Search Fund Accelerators in 2025: A Growing Market

The search fund accelerator model, pioneered by the Search Fund Accelerator (SFA) over a decade ago, has evolved into a diverse market of platforms offering capital, training, and support to aspiring business acquirers. In 2025, the number of organizations providing structured pathways into entrepreneurship through acquisition has grown considerably.

What Is a Search Fund Accelerator?

A search fund accelerator provides aspiring entrepreneurs with a structured program to find, evaluate, and acquire a small business. Unlike the traditional search fund model - where an individual raises capital from investors, searches for a company, then raises acquisition capital - accelerators typically provide:

• Training and education on the acquisition process
• Deal sourcing support and proprietary deal flow
• Capital for the acquisition (either committed or facilitated)
• Post-acquisition operational support
• A community of peers and mentors

Current Market

Search Fund Accelerator (SFA): The original model, founded by Jim Southern. SFA partners with searchers globally, providing capital, mentorship, and operational support. Their track record shows a high acquisition completion rate, making them a benchmark for the model.

Acquisition Lab: Founded by Walker Deibel (author of Buy Then Build), Acquisition Lab focuses on self-funded searchers and provides a structured 12-month program with deal sourcing, financial analysis, and closing support. They report having facilitated over 200 closed deals.

Acquira: Operates an accelerator model that provides training, deal flow, and financing support. Acquira focuses on making business acquisition accessible to a broader audience, including those without MBA backgrounds.

Mainshares: A platform focused on self-funded searchers, providing equity co-investment alongside the operator. Mainshares aims to solve the capital gap for self-funded searches by providing structured equity participation.

European Accelerators

WAD Capital: A European-focused ETA accelerator targeting companies with €1-5M EBITDA. WAD provides capital, deal sourcing support, and post-acquisition operational resources for European searchers.

Scipio Holding: Based in Belgium, Scipio has raised a dedicated fund (in partnership with Swanlaab) to back search fund entrepreneurs acquiring European SMEs.

Choosing the Right Model

The decision between traditional search fund, accelerator, and self-funded search depends on the individual's background, capital availability, risk tolerance, and target market. Accelerators offer more structure and support but typically take a larger equity stake. Traditional search funds offer more independence but require stronger fundraising skills. Self-funded search offers the most equity retention but requires personal capital at risk.