Search Fund / Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Advice with Trevor Ewen

Trevor Ewen is the Chief Executive Officer at Southport Ventures, an acquisition fund which focuses on buying profitable mission critical, B2B SaaS businesses. In addition, Trevor runs Southport Technology Group which builds custom product & software tailored to the needs of small to medium enterprises. As an experienced software engineer, Trevor has overseen full-stack teams in clean energy, insurance, finance, and media. 

Trevor has implemented a unique hybrid model for his search fund which has allowed him generate revenue to subsidize his search and help generate deal flow.  We talk about the pros and cons of running a self-funded search, launching a search fund with a partner, developing proprietary deal flow technology, and more.  If you are interested in entrepreneurship through acquisition and buying a business, you will want to tune into this episode.

Trevor has a BS from Northwestern and an MBA from London Business School and Columbia Business School via the joint, global program.

Discussion Topics:

(1:45) What is a search fund and what skills do you need to be successful?

(7:10) Columbia Business School experience for searchers.

(9:28) Advantages of international search funds.

(12:56) Pros and cons of a focused investment thesis.

(19:42) Acquiring B2B SaaS businesses.

(27:03) Valuing a business early in the process.

(36:06) Launching a search fund with a business partner.

(42:44) Using proprietary software and interns to help with deal flow.

(49:30) School and launching a search during a pandemic.

(1:01:38) Hybrid search fund hedge model.

(1:14:02) Rapid fire questions.