SoCal ETA Conference by UCLA Anderson and USC Marshall

3rd Annual SoCal ETA Conference Presented by UCLA Anderson Southern California’s flagship conference for small business acquisition, search funds and entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA): Registration Link: https://luma.com/iqmyfehw ​8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. ​Breakfast and Networking ​Kick off the day with breakfast and informal networking. Meet fellow attendees, reconnect with peers and start conversations with investors, operators and students before the program begins. ​9:00 – 9:45 a.m. ​Welcome and Opening Keynote ​Opening Remarks ​Conference leadership from UCLA Anderson and USC Marshall will open the day and set the tone for Southern California’s flagship ETA gathering. ​Opening Keynote ​A distinguished ETA leader will share insights on the current state of entrepreneurship through acquisition, emerging trends and lessons from the field. ​10:00 – 3:30 p.m. ​Panel Discussions ​Two concurrent tracks ​ ​Track 1: Search and ETA Fundamentals ​10:00 – 11:00 a.m. ​Panel: Different Approaches to ETA and Why (Self-Funded, Traditional, Hybrid, EIR, Independent Sponsor) ​11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. ​Panel: Riches in the Niches: Industry Selection and Sourcing ​Explore the full spectrum of ETA paths — from traditional funded search to self-funded and single-sponsor models. Learn the trade-offs, economics and personal considerations of each approach. ​12:15 – 1:20 p.m. ​Lunch and Networking ​Recharge with lunch and connect with speakers, sponsors and fellow attendees. Sponsored tables provide opportunities for focused discussions. ​1:30 – 2:30 p.m. ​Panel: Switchers (Veteran to Searcher, Corporate to Search, Student to Search, Startup to Search) ​Track 2: Operations, Finance and Value Creation ​10:00 – 11:00 a.m. ​Panel: Advanced Deal-Sourcing Strategies ​As ETA grows more competitive, sourcing creativity matters more than ever. Panelists will share advanced, differentiated approaches to finding high-quality acquisition opportunities. ​11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. ​Panel: Using Leverage and Capital to Drive Growth ​Dive into acquisition financing, capital structures and how thoughtful use of leverage can accelerate value creation while managing risk. ​12:15 – 1:20 p.m. ​Lunch and Networking ​Recharge with lunch and connect with speakers, sponsors and fellow attendees. Sponsored tables provide opportunities for focused discussions. ​1:30 – 2:30 p.m. ​Panel: The Raise ​Operators and investors share real-world post-acquisition stories — what worked, what didn’t and how value was built through strategy, execution and leadership. ​2:40 – 3:30 p.m. ​Panel: Post-Acquisition Operations ​This session focuses on operational excellence: improving processes, building teams, scaling systems and executing growth initiatives after closing. ​4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ​Fireside Chat: TBD ​Join an intimate conversation with a seasoned operator reflecting on their ETA journey — key decisions, lessons learned and advice for aspiring searchers. ​5:00 – 7:30 p.m. ​Happy Hour and Networking Reception ​Close out the day with drinks, conversation and connection. The reception offers a relaxed environment to continue discussions, strengthen relationships and reflect on the day’s insights.