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Artwork for Search Funded: The ETA Podcast

Search Funded: The ETA Podcast

Nick Lall
Search Fund
Music Streaming
Search Funds
Employee Ownership
Caprae Capital
Private Equity
China
Data
Antifragile Equity Partners
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)
Small Capital
ESOP
Income Inequality
Artificial Intelligence
Auckland
Saas Group
AI In Saas
Europe
Lower Middle Market PE
Digital Value Creation

Search Funded is the entrepreneurship through acquisition podcast for search fund entrepreneurs, self-funded searchers, independent sponsors, investors, and operators. Hosted by Nick Lall, the show features conversations with acquisition entrepreneurs and ETA investors about how to find, finance, acquire, operate, and grow established small and lower-middle-market businesses.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes33Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for Search Funded: The ETA Podcast

Latest Episodes

David Khalil, Partner and CFO at saas.group, joins Search Funded to discuss the changing economics of SaaS. 

We talk about the collapse of SaaS exceptionalism, the shift away from ARR multiples, why GAAP profitability matters again, how stock-based ... more

In this episode of Search Funded, I speak with Michael Johns, Managing Director of Ascentro Capital Partners, a New Zealand-based private investment firm focused on buying, building, and growing businesses across New Zealand and Australia.

Michael s... more

In this episode we are joined by Alexander Kelm, founder of ETA Europe and writer of Buyout Diary, to explore why entrepreneurship through acquisition in Europe requires a very different playbook from the one most searchers know in the United States.... more

Sally Tian shares her journey from consulting, tech, and Harvard Business School to building one of the first search funds in China alongside her husband and co-founder. She explains why she walked away from the “immigrant dream” and chose a more unc... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

David Khalil
CFO at Saas Group, partner at Saas Group
Saas Group
Episode: Buying SaaS After the Boom with David Khalil, Saas.group
Michael Johns
Managing Director of Ascentro Capital Partners
Ascentro Capital Partners
Episode: Deal by Deal PE in New Zealand - Michael Johns, Ascentro
Alexander Kelm
Founder of ETA Europe and writer of Buyout Diary
ETA Europe / Buyout Diary
Episode: Self-Funded ETA in Europe | Alexander Kelm, Buyout Diary
Sally Tian
Founder of Snowtide Capital; early mover in China's search fund ecosystem
Episode: Building a Search Fund in China: No Playbook, Local Trust, and What Actually Works - Sally Tian, Snowtide Capital
Lee McCabe
Partner at Claymore Partners, digital value creation specialist
Claymore Partners
Episode: The End of Financial Engineering and Why AI Won’t Save You - Lee McCabe, Claymore Partners
Eric Whitley
Founder/CEO of GridSME and GridSecurity (subject matter experts)
GridSME / GridSecurity
Episode: He Built an Industry Leader and Walked Away from Selling It - Eric Whitley, GridSME
Ibrahim Abdel Rahim
Founder/Managing Partner at Moonbase Capital
Moonbase Capital
Episode: ETA Is Breaking (and Going Global): Investor Conflict, Weak Boards, and Structural Shifts - Ibrahim Abdel Rahim of Moonbase Capital
DC Moore
Searcher who acquired Atlantic Technology Group, an enterprise wireless and mobility solutions provider
Atlantic Technology Group (ATG)
Episode: From M&A in Africa to Enterprise Wireless Infrastructure, DC Moore of ATG
Kevin Hong
Former searcher, founder of Caprae Capital, and operator in lower middle market PE
Caprae Capital
Episode: From Fired Searcher to $50M in Deals in One Year | Kevin Hong, Caprae Capital

Hosts

Nick Lall
Host of Search Funded: The ETA Podcast
Nick Law
Host of the podcast, introduces guests and guides the conversation

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 5 ratings
  • Insightful for ETA enthusiasts worldwide

    I love that this podcast has guests from many different countries apart from the USA. It also offers helpful insights from investors. Definitely recommend this to all my fellow search fund peers

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amanda cpj
    Singapore3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Quality of guests and discussions is high, with pragmatic insights rather than purely theoretical talks.
Global guest mix provides diverse perspectives on ETA.
Guests offer actionable, real-world lessons for deal sourcing and governance.
Content balances theory with hands-on experiences, useful for sponsors and potential guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#10
Brazil/Business/Entrepreneurship
Apple Podcasts
#104
Brazil/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Deal by Deal PE in New Zealand - Michael Johns, Ascentro
Q: What differentiates the New Zealand market from the US in terms of deal-making and value creation?
New Zealand offers valuation arbitrage opportunities due to thinner competition and lower multiples, but requires deeper due diligence and hands-on management alignment; longevity and governance practices are empowered by fewer publicly available data points, making relationship-building and leadership depth crucial.
Deal by Deal PE in New Zealand - Michael Johns, Ascentro
Q: Could you explain why you chose a buy-and-hold strategy rather than rapid add-on debt and quick exits?
The strategy centers on long-term cash generation, favorable tax treatment, and the ability to drive meaningful value through disciplined execution and governance, with exits aligned to sustained performance rather than quick turnover.
Buying Spotify artist music rights with Tom Sarig, Antifragile Music
Q: Why do you equate your approach to investing in music catalogs with buying a cash-flowing business rather than a risky bet on a potential hit?
Because catalogs generate recurring revenue through streaming and sync, have proven financials, and can scale with smart marketing; unlike a single hit, they don't rely on a unpredictable year-to-year blockbuster but on sustained engagement.
ETA Is Breaking (and Going Global): Investor Conflict, Weak Boards, and Structural Shifts - Ibrahim Abdel Rahim of Moonbase Capital
Q: How should a searcher assemble a board to maximize their chances of success?
Assemble a diverse board based on merit, balancing experienced search fund veterans, operational expertise, and functional skills (sales, risk, etc.), ensuring members will commit time and provide honest, actionable guidance, and consider rotating board members as the company grows.
ETA Is Breaking (and Going Global): Investor Conflict, Weak Boards, and Structural Shifts - Ibrahim Abdel Rahim of Moonbase Capital
Q: Is the Search Fund Playbook in the US directly applicable overseas, or are there key differences?
There are differences, such as local founder-seller dynamics, currency stability, and the maturity of private equity ecosystems; Moonbase favors markets with a proven track record and clear exit potential, though the core playbook—finding a strong business and building a robust board—remains central.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Search Funded: The ETA Podcast

What is Search Funded: The ETA Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The episodes spotlight entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) with a global lens, featuring builders, operators, and investors sharing practical, repeatable playbooks for finding, financing, and growing small to lower-middle-market businesses. Topics span from building ETA ecosystems in non-traditional markets (China) to digital value creation, branding, governance, and durable business models that resist exits. Notable threads include the importance of trust-based sourcing, board governance, and thoughtful capital structures like employee ownership, as well as niche areas such as music-catalog investing and cross-border expansion. The mix of guests tends to emphasize real-world lessons, governance, and scalable growth, making it valuab... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Search Funded: The ETA Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Search Funded: The ETA Podcast:

1. Acquiring Minds
2. Acquisitions Anonymous - #1 for business buying, selling and operating
3. Value Investing with Legends
4. Prof G Markets
5. The a16z Show

How many episodes of Search Funded: The ETA Podcast are there?

Search Funded: The ETA Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 33 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Search Funded: The ETA Podcast?

Recent guests on Search Funded: The ETA Podcast include:

1. David Khalil
2. Michael Johns
3. Alexander Kelm
4. Sally Tian
5. Lee McCabe
6. Eric Whitley
7. Ibrahim Abdel Rahim
8. DC Moore

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