Think Big, Buy Small

You Don't Need an MBA to Pursue ETA

40 snips
Sep 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Tom Allsworth, an acquisition entrepreneur and veteran, shares his unconventional journey from the Merchant Marine Academy and the Marine Corps to leading Pacific Opportunities, a company that supports adults with intellectual disabilities. He dives into the intricacies of sourcing acquisition deals and the significance of understanding the financial multiples involved. Tom also emphasizes the emotional rewards of entrepreneurship, the challenges of company culture, and the risks connected to government-funded services. His story is a powerful reminder of the diverse paths to success.
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ANECDOTE

Mission-Driven Business Purchase

  • Tom bought Pacific Opportunities, a nonprofit-style business that helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities find and keep jobs.
  • He later acquired Trellis to expand into community living supports and broaden services.
ANECDOTE

Military To Maritime To Entrepreneurship

  • Tom attended the Merchant Marine Academy, became a Marine Corps officer, and deployed to Afghanistan before returning to civilian engineering roles.
  • Those experiences led him to seek entrepreneurship and control over impactful decisions.
ADVICE

Self-Fund First, Prepare A Funded Fallback

  • Consider self-funding a search to gain experience and credibility before raising outside capital.
  • Prepare a funded-search private placement memorandum as a fallback to pivot if self-funding runs out.
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