Looking to connect with traditional searchers who didn't go the MBA route

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by a searcher from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in San Francisco, CA, USA

1h ago

Looking to connect with traditional searchers who didn't go the MBA route

I'm an engineer by background, based in the Bay Area, currently working on fundraising material for a traditional search. Nearly every former/current searcher in my network came through business school channels, so I'm having a harder time finding searchers who came from a different path or similar background to mine. If that's you, I'd really value a short conversation. Mostly interested in how you went about and landed the first 30-50% of your cap table commitments. Please feel free to comment or DM.

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reply by a searcher 1h ago
from Howard Payne University in Austin, TX, USA

Hi @redacted‌! You're not alone. I came to searching after leaving a CRO role, post-PE exit. I'm fortunate to be self-funded, but happy to chat any time.

reply by a searcher 1h ago
from Washington State University in Albuquerque, NM, USA

My first search was self-funded from money I saved from a deployment with the National Guard and pulling some money out of a Roth IRA (original basis so no taxes/penalties). But it was a small deal (low-mid 6-figures) with an SBA loan. Now I'm looking at something larger and getting investors as the first business was just a job - and not a well-paying one at that. I realize now that I really need to look at something north of $500k EBITDA to be able to actually cover debt service and make more than I would at my current W2 position. I can't manage that on my own so I'll need investors to help with the equity. No MBA, justredactedyears working in corporate and government positions. My current fund-raising strategy is going to rely primarily on my local network from that previous corporate career and the National Guard. One of my former NG colleagues for instance is running a wealth management firm. My relationship with him is a potential entry point to talking to some of his clients as potential investors.