Navigating the Search Fund Landscape

Kent Weaver was an early participant in the world of search, completing a self-funded search that led to his acquisition of a healthcare company in 2002 and then, four years later, putting on his investor hat to make his first investment in search. Today, he’s one of the most experienced and highly regarded funding partners in the space, having invested in over one hundred searches, both traditional and self-funded. In this wide-ranging conversation, they discuss the qualities that Kent looks for in prospective searchers and future CEOs, including reflections on the importance of both hard and soft skills; industry and company characteristics that he screens for during diligence; the pros and cons of solo versus partnered searches, along with funded versus self-funded searches; trends in the world of ETA; and so much more. Kent is truly energized by his collaborations with searchers, and listeners will gain valuable insights from this fascinating discussion with one who has seen so much in search.