Is “Search Fund” becoming shorthand for all ETA, or does the distinction still matter?
February 22, 2026
by a searcher from Henley Business School in England, UK
I’ve been speaking with a few operators recently and noticed that “search fund” and “ETA” are often used interchangeably.
Structurally, though, they seem quite different:
• Search fund = defined fundraising model with search capital
• ETA = broader umbrella of acquiring and operating businesses
Would you say the distinction still matters in 2026?
Or has “search fund” simply become cultural shorthand for acquisition entrepreneurship?
Curious how investors and operators here view it, especially around funding structure and governance.