ETA Conferences & Events
12 entries — Search fund conferences, ETA summits, and networking events for searchers, investors, and operators.
Conferences and events are where the ETA community comes together. From the flagship Stanford and IESE search fund conferences to regional meetups and online summits, these events offer invaluable networking, deal sourcing, and knowledge sharing opportunities for searchers, investors, and operators.
Stanford Search Fund Conference
annual · Stanford, CA
The Stanford Search Fund Conference is the longest-running and most prestigious gathering in the search fund ecosystem. Organized by Stanford Graduate School of Business, where the search fund model was pioneered in the 1980s by Professor H. Irving Grousbeck, this annual event brings together searchers, investors, former operators, and academics for a full day of panels, case studies, and networking. Topics typically include fundraising strategies, deal sourcing, due diligence best practices, and post-acquisition leadership. Attendance is highly sought after and draws participants from around the world.
IESE Search Fund Conference
annual · Barcelona, Spain
The IESE Search Fund Conference is the premier European search fund event, organized by IESE Business School in Barcelona. IESE has been at the forefront of the search fund movement in Europe and Latin America, producing annual studies on international search fund performance. The conference typically features keynote addresses from leading investors and former searchers, panel discussions on European deal dynamics, and extensive networking sessions. It attracts searchers, investors, and advisors from across Europe, Latin America, and beyond, making it a critical gathering for anyone involved in international search fund activity.
HBS ETA Conference
annual · Boston, MA
The Harvard Business School Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference is organized by the HBS Entrepreneurship Club and attracts MBA students, recent graduates, and experienced professionals interested in acquiring and operating small businesses. The event features panel discussions with successful search fund operators, investors, and advisors, as well as workshops on topics such as deal sourcing, financing structures, and post-acquisition value creation. HBS has a strong tradition in entrepreneurship through acquisition, with numerous alumni having launched successful search funds across North America and internationally.
Searchfunder Annual Conference
annual · Various US cities
The Searchfunder Annual Conference is organized by Searchfunder.com, the largest online community dedicated to entrepreneurship through acquisition. The event brings together hundreds of searchers, investors, lenders, and service providers for a multi-day program of presentations, panel discussions, and networking. Sessions cover the full search fund lifecycle, from raising a search fund through deal sourcing, due diligence, financing, and post-close operations. The conference is known for its practitioner-focused content and accessibility, making it a popular gathering for both aspiring and active searchers at all stages.
ETA Summit (Acquisition Lab)
annual · Various US cities
The ETA Summit, organized by Acquisition Lab, is a focused conference for entrepreneurs pursuing business acquisitions through the self-funded search model. Acquisition Lab provides a structured program for searchers, and its annual summit extends that community to a broader audience. The event features workshops on deal analysis, SBA lending, seller psychology, and operational improvement, as well as presentations from successful acquirers. It is particularly well-attended by self-funded searchers and those pursuing the independent sponsor model, offering practical, execution-oriented content rather than purely academic perspectives.
INSEAD ETA Roundtable
annual · Fontainebleau, France
The INSEAD ETA Roundtable is an invite-only gathering organized by INSEAD's entrepreneurship faculty and alumni network. Held at the school's Fontainebleau campus near Paris, the event brings together European searchers, investors, and INSEAD alumni who have acquired or are in the process of acquiring businesses. Sessions focus on the European search fund market, cross-border transactions, and the unique challenges of operating acquired businesses in fragmented European markets. INSEAD's global network and strong European presence make this a key event for internationally-oriented ETA practitioners.
Wharton ETA Forum
annual · Philadelphia, PA
The Wharton ETA Forum is organized by the Wharton Entrepreneurship Club and the school's Private Equity and Venture Capital Club. It brings together MBA students, alumni, investors, and operators interested in entrepreneurship through acquisition. The forum features case studies of recent search fund acquisitions, panel discussions with investors and former searchers, and networking sessions. Wharton's strong finance curriculum and alumni network in private equity make it a natural hub for ETA activity, and the forum serves as a bridge between traditional PE approaches and the search fund model.
Kellogg ETA Conference
annual · Evanston, IL
The Kellogg ETA Conference is hosted by Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and its Private Equity and Entrepreneurship clubs. The event attracts MBA students, alumni, and practitioners interested in acquiring and running small to medium-sized businesses. Panels typically cover search fund formation, self-funded searches, deal structuring, and operational leadership post-acquisition. Kellogg's emphasis on teamwork and leadership translates into conference content that focuses heavily on the human side of ETA, including managing seller relationships, building management teams, and leading organizational change.
European Search Fund Conference
annual · London, United Kingdom
The European Search Fund Conference in London is one of the key gathering points for the growing European ETA community. The event brings together searchers, investors, advisors, and operators from across Europe to discuss the state of the search fund model outside North America. Sessions cover topics specific to European transactions, including cross-border deal structuring, managing different legal and tax regimes, cultural considerations in post-acquisition management, and sourcing deals in markets with less M&A intermediation. The conference has grown significantly as the European search fund ecosystem has matured.
DACH Search Fund Meetup
biannual · Zurich / Munich / Vienna (rotating)
The DACH Search Fund Meetup serves the German-speaking search fund community across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (the DACH region). This semi-annual event rotates between major cities and provides a platform for local searchers, investors, and advisors to share experiences and build relationships. The DACH region represents one of the largest SME markets in Europe, with Germany's Mittelstand alone comprising millions of family-owned businesses facing succession challenges. Sessions focus on deal sourcing in the DACH region, managing local regulatory environments, and the unique cultural aspects of acquiring family-owned businesses in German-speaking markets.
French ETA Meetup
quarterly · Paris, France
The French ETA Meetup in Paris is a regular gathering for the French-speaking search fund and acquisition entrepreneurship community. Organized by local searchers and investors, the meetup brings together professionals involved in or considering business acquisitions in France and francophone markets. France has seen significant growth in search fund activity, driven by strong business school networks (HEC, INSEAD, ESSEC) and a large base of SMEs facing ownership transitions. The meetup covers topics such as French M&A regulations, deal financing through local banks, working with notaires and avocats, and managing acquired businesses in the French economic context.
MIT ETA Conference
annual · Cambridge, MA
The MIT ETA Conference is organized by MIT Sloan School of Management students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship through acquisition. The event features presentations and panel discussions covering the search fund model, self-funded acquisitions, and independent sponsorship. MIT Sloan's analytical and engineering-oriented approach to business is reflected in the conference content, which often includes quantitative frameworks for business valuation, operational improvement methodologies, and technology-enabled due diligence approaches. The conference draws from MIT's strong network in technology and manufacturing, sectors where many acquisition targets operate.