The Search Fund Podcast

This episode charts the unique path of Adam Johnson, CEO of the critical UK infrastructure company, Water Direct. Adam recounts his journey from an entrepreneurial Texas upbringing to the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley tech sales at startups like WePay and Voxbone, experiences that forged a distinct perspective on adaptability and storytelling. He shares how a Texas blizzard became the "AHA moment" that revealed the hidden value in Water Direct, leading him to acquire the company through the search fund model he discovered during his MBA. This episode highlights the translation of skills between seemingly unrelated industries and the profound challenges and rewards of stepping into the CEO role.ChaptersMeet Adam Johnson: from Texas to Silicon Valley (0:40)Adam's early life and influences (2:39)Navigating career choices and early jobs (8:07)Sales and startups: lessons from WePay and Voxbone (11:26)Transition to leadership and private equity insights (20:37)Discovering the search fund model (23:19)Getting hooked on ETA (26:22)The role of an MBA in pursuing a search fund (27:27)The importance of storytelling in ETA (30:20)Acquiring Water Direct (31:49)Understanding Water Direct's business model (32:04)Challenges and rewards of being a CEO (41:52)Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs (47:37)Future plans for Water Direct (49:30)Conclusion and key takeaways (51:45)Some advice from Adam:"It's rare that you you become infatuated with something like this, but it just made sense to me. And I think it's really lucky not a lot of people from a career perspective, at least can say that, they get a bit obsessed with what they're doing. And I, I totally felt that with the search.""Speak to as many people as you can. Everybody's experience with entrepreneurship broadly is going to be unique. [Try] to form a view of whether or not this is the right path for you can only be done through looking ... into the kaleidoscope because everybody's experience is different and yours will not mimic anybody, but it might at least have quite a few elements from lots of people that you speak to."

George Berczely's journey from corporate executive to search fund entrepreneur is a testament to adaptability and personal growth. He shares his candid experiences navigating the search process, acquiring SEYSES, and the challenges of integrating into a new role and industry. This episode highlights the personal transformation that comes with embracing entrepreneurship and the invaluable lessons learned along the way.ChaptersEarly Life and Education (2:20)Career Beginnings and McKinsey Experience (9:21)Transition to Deutsche Post and DHL (10:56)Discovering Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (20:02) The Search and Acquisition of SEYSES (25:10) Operating SEYSES: Challenges and Successes (28:37) Future Plans and Reflections (34:58) Some advice from George:"First, I'm so glad I took this route because it really allowed me to reach my Ikigai. You know, I'm doing what I love, what I'm good at. I think pushing the energy transition is something that the world needs. And I can also profit from it financially in a way that was never possibly in a corporate environment.""I think that the one thing I overestimated, and I wouldn't do that again, Is how much a company depends on its previous owner. So when, when I bought this company, I thought I would never be able to absorb everything and the company would depend on the owners forever. I don't think that's the case anymore. If you have a proper process in place and hire people, nobody, and also not me is indispensable."Resources:smeventures.comhttps://seyses.com/en/nosotros/https://novastone-ca.com/seyses.phphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/george-berczely/

In this inspiring episode of "The Search Fund Podcast," we delve into Alexander Schuil's remarkable journey from an early interest in entrepreneurship to achieving a significant exit through a search fund. Alexander shares his beginnings, from diverse early work experiences to pivotal educational moments that shaped his path. He discusses the strategic acquisitions that propelled his business forward, leading to a successful exit. This episode is a must-listen for mid-career professionals seeking to explore entrepreneurship through acquisition, offering valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of the search fund model. Alexander's reflections post-sale and his ongoing contributions as an investor and board member provide a comprehensive view of the search fund ecosystem. Join us to uncover how Alexander's journey can inspire your own path to entrepreneurial success.

Rob Gaunt, an entrepreneur from Australia, shares his inspiring journey from Cape Town to owning ACE Training, a vital player in construction and heavy vehicle training. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of adapting to new business environments, particularly during a pandemic. Rob emphasizes personal development, effective communication, and strategic planning in leadership roles. He also sheds light on the exciting prospect of pioneering the first search fund acquisition in Australia and the impact of ACE Training on job opportunities in the community.

David Dodson, a two-time search fund entrepreneur, longtime investor, and Stanford GSB professor, shares insights from his life and his book, The Manager's Handbook. He discusses his early life in rural Colorado and the ambition that drove him to McKinsey and beyond. Dodson recounts acquiring and scaling companies like Smith Alarm Systems and Auto Palace, along with lessons learned from his Senate run. He emphasizes the importance of leadership skills, effective team building, and the discipline required for success in competitive environments.

In this episode we hear from Sandy Paige, who is the self-proclaimed oldest person to launch a search fund. While I'm not sure that's true anymore, I think it might have been true when he launched a traditional search fund in 2017, focused exclusively on Northern California, at age 48. Most investors actually declined to back his search, possibly due to his unique profile and geographical limitations. But Sandy now has the distinction of being not only the oldest, but also one of the most successful search funds to date, having just sold his company for 295 million dollars.

Jake Cervilla wanted to be a business owner since age 12. Now he is owner and CEO of Interland Design. In this episode, Jake remembers the business owners he looked up to throughout his career before making an acquisition only months before the COVID lockdown. Reflecting on entrepreneurial dreams, he says that being a business owner is harder than he expected, but that he wouldn't have it any other way. Chapters00:01:48     Early beginnings on the water00:05:48     Teenage side jobs & mulch00:07:03     University of Virginia00:08:40     Financial advisory (a.k.a. sales) & consulting00:13:28     Tepper MBA & entrepreneurial alternatives00:17:18     Blacktail Capital00:19:06     Interland Design & COVID00:23:03     A new leader00:25:12     Why house painting?00:26:13     Reflections & words of wisdomSome advice from Jake:"Get those mentors... My two professors and a couple of my friends have been that kind of sounding board, safe group to talk to, because they've been there, they understand it, and like you said, the CEO section can be very, very lonely."Resources:interlanddesign.comblacktailcapital.comtepper.cmu.edu

In this episode, Tiago recounts a conventional corporate journey turned unconventional. He and his partner acquired two businesses about a year apart, marking the first acquisitions in Portugal's budding search fund market. Now helming TECLENA and JUNCOR as co-CEO, Tiago shares the thinking that spurred him into the search fund space, and how his robust partnership has enabled him to create value and lead both companies through the supply chain crisis brought about by the pandemic. ChaptersEarly beginnings: business and finance (5:21)Discovering the search fund model (9:50)Consulting, partnerships and new markets (16:46)The anatomy of the search (26:04)The two acquisitions: adding value as co-CEO (38:48)Past, present and future goals (48:37)In hindsight: advice for aspiring searchers (51:44)Some advice from Tiago:"You don’t need to have a lot of prior experience, if you really wanna be an entrepreneur. If you really want to do it, you can do it. There are a lot of experienced people in the search fund environment who are willing to help, willing to coach you. So it’s just a question of whether you really want to do it, whether you really want to be an entrepreneur or not.""I wouldn't worry too much about the challenges or the things that you probably wouldn’t be able to do because you're going to have a big, interesting environment around you that will support you during your search. You'll be entering an ecosystem. There are always investors, ex-searchers who have been through it, like me, and can help you achieve your goals."Resources:zinc.capitalsmeventures.comteclena.ptjuncor.pt

In this episode, Guido recounts the journey he's been on to realise his entrepreneurship dream and eventually become CEO of Farmoderm. Guido shares the struggles he’s faced and doggedly overcome in raising a search fund in Italy where no one had even heard of one. Even as he juggled key family milestones, fielded several major roadblocks post-acquisition, and powered through, Guido discusses how he’s continuously seized opportunities and created great value for Farmoderm in the midst of a global pandemic and raising a young family.ChaptersFamily businesses: entrepreneurship in his blood (6:14)Taking the scenic route: consulting, finance, and risk management (8:35)On the entrepreneurship path (20:18)Blazing the trail in Italy (25:43)The struggles of the search (28:47)The acquisition: Farmoderm (38:18)Past, present and future goals (44:50)In hindsight: advice for aspiring searchers (48:22)Some advice from Guido:"It is possible. That's my message. Look at the possibilities around you. If it's something that you want to pursue, I think it's time to do it now. Don't be afraid to start because I think you're always going to regret not trying it.""I always knew there was a possibility that I would close the search without an acquisition but I was gonna fight it until the end, not until the last euro in my bank account."Resources:patria-capital.comsmeventures.comfarmoderm.it 

In this episode, Manny recounts his journey from engineering to entrepreneurship, a path that landed him in the CEO seat of Contract Sweeping Services. Manny acquired two companies from the same owner, right at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses how he recognized and realized synergies across both companies and how he has driven value creation post-acquisition. We also discuss the impact of his visa status on his entrepreneurial journey. Some advice from Manny:"You really need to understand the why of what you’re doing. You know, if it’s getting a fancy title or making some money, I don’t know if that’s the right reason to do this. Title wanes off really fast when you have the fourth HR issue of the week. So I would really, really encourage people to understand their why.""What attracted me to entrepreneurship was that I wanted to work with people, I wanted to work in teams, I wanted to create a vision, get people excited about that vision. And that’s where the pleasure of running a company lay for me. For me, entrepreneurship through acquisition was love at first sight."Resources:broadtreepartners.comsmeventures.comcontractsweeping.com