ETA Insider Podcast

This month’s episode features a discussion with AJ Wasserstein, Professor, Yale School of Management, on the rapidly changing world of search funds. They explore the normalization of search funds, demographic trends, and the evolution of search fund models. Delving into the investor landscape, they discuss the shift from individual to institutional investors and its impact on entrepreneur-investor relationships. Despite the influx of capital driving market growth, concerns about declining quality and increased competition linger. Tune in for expert insights into the opportunities and challenges of navigating the search fund frontier. This conversation was based on "Exploring the Future of Entrepreneurship through Acquisition" which can be found at bit.ly/ExploringETA

This month’s episode features Peter Jackson, the owner and CEO of Miller Industrial, as he shares his remarkable journey from the world of Wall Street to becoming a key player in Main Street entrepreneurship. The discussion delves into Peter’s diverse career experiences, from corporate finance to his pivotal role at Groupon, leading up to the acquisition of Miller Industrial in 2018. Explore the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned as Peter navigated the complexities of self-funding, searching for a business, and the ongoing responsibilities of industrial entrepreneurship.

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Marc Shiffman, MBA ’94, Former President & CEO of SMS Assist. In this episode, we explore the dynamic career journey of a finance professional who transitioned into the realm of innovation and leadership. Beginning in New York with McAndrews & Forbes owned and operated businesses, Marc played pivotal roles in iconic companies like Revlon, Coleman, and Sunbeam. The narrative takes a turn with a move to Chicago and a decade plus-long stint at SMS Assist, where Marc rose to the role of CEO. Delve into his experiences navigating challenges, embracing innovation, and building SMS Assist into a billion-dollar enterprise. The episode touches on the importance of technology, strategic decision-making during the pandemic, and the eventual merger with another company. Join us for a captivating discussion on leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and the strategic choices that shape a successful career in the business world. Released January 3, 2024.

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Manvendra Saxena, Founder and Chairman at Mars Energy Group. Manny discusses navigating the challenges of moving across

continents to his experiences in corporate America and the startup world. Through this discussion, you learn the pivotal decision-making moments that led him to embrace ETA and

why the sponsored model became a risk-mitigated path for his ambitions. Manny discusses the importance of confidence, emotional intelligence, and building a support network in the

unpredictable world of business. Released November 30, 2023

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Lisa Forrest, Director of Live Oak Bank. At the time of the taping last March, the LMM SBA market was in the throws of adjusting to the interest rate shocks. Deal flow at that time was in a state of disarray as buyers, sellers, and lenders were all trying to figure out acquisition structures in this rate environment. Almost 7 months later, the market is starting to adjust and many lenders like Live Oak Bank will end up with solid 2023 production and heading into 2024 with a good pipeline of transactions. Ms. Forrest also refers to some potential SBA SOP changes that, as of this drop, are still in flux. It would be an understatement to say that the LMM for self-funded searchers has seen disruption in 2023. But with disruption also comes opportunity. Released October 31, 2023

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Tim Lahey, CEO of r:Home, a technology concierge company, who shares his journey into entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) from a finance career. He stresses the significance of personal risk assessment in ETA and discusses his acquisition process, including location and size criteria. Tim highlights the challenges of scaling a service-oriented business and the importance of company culture. He advocates for patience in business growth and emphasizes the value of industry knowledge. Tim reflects on the personal growth and learning experiences that come with ETA, encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace the journey and its rewards.

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Clement Lucas, Principal of Relay Investment, a diverse firm based out of Boston that focuses on ETA investments. Clement’s unique perspective as a former operator is a value add to his team and the searchers Relay works with. Clement shares with Brian how diversity is beneficial within your resume in addition to the team you build. He also shares advice and mistakes that both searchers and operators can make and insights into the future of ETA.

This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Jan Simon, the Managing Partner of Vonzeo Capital, a Professor of the Practice of Management in Entrepreneurship at IESE, and the Academic Director of its International Search Fund Center. Jan’s expertise and research focuses on investment strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and entrepreneurial acquisitions. Prior to working in the investment world, Jan spent four years in the Special Forces. In his conversation with Brian, Jan discusses how to think about market inefficiencies, performance persistence, stage-appropriate capital, and risk-adjusted returns in ETA.

In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, Brian interviews Nick Oberhouse, MBA ‘20, CEO of DAWGS (Door and Window Guard Systems, Inc.). After graduating from Chicago Booth, Nick partnered with NextGen Growth Partners (NGP) to acquire a business, eventually acquiring DAWGS in October 2021. DAWGS serves municipal and commercial property owners by securing their buildings with DAWGS' patented steel security system. Nick discusses how he transitioned from a background in consulting to a career in ETA, how he navigated building long term relationships with businesses during the global and economic uncertainty of the pandemic, why he chose an incubated/sponsored search as his search method, and how he maintains a symbiotic relationship with the original founder of DAWGS.

This special edition, live episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Brian Vanderheyden, MBA ‘14, Founder and CEO of Glass Lake Holdings. When Brian joined the podcast in 2020, he was CEO of the Richmond Alarm Company, which he acquired in July 2017 out of his search fund. In this episode, recorded live at the Chicago Booth Harper Center in front of an audience of students and alumni, Brian discusses his recent exit, including the process of working with a bank and choosing between financial and strategic buyers. Brian also fields questions on life post-exit from the live audience, discussing his introspection process on his next steps and how to design his work/life balance through his next endeavor.