Ask Me Anything: Proprietary Search (15 Active Searchers, 8–12 LOIs/Month)

I will answer all your questions regarding anything related to proprietary search. We currently work with 15 searchers (traditional and self-funded). In any given month we have at least 8-12 deals under LOI. So I’ve learned a lot about what works and what absolutely does not when it comes to sourcing off-market deals. The questions can be anything: For eg: 1. Search thesis design: Should you run an industry-agnostic but geography-focused search, or pick one vertical and go nationwide? 2. Sourcing strategy: Volume-based outreach vs. hyper-targeted sniper outreach, what actually works? 3. Tools & platforms: Should you really be buying Grata in 2026? What are the alternatives? 4. Tech stack setup: CRM, enrichment tools, email sequencers, what should a new searcher actually use? 5. Blue-collar & services: How do you make proprietary search work for local trades, home services, B2B field ops, etc.? 6. Messaging: What messaging gets real conversations with owners who have never considered selling? 7. Outreach operations: Cadences, channels, scripts, batching, and delegation. Drop your questions below. I’ll answer each one in as much detail as possible. Hoping to develop this into a community resource.