ETA Insider Podcast

In this month’s episode, Marcela Fernandez, founder of Olive Ridge Partners, discusses her journey into ETA alongside her husband, Andrew. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Marcela transitioned from biotech engineering and running a cidery to attending Stanford Graduate School of Business. The couple pursued ETA to stabilize their lives and quickly acquired Colorado Home Services, focusing on multi-trade residential services, achieving significant growth. They brought on a third partner to help manage operations and are now conducting a second search for new acquisitions. Marcela highlights the importance of aligned roles in partnerships, realistic expectations, and leveraging operational skills. She also talks about balancing work and personal life seamlessly, offering advice to other potential searchers.

Gabe Barkley, former CEO of MHW, a leading beverage alcohol importer, shares his entrepreneurial journey through acquisition. He delves into the complexities of the alcohol industry, discussing trends and operational nuances crucial for success. Gabe highlights the importance of mentorship in navigating search funds and emphasizes key strategies for creating equity value during acquisitions. He also reflects on his emotional exit from MHW, revealing future aspirations and insights for budding entrepreneurs in the ETA landscape.

Ryan Turbes and Clay Brownlee, partners at Boulay, share their expertise in helping entrepreneurs through the entire entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) lifecycle. They discuss the importance of early engagement with CPA firms for proactive financial planning. Strategies to navigate acquisition challenges, including tax implications and financial communication, are covered. The duo emphasizes the need for collaboration during transitions and the role of post-close accounting for professionalizing financial practices, ensuring smooth exits, and enhancing business value.

This month’s episode features Lacey Wismer, Founder and Managing Partner of Hunter Search Capital and Co-Founder of the Women's Search Network. In this episode, we explore her journey in the ETA landscape, with a spotlight on search funds. Lacey delves into her personal experiences, the evolution of the search fund model, and the impactful initiatives like the Women's Search Network that are driving diversity in the field. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the past, present, and future of the ETA industry from one of its passionate advocates.

This month’s episode features Reyes Florez, MBA ’14, CEO and Founder of the Platform Accounting Group, a private equity-backed business services company. Discover the compelling journey from acquiring a small family-owned tax firm to leading a nationwide group of professional services firms. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the strategic approaches used for successful acquisitions and the importance of fostering relationships within the industry. Join us for an engaging conversation that captures the essence of entrepreneurial spirit and sustainable growth in today’s accounting landscape.

Rob LeBlanc, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at ambit partners, discusses ETA's momentum in new markets, fund deployment, geographic investments, and potential in major economies. Topics include search funds, talent arbitrage, impact investing in emerging markets, and the importance of building healthy investment communities. The conversation highlights success in exploring new markets and future trend exploration.

This month’s episode features Sara Rosenthal, partner at TTCER Partners and co-founder of the Women's Search Network, who shares her journey in the search fund ecosystem and her efforts to promote diversity and mentorship. Brian and Sara discuss the culture of search funds, fostering leadership qualities, evolving models in the industry, and the need for structured mentorship programs.

This month’s episode features Chris Richling, MBA ’14, owner of a franchise business in Seattle. Chris shares his entrepreneurial journey from search fund pursuits to self-funded acquisition. He discusses the challenges faced, the transition to a management program, and ultimately acquiring a franchise. Chris reflects on lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of relationships, adaptability, and navigating personal dynamics in entrepreneurship. Released April 30, 2024

This month’s episode features a live recording from the Harper Center with Aizik Zimerman, MBA ’23, CEO of J Blanton Plumbing, a business he acquired during his second year at Booth. Unlike many ETA students focused on quick exits, Zimerman is dedicated to long-term growth, aiming to build the business into the nation's largest home services company. Influenced by his family's immigrant background and entrepreneurial success, Zimerman brings a wealth of experience from investment banking, private equity, and management roles in tech companies like Uber Eats. His journey exemplifies resilience and a commitment to creating lasting impact through entrepreneurship.

This podcast explores the changing world of search funds, discussing demographic trends, investor landscapes, and concerns about market growth. They highlight the opportunities and challenges of navigating the search fund frontier, emphasizing the normalization of search funds and the evolution of search fund models