Where to Structure Search during MBA

June 16, 2024

by a searcher from Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business in Durham, NC, USA

I am an incoming MBA student at Duke's Fuqua School of Business. I want to use my time at Duke to search for a business to buy. I am not tied to the research triangle area after my 2-years. Is there more opportunities to find a business while staying local and develop relationships in person or be willing to move anywhere in the country but have most of the search be virtual?

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Reply by a searcher
from Columbia University in New York, NY, USA

I would focus more on building your eventual search network. You can and should search on the side - particularly, try out the different styles of searching and evaluate a lot of different types of companies. But it’ll be tough to tell the story to brokers that you’re ready to acquire while in school. Instead, you can use your mba to talk to TONs of people, figure out what you want to do, line up a big bench of supporters, and start in earnest in ~spring of your second year with various internships, investors, etc in your corner. If you want to use your MBA to gain a unique edge in the search, my recommendation would be to do a lot of CEO outreach, like a proprietary search, and build relationships in the industries you’re targeting. That outreach will be less threatening (it may even be endearing) from a student, and you’ll learn a ton plus have great relationships later.

Reply by a searcher
from Columbia University in New York, NY, USA

^redacted‌ I know it's the hardest thing in the world for a motivated MBA, but. I would keep the search on ice and focus on your time there.

I received this advice when I started my MBA. I resisted it for a bit, but it was the right thing. I would focus on education, events, and spending time with your cohort. I'm incredibly grateful for what I learned, the serendipity of events, and the relationships. Kicked off my search at completion, and I think I was better for it.

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