ETA & Search Fund Podcasts
12 entries — Podcasts covering search funds, small business acquisitions, and entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Podcasts have become one of the best ways to learn about search funds and entrepreneurship through acquisition. Hosted by searchers, operators, investors, and advisors, these shows cover everything from deal sourcing and due diligence to post-acquisition operations and exits. This directory lists the most relevant ETA podcasts across multiple languages.
Think Like An Owner
Alex Dier · English · active
Think Like An Owner is one of the most well-known podcasts in the search fund and small business acquisition space. Hosted by Alex Dier, the show features in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs who have acquired and are operating small businesses, as well as investors, advisors, and service providers in the ETA ecosystem. Episodes cover a wide range of topics including deal sourcing, due diligence, financing structures, post-acquisition operations, and exits. The podcast is known for its thoughtful, long-form interview format and has built a large following among aspiring and active searchers. It provides practical insights from real operators who share both successes and challenges.
Acquiring Minds
Will Smith · English · active
Acquiring Minds, hosted by Will Smith, is a podcast focused on stories of entrepreneurs who have bought small businesses. Each episode features a detailed interview with a business acquirer who walks through their journey from the initial decision to buy a business through the search process, deal negotiation, and post-acquisition operations. The show covers a broad range of industries and deal structures, including traditional search funds, self-funded searches, and independent sponsors. Will Smith's interviewing style draws out practical details about how deals actually get done, making it a valuable resource for anyone considering buying a business. The podcast has become a go-to resource in the ETA community.
Buy and Build
James Dabbro · English · active
Buy and Build is a podcast that explores the strategy of acquiring a platform business and then growing it through additional acquisitions. Hosted by James Dabbro, the show features interviews with entrepreneurs, investors, and operators who have executed buy-and-build strategies across various industries. Episodes cover topics such as identifying roll-up opportunities, integrating acquisitions, managing organizational growth, and creating value through operational improvements and add-on deals. The podcast is particularly relevant for searchers and operators who are thinking beyond the initial acquisition and considering how to scale through M&A as a growth strategy.
The SMB Show
Jim Slagle · English · active
The SMB Show is a podcast dedicated to small and medium business acquisitions, hosted by Jim Slagle. The show focuses on practical aspects of buying, operating, and growing small businesses. Episodes feature interviews with business buyers, sellers, brokers, lenders, and advisors who share real-world experience and actionable advice. The podcast covers topics such as SBA loan financing, business valuation for small companies, working with business brokers, performing due diligence on main street businesses, and managing the transition from employee to business owner. It is particularly useful for self-funded searchers and first-time acquirers looking at deals in the lower middle market.
Searchfunder Podcast
Searchfunder.com · English · active
The Searchfunder Podcast is produced by Searchfunder.com, the largest online community for entrepreneurs pursuing business acquisitions through the search fund model. The podcast features conversations with searchers at various stages, investors who back search funds, and operators who have successfully acquired and grown businesses. Topics span the entire search fund lifecycle, from raising capital and structuring a search fund through deal sourcing, evaluation, negotiation, and post-acquisition management. As an extension of the Searchfunder online community, the podcast benefits from a deep network of practitioners and provides access to perspectives from across the ETA ecosystem.
How2Exit
Ronald Gamble · English · active
How2Exit is a podcast focused on the end-to-end process of buying and selling businesses, hosted by Ronald Gamble. The show features interviews with business owners who have sold their companies, acquirers who have purchased businesses, and intermediaries who facilitate transactions. Episodes cover topics including business valuation, exit planning, deal structuring, due diligence, and the emotional aspects of buying or selling a business. The podcast provides perspectives from both sides of the transaction, making it valuable for searchers who want to understand seller motivations and expectations. It also covers emerging trends in the lower middle market and SME transaction space.
Micro PE Podcast
Chris Comparato · English · inactive
The Micro PE Podcast covers the micro private equity space, focusing on the acquisition and operation of small businesses with enterprise values typically below ten million dollars. The show features interviews with micro PE practitioners, independent sponsors, and self-funded searchers who share their experiences acquiring and managing small companies. Episodes discuss deal sourcing strategies, creative financing structures, operational improvements in small businesses, and the unique challenges of running very small companies. The podcast fills a niche for acquirers focused on the smaller end of the market, where deals often have different dynamics than traditional search fund or lower middle market transactions.
50X Podcast
Will Dicks · English · active
The 50X Podcast explores business acquisition and growth strategies aimed at creating significant value for business owners and operators. The show features interviews with entrepreneurs, investors, and operators who share insights on acquiring businesses and driving transformational growth. Episodes cover topics including deal origination, value creation levers, management team building, and scaling operations post-acquisition. The podcast takes its name from the ambitious goal of multiplying business value and focuses on practical strategies that operators can implement. It appeals to searchers and operators who are interested in the growth and value creation phase that follows an acquisition.
Main Street Minute
various hosts · English · active
Main Street Minute is a podcast focused on main street business acquisitions, targeting entrepreneurs interested in buying and operating traditional small businesses. The show covers the practical aspects of acquiring businesses in sectors such as services, trades, retail, and distribution. Episodes feature interviews with business buyers, operators, lenders, and advisors who discuss topics including SBA financing, working capital management, customer retention during ownership transitions, and the day-to-day realities of running an acquired small business. The podcast is particularly useful for first-time buyers and self-funded searchers who are focused on the main street segment of the market rather than the traditional search fund model.
Entrepreneurs Through Acquisition
Alex Here · English · inactive
Entrepreneurs Through Acquisition is a podcast that features interviews with entrepreneurs who have taken the path of buying existing businesses rather than starting from scratch. Each episode explores a guest's journey through the acquisition process, including how they identified their target, structured the deal, managed the transition, and drove growth post-acquisition. The podcast covers a range of deal sizes and structures, from self-funded main street acquisitions to traditional search fund deals. It provides a candid look at both the rewards and challenges of the ETA path, including stories of deals that did not go as planned, making it a well-rounded resource for aspiring acquirers.
Minds Capital Podcast
Minds Capital · English · inactive
The Minds Capital Podcast covers entrepreneurship through acquisition with a focus on the European and international search fund ecosystem. The show features conversations with searchers, investors, and operators who discuss the nuances of acquiring businesses outside of North America, including cross-border considerations, local market dynamics, and cultural differences in deal-making. Episodes provide insight into how the search fund model is being adapted for different geographies and legal systems. The podcast is a useful resource for searchers considering international transactions and investors looking to understand the global evolution of the ETA model.
The Search Fund Podcast
various hosts · English · active
The Search Fund Podcast is dedicated specifically to the traditional search fund model. Episodes feature interviews with searchers at different stages of their journey, from those currently raising capital through active searchers evaluating deals to operators running their acquired businesses. The show also features perspectives from search fund investors, lenders, and advisors. Topics include search fund economics, investor relations, letter of intent structuring, management due diligence, and the transition from searcher to CEO. The podcast provides granular detail on the mechanics of the traditional search fund model, making it valuable for those specifically pursuing this path.