I recently launched my traditional search fund, Amarok Partners, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, where it seems we have plenty of self-funded executive searchers, but very few traditional post-MBA searchers (past or present). With all of the conversations I've had in the past two weeks, many of which were inbound meeting requests from "should be" investors, the population has fallen into two distinct categories/results.

1. If the target investor has any sort of working knowledge of search funds before the meeting, it is a short path to yes and we spend more time focused on the investment thesis and pipeline of prospective deals.

2. But if the target investor has NO working knowledge of investing in search funds, I end up fielding advice on "just buy a company outright. No need to make it complicated with all this search fund nonsense." Then once they understand how the search fund model works, then its: "get a W2 and run the search on nights and weekends. I don't know why you'd want me to pay your salary when you could just make calls on lunch." and lastly, my favorite and final objection: "everyone I know that's bought a company has ask for money when they already have a company to buy. I'll write a check when I know exactly what we're buying."

I understand that less sophisticated investors or "first time" search fund investors are going to be low success rates compared to seasoned search fund investors, but it's clear that once an investor actually crosses over to actually funding a search, they recognize how beneficial and sensible this model is for all parties. Several of these first time investors are friends and truly want to be supportive, but it seems the search fund model itself is causing the objection, not the search funder (i.e. me). While I'd love their blind trust, I'd feel more comfortable if everyone was fully "bought in."

The question is...what are some key phrases/words/benefits that have yielded high(er) success in converting first time investors? How do you address the fair objection of the unknown acquisition target? Any other advice in this universe of conversation is very welcome.