Searcher in Residence

Overview & What We Do

Established in 2017 we are an established firm with nearly a decade of verifiable history. Our unique process enables the professionals we partner with to search for and buy a business while maintaining full time employment. Due to the demand for our programs and time we limit participation in any given year to a select few individuals with whom we partner.

Unlike traditional search funds that require quitting full-time work, or self-funded searches that require a cost and risk trade off, our accelerator program enables busy, high paid professionals to pursue acquisitions without sacrificing steady income and career prospects. We partner with you through a shared economics approach. Every step of the M&A process to find a business is supported including:

The Searcher-in-Residence (SIR) role is designed for experienced operators, consultants, and executives who want to acquire and lead a lower-middle-market business with institutional support, aligned capital, and a proven acquisition platform.

We partner with a small, highly selective group of searchers each year. Our objective is not theoretical education, but to materially increase the probability that the right person acquires the right business, at the right price, and successfully operates it long-term.

Unlike traditional self-funded search models that require full-time commitment and significant personal financial risk, the SIR model allows qualified professionals to pursue acquisitions without prematurely stepping away from their current career. We provide infrastructure, capital alignment, and hands-on transaction support so searchers can focus on judgment, leadership, and execution.

What You’ll Do

As a Searcher-in-Residence, you will lead the acquisition of one or more businesses typically ranging from $5M–$15M in enterprise value, with the intent to step into a senior operating or CEO role post-acquisition.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading your own search strategy, informed by our investment criteria and historical data
• Evaluating acquisition opportunities and developing conviction around a small number of high-quality targets
• Partnering with our M&A team through sourcing, underwriting, diligence, and negotiation
• Working directly with lenders, investors, and sellers during the transaction process
• Transitioning into an operating leadership role following a successful acquisition

You are not expected to be a transaction expert. Our team leads the technical aspects of M&A so you can focus on decision-making, leadership, and long-term value creation.

What We Provide

Deal Sourcing Infrastructure
Access to a sourcing platform refined over nearly a decade, including proprietary outreach systems, broker relationships, and in-house sourcing support—enabling broader and more efficient deal flow than traditional self-funded search.

Full Transaction Support
Our team has advised on and executed $10B+ in M&A transactions across private equity and principal investing. We support:

• Deal sourcing and screening
• Financial underwriting and risk assessment
• Diligence coordination
• Capital structuring and financing
• Negotiation, documentation, and closing

Aligned Partnership Model
We invest alongside our searchers. Economics are structured to align incentives across operators, investors, and the platform—prioritizing downside protection and long-term ownership.

Speed and Signal Advantage
Our process compresses the traditional 6–9 month ramp-up period into weeks, helping you quickly determine where to focus and when to move.

Post-Acquisition Support
You retain access to operational advisors, functional experts, and shared services used to scale businesses we own and operate.

Why This Model Works

Acquisitions in the $5M–$15M enterprise value range fail most often due to:

• Poor deal sourcing and selection
• Weak underwriting and risk discipline
• Capital misalignment
• Inadequate post-close execution

Our model is designed to reduce these risks by filtering weak or unfinanceable transactions early, aligning incentives, and supporting operators through acquisition and operation.

Who This Is For

We seek experienced professionals who:

• Have led teams or business units with P&L responsibility
• Come from operating, consulting, or executive backgrounds
• Want to own and operate a business, not trade transactions
• Value discipline, accountability, and long-term value creation

Prior finance experience is helpful but not required.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven leadership in complex environments
• Strong desire to transition into business ownership
• Clear understanding of acquisition models and risk tradeoffs
• Comfortable with responsibility, ambiguity, and high standards
• Long-term orientation toward operating excellence