Where to start???

July 23, 2024

by a searcher from IESE Business School in Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile

Hi everyone!

I'm Luis, an IESE EMBA student and a potential traditional searcher in Latin America/Spain! I've just learned about the EA world and I think it has exactly what I'm looking for in my career.

I'm already inside of some groups from IESE about EA and the SF world (and studying a lot) but a good advice is always welcome for everyone that is just starting something new, so, what are your advices on where to start to be a succssesfull searcher?

Hope I can connect with each of you!!

1 Like

33 Replies

298 Views

Replies

Reply by an investor
from Stanford University in Dallas, TX, USA

Here are several resources and recommendations for learning about buying a business. Steve Divitkos' podcast, "In the Trenches," and Mario Nigro's mid-market/search fund podcast are excellent for gaining insights, particularly with a focus on Canada.

For broader topics on business acquisitions, podcasts like "Acquisitions Anonymous," "Acquiring Minds," and "Let's Buy a Business" provide valuable analyses of deals and discussions on purchasing businesses. The "Think Like an Owner" podcast from UC Polsky is also highly recommended for understanding entrepreneurship and acquisitions. For those interested in specific markets, the "Acquired" podcast offers in-depth episodes on business acquisitions, while the "Buy and Build" podcast focuses on the UK market.

If you’re exploring theoretical frameworks or want to understand the fundamentals of running a business post-acquisition, books like "Good to Great", "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries, and "The Outsiders" by Will Thorndike provide valuable perspectives.

Lastly, Jim Sharpe’s blog is an excellent next step, offering practical advice from his experience as an ETA-focused lecturer at Harvard Business School.

Reply by a searcher
from London Business School in State of São Paulo, Brazil

Agreed with the overall comments here. We followed these steps (not necessarily in this order, most of them in parallel)

- Check the available materials (Stanford and IESE studies, Books (Jan Simon's, Buy & Build, etc.), Podcasts, Searchfunder posts, IRR models, etc.)
- Talk to as many searchers as you can (those who are searching, didnt not acquire a company, operators, self funded, traditional, etc.)
- Talk to as many investors as possible to test your profile and sharpen your undertanding of what an SF investor looks for
- Dont try to reinvent the wheel - the model works for a reason.
- Look for internship experiences (acquired, SFs, investors, etc.)

+31 more replies.

Join the discussion