16th September.
In this episode I speak with Rob Gaunt, CEO of ACE Training. Rob started his career selling photocopiers and worked his way up to COO. He then obtained an MBA at Macquarie Graduate School of Management before launching his search for a company to acquire in partnership with SMEVentures, a platform for search funds in Australia.
...
2022-08-1622 min
The Next StepThe Flavours of Search : What flavour of EtA might suit you as an Entrepreneur or an Investor? With Rob Gaunt, CEO of ACE TrainingThis year, the Australian EtA and Search Fund community is looking forward to its first big event for the region. The EtA Forum (www.etaforum.com.au) will be held in Manly Beach in Sydney, on Friday 16th September.
In this episode I speak with Rob Gaunt, CEO of ACE Training. Rob started his career selling photocopiers and worked his way up to COO. He then obtained an MBA at Macquarie Graduate School of Management before launching his search for a company to acquire in partnership with SMEVentures, a platform for search funds in Australia.
...
2022-08-1622 min
The Search Fund PodcastInterland Design: Jake CervillaJake 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. Reflecting on entrepreneurial dreams, he says that being a business owner is harder than he expected, but that he wouldn't have it any other way. Chapters00:01:48 Early beginnings on the water00:05:48 Teenage side jobs & mulch00:07:03 University of Virginia00:08:40 Financial advisory (a.k.a. sales) & con...
2022-07-3032 min
The Next StepThe fundamentals of the Australasian Market for EtA and Search: Exploring the three pillars with Jake Nicholson, Managing Director at SMEVenturesThis year, the Australian EtA and Search Fund community is looking forward to its first big event for the region. The EtA Forum (www.etaforum.com.au) will be held at the Manly Pacific Hotel, on Manly Beach in Sydney, on Friday 16th September.
In this episode I speak with Jake Nicholson, Managing Director at SMEVentures. I asked Jake about his experience with bringing a search fund based business model to a new market and why he chose Australia. Jakes tells us that in all the markets he explored, they needed to line up with the 3 pillars...
2022-06-2825 min
The Next StepThe fundamentals of the Australasian Market for EtA and Search: Exploring the three pillars with Jake Nicholson, Managing Director at SMEVenturesThis year, the Australian EtA and Search Fund community is looking forward to its first big event for the region. The EtA Forum (www.etaforum.com.au) will be held at the Manly Pacific Hotel, on Manly Beach in Sydney, on Friday 16th September.
In this episode I speak with Jake Nicholson, Managing Director at SMEVentures. I asked Jake about his experience with bringing a search fund based business model to a new market and why he chose Australia. Jakes tells us that in all the markets he explored, they needed to line up with the 3 pillars...
2022-06-2825 min
The Search Fund PodcastTECLENA: Tiago PaixãoIn this episode, 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. Now helming TECLENA and JUNCOR as co-CEO, Tiago shares the thinking that spurred him into the search fund space, and how his robust partnership has enabled him to create value and lead both companies through the supply chain crisis brought about by the pandemic. ChaptersEarly beginnings: business and finance (5:21)Discovering the search fund model (9:50)Consulting, partnerships...
2022-06-2056 min
The Search Fund PodcastFarmoderm: Guido FileppoIn this episode, Guido recounts the journey he's been on to realise his entrepreneurship dream and eventually become CEO of Farmoderm. Guido shares the struggles he’s faced and doggedly overcome in raising a search fund in Italy where no one had even heard of one. Even as he juggled key family milestones, fielded several major roadblocks post-acquisition, and powered through, Guido discusses how he’s continuously seized opportunities and created great value for Farmoderm in the midst of a global pandemic and raising a young family.ChaptersFamily businesses: entrepreneurship in his bloo...
2022-05-3051 min
The Search Fund PodcastContract Sweeping Services: Manny SaxenaIn this episode, Manny recounts his 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. He discusses how he recognized and realized synergies across both companies and how he has driven value creation post-acquisition. We also discuss the impact of his visa status on his entrepreneurial journey. Some advice from Manny:"You really need to understand the why of what you’re doing. You know, if it’s getti...
2022-04-2548 min
The Search Fund PodcastVital Care Industries: Mia JacksonIn this episode, Mia recounts her unique transition, from engineer by training to management consultant to self-made entrepreneur. From running an African art exhibit as an undergrad to simultaneously launching both her consultancy practice and a beauty startup, Mia's certainly no stranger to the entrepreneurial world. One year into her acquisition of Vital Care Industries, Mia shares the challenges she's faced, especially at the helm of a healthcare business amidst a global pandemic, and how the wealth of operating experience she's gained over the years has helped her navigate them.Some advice from Mia:
2022-02-0444 min
The Search Fund PodcastKhaokho Talaypu: KT ChanIn this episode, KT recounts his entrepreneurial journey, from management consultant to CEO of a leading multi-brand Thai company. Faced with challenges from long-established competitors along the way, and his commitments to a three-generation-old family business in Malaysia, KT discusses the importance of a strong, effective search partnership and his strategies for value creation, eventually transforming Khaokho Talaypu into a local champion brand.Some advice from KT:"You want something that is interesting, that is rewarding financially and personally, that challenges you, helps you grow, has some impact on the people...
2022-01-1239 min
The Search Fund PodcastVoxco: Sumit AnejaIn this episode, Sumit Aneja recounts his entrepreneurial journey from luxury shaving start-up founder at Yale to search fund entrepreneur in Canada. Sumit outlines his unique experience acquiring a tech company, raising capital amidst competing searchers, and dealing with the pressures of closing, all while juggling key family milestones, culminating in his migration to Montreal and the acquisition of Voxco.Some advice from Sumit:'It has to feel right to you. If somebody’s doing it for an easy lifestyle or glamour, those are clearly the wrong reasons to do it, I can te...
2021-12-1223 min
The Search Fund PodcastAuronix: Martin UrrutiaIn this episode, Martin recounts his entrepreneurial journey from management consultant to launching a search fund in Mexico. Martin highlights the importance of tapping into the search fund ecosystem, dealing with the pressures of closing, and strategies for value creation while discussing what it’s like to follow your passion, culminating in his decision to venture away from the 130-year-old family business to acquire Auronix. Some advice from Martin:"The only way you learn is by taking the leap, and learn by falling down.""It sounds very romantic - going out th...
2021-11-0546 min
The Search Fund PodcastBeire Exhibitions: Corbin ButcherIn this episode, Corbin Butcher recounts his unique journey from German Literature graduate to launching the first search fund in the Czech Republic with his wife, outlining his transformation from US marine to pioneering search fund entrepreneur. Corbin highlights the importance of operating experience and a good partner while discussing what it’s like to blaze a trail in a new country, culminating in his acquisition of Beire Exhibitions.Some advice from Corbin:"I guess it doesn’t need to be said that it’s fairly ambitious. You have to have a lot of...
2021-10-1537 min
The Search Fund PodcastThe Predictive Index: Daniel MuzquizIn this episode, Daniel Muzquiz recounts the 20-year journey that has taken him from oil rigs in Texas to launching three successful search funds, outlining his transformation from mechanical engineer to serial search fund entrepreneur. Daniel highlights the importance of a good partner and acquisition framework while discussing his three successful acquisitions, culminating in his most recent acquisition: The Predictive Index. Advice from Daniel:“Find something you like, love the fundamentals, and then go add value. Focus on adding value, don't focus on trying to make money. Create value in the world."“And the m...
2021-09-2229 min