I am beginning to search under a single-sponsor model. My investors and I are brainstorming job titles that I can use on email signatures, business cards, LinkedIn, etc. Any ideas?
An ideal name will resonate with brokers (and provide legitimacy) while remaining accessible to the sellers I'll approach.
I know "Entrepreneur-In-Residence" is commonly used by searchers in some accelerators. I'm thinking something along that lines, but wanted to crowdsource some options.
Hopefully this is helpful to some in the community!
Job titles for a sole-sponsor search?
by a searcher from University of Virginia-Darden - Darden School of Business
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The titles you don't want to use are 'searcher', 'Entrepreneur in Residence, etc. They are grossly overused and meaningless - remember the two (or 3) things the sell-side wants. If you include details on your investors, then CEO in Residence can be impactful. "Entrepreneur" is an earned title based on a track record. If this is all new to you, it doesn't come across well to suggest you are an entrepreneur; because you aren't yet - that's the title you earn AFTER you acquire a business (or many).
You are funded so item # 1 is covered. If you don't have a wealth of expertise buying businesses; then the single most important thing you can do now is to ramp up your knowledge quickly so you can successfully navigate your way through the 23 steps in the business buying process and get a deal closed.
If you're hung up on a title, then I'd suggest: 'Investor-Operator'.
After having purchased 14 businesses, I use a very fancy title: "Business buyer".
Investment Director: This title emphasizes your role in directing investments, which can be appealing to brokers, while also being clear to sellers.
Venture Partner: This title is often used in venture capital and private equity, implying a partnership approach which can be reassuring to sellers. Principal Investor: This indicates your role as a key decision-maker in investments, which can establish authority with brokers and trust with sellers. Enterprise Acquisition Leader: This emphasizes leadership in the acquisition process and is clear to both brokers and sellers. Entrepreneurial Investment Manager: This combines the entrepreneurial aspect with investment management, balancing both worlds.