I'm looking for a "search fund" or "search fund accelerator" to help me find and acquire a single business to run.

Yes — what you’re describing is usually called Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). The key distinction is that you don't want to buy a portfolio of businesses; you want to find one good company, acquire it, and become its full-time CEO/operator.

There are several ways to do that, and a search-fund accelerator may be a particularly good fit.

The main options

1. Search Fund Accelerator (SFA)

Search Fund Accelerator is probably the closest match to exactly what you described.

SFA:

• Selects individual entrepreneurs/searchers.
• Provides an intensive bootcamp and a structured process for finding acquisition targets.
• Provides ongoing coaching on sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and conducting due diligence.
• Has a committed pool of acquisition capital, so you're not starting from scratch when you find the right company.
• After acquisition, you operate the company as an equity-owning CEO.
• Currently accepts solo searchers, conducts searches nationwide in the U.S., and requires U.S. work authorization.

This is a materially different proposition from simply hiring an M&A broker. You're essentially joining a platform whose business is helping you become the owner/operator.

2. Traditional search fund

In the traditional model, you raise money from a group of investors before you know what company you'll buy. That capital funds your search, and those investors subsequently have the opportunity to invest in the acquisition.

The classic target is often roughly:

• $5–30M purchase price
• $1–5M EBITDA
• Stable cash flow
• Fragmented or otherwise defensible industry
• Owner willing to sell and hand over the business

Those are broad industry benchmarks rather than requirements.

The big advantage is that experienced search-fund investors can provide capital, advice, board oversight, and deal expertise. The downside is that you're fundraising and then running a search yourself, rather than joining an established accelerator.

3. Self-funded search / "fundless" search

This has become a very common ETA route.

You personally fund the initial search, identify a business, and then raise acquisition financing once you have a specific deal. The acquisition can involve SBA debt, conventional bank debt, seller financing, and/or equity investors.

This can make sense if you have enough personal capital to finance the search and want more control over the eventual capitalization and economics. SearchFund.org describes self-funded searches as one of the fastest-growing approaches to ETA.

4. ETA programs / incubators

There are also programs that teach you how to do ETA without necessarily providing the acquisition capital themselves.

For example, Penn's 2026–27 ETA Incubator explicitly supports people considering self-funded searches, traditional search funds, SBA-financed acquisitions, accelerators such as SFA, and other acquisition models.

searchfund.org is also a useful starting point for understanding the ecosystem and finding investors, accelerators, deal platforms, and educational resources.

What I'd investigate in your situation

Rather than simply asking "which search fund is best?", I'd first figure out which ETA model fits you.

The important questions are:

One particularly important point: don't assume you need to personally have millions of dollars to buy a $5–20M business. The whole point of the search-fund/ETA structure is that the entrepreneur can bring the operating ambition and search effort, while investors and lenders provide much of the acquisition capital.

If you tell me your age range, education, current/previous job, management experience, approximate personal capital available, industries you're interested in, and whether you'd relocate, I can map out the realistic paths for you — SFA vs. traditional search fund vs. self-funded/SBA acquisition vs. other ETA platforms, including what type/size of business you could plausibly target.

Navigating the search fund ecosystem can significantly accelerate your path to becoming a CEO, providing funding for your search phase, operational mentorship, and acquisition capital.

Top search fund accelerators and prominent investors in the space include:

• Search Fund Accelerator (SFA) — Based in Boston, SFA is one of the most recognized and structured accelerator models specifically designed for entrepreneurship-through-acquisition searchers, running structured summer cohorts and intensive training.
• Pacific Lake Partners — One of the largest and most active institutional investors in the search fund ecosystem, offering capital and extensive resources across the entire lifecycle from search to operations.
• Relay Investments — Focuses heavily on backing first-time searchers, providing capital, structured guidance, and deep operational coaching through the search and post-acquisition phases.
• NextGen Growth Partners — Combines traditional search fund principles with an operationally focused private equity backing approach to help find, acquire, and grow a lower-middle-market company.
• SME Ventures — Combines upfront capital, rigorous training, and hands-on, one-on-one coaching in an accelerator framework tailored for aspiring business owners.
• Broadtree Partners — Blends a traditional private equity model with the close mentorship and collaboration typical of an accelerator environment.

To help narrow down which of these partners might be the best fit for your background, could you share:

• Are you looking for a traditional self-funded model or an institutionally-backed accelerator model?
• What is your target geography and preferred industry?
• Do you have prior operational or leadership experience ready to highlight?

Entering the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) space via a search fund or accelerator is a powerful way to become a CEO. Accelerators provide structured mentorship, operational guidance, and institutional capital, differing from traditional self-funded searches or classic two-stage search funds.

Top search fund accelerators and institutional partners include:

1. Search Fund Accelerator (SFA) – Based in Boston, SFA is one of the most recognized and structured accelerator models, running annual cohorts and providing rigorous training, capital, and active mentorship through the search and-acquire process.
2. Pacific Lake Partners – Widely considered a premier investor and partner in the search fund ecosystem, backing both traditional searchers and accelerators with extensive capital and operational networks.
3. SME Ventures – Combines targeted training, hands-on one-on-one coaching, and funding to help modern entrepreneurs source and close acquisitions.
4. Relay Investments – Focuses heavily on supporting and funding first-time entrepreneurs through structured guidance and capital to acquire lower middle-market businesses.
5. Broadtree Partners – Blends a private equity backing style with deep executive mentorship, acting as an accelerator/partner for prospective owner-operators.
6. Halstatt Legacy Partners – Offers a dedicated accelerator model providing complete equity capital and strategic debt alignment for long-term business ownership.

To help narrow down which accelerator or model fits your background, tell me:

• What is your professional background (finance, operations, consulting, etc.)?
• Are you looking for a traditional funded search (investors fund your search salary) or an accelerator/cohorted model?
• Do you have a preferred geographic target area for your acquisition?

Yes — what you’re describing is usually called Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). The core idea is exactly: find one established small business, acquire it, become the CEO, and operate it rather than starting a company from scratch.

There are three main routes I’d consider:

1. Search Fund Accelerator — probably the closest match

Search Fund Accelerator is specifically built around finding, buying, and operating a single business. SFA provides coaching, search resources, and—when you’re ready to acquire—equity capital from its committed fund. It says it has worked with 46 searchers, 27 of whom have acquired businesses.

An important detail: SFA currently works with individual searchers, not partnered searchers, and requires permanent U.S. work authorization and a desire to acquire/run a U.S. business.

This is the option I'd investigate first if you want someone to actively coach/back you through the process.

2. Traditional search fund

You raise roughly $400K–$700K from a group of investors to finance your search, typically for around two years. Once you find a suitable company, those investors—and potentially additional investors—provide the acquisition equity. You become CEO and receive a meaningful equity stake.

The advantage is that you're backed by experienced investors. The disadvantage is that you give up considerably more economics than with a self-funded search.

3. Self-funded search / ETA

This may actually be more interesting if you aren't a recent MBA.

You fund the search yourself, then use some combination of SBA financing, seller financing, and your own/investor equity to buy the company. You generally retain substantially more ownership than in a traditional search fund, but you take more personal financial risk.

This approach has become a major part of the ETA ecosystem; SearchFund.org describes self-funded searches as perhaps the fastest-growing path to small-business ownership.

A fourth option: independent sponsor / acquisition accelerator

There's also a middle ground where you search under an existing firm's umbrella. Rather than raising a traditional search fund before you know what you're buying, you find the business first and then raise acquisition capital on a deal-by-deal basis.

That's potentially attractive if you already have substantial operating/management experience and don't need a two-year salaried search.

What I'd recommend for you

Rather than simply giving you a directory of search funds, I'd figure out which model fits your situation. The biggest variables are:

• Your age/career stage
• Whether you have an MBA
• Your management/operating experience
• Your personal capital available for the search/acquisition
• Whether you want to be the actual CEO/operator
• Target purchase price
• Industries you're interested in
• Geographic flexibility
• Whether you want investor backing or maximum ownership

For example, if you told me “I have 10 years of operating experience, $150K available, don't have an MBA, and want to buy a $3–8M revenue boring business somewhere in the Southeast”, I'd give you a very different recommendation than I would to a 28-year-old HBS graduate with $25K of personal capital.

If you give me those 7–8 facts about yourself, I can narrow this down to the specific search-fund accelerators, investors, acquisition platforms, and financing path I'd pursue, including which ones are realistic for your profile.

An important detail: SFA currently works with individual searchers, not partnered searchers, and requires permanent U.S. work authorization and a desire to acquire/run a U.S. business.

This is the option I'd investigate first if you want someone to actively coach/back you through the process.

2. Traditional search fund

You raise roughly $400K–$700K from a group of investors to finance your search, typically for around two years. Once you find a suitable company, those investors—and potentially additional investors—provide the acquisition equity. You become CEO and receive a meaningful equity stake.

The advantage is that you're backed by experienced investors. The disadvantage is that you give up considerably more economics than with a self-funded search.

3. Self-funded search / ETA

This may actually be more interesting if you aren't a recent MBA.

You fund the search yourself, then use some combination of SBA financing, seller financing, and your own/investor equity to buy the company. You generally retain substantially more ownership than in a traditional search fund, but you take more personal financial risk.

This approach has become a major part of the ETA ecosystem; SearchFund.org describes self-funded searches as perhaps the fastest-growing path to small-business ownership.

A fourth option: independent sponsor / acquisition accelerator

There's also a middle ground where you search under an existing firm's umbrella. Rather than raising a traditional search fund before you know what you're buying, you find the business first and then raise acquisition capital on a deal-by-deal basis.

That's potentially attractive if you already have substantial operating/management experience and don't need a two-year salaried search.

What I'd recommend for you

Yes — what you’re describing is usually called Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). A search fund/accelerator can provide the search process, coaching, investor network, and often the capital to acquire the company once you find it.

The most direct match I found is:

1. Search Fund Accelerator (SFA)

This is probably the organization you have in mind. SFA specifically partners with people who want to become the owner-operator/CEO of one business. They provide:

• Training and a structured search process
• Coaching throughout the search
• Tools and techniques for identifying and contacting business owners
• Help evaluating acquisition opportunities and doing due diligence
• Capital for the acquisition through their fund/network
• Ongoing support after you become CEO

SFA says it has worked with 46 searchers, 27 of whom have acquired businesses and become CEOs. It accepts solo searchers, conducts searches nationwide in the U.S., and requires U.S. work authorization.

Their process is particularly relevant to your goal: you search for one company, acquire it, and then run it as the equity-owning CEO.

2. Self-funded ETA

You don't necessarily need to join an accelerator. Another increasingly common route is a self-funded search: you fund your own search, find a business, and then raise acquisition capital from investors and/or use SBA/bank debt and seller financing.

SearchFund.org describes self-funded searches as one of the fastest-growing paths, with searchers often targeting smaller companies—roughly $500K–$2.5M of EBITDA—and using some combination of personal equity, outside equity, seller financing, and senior debt.

This route can be attractive because you can potentially retain substantially more ownership than in a traditional funded search, but you're taking on more of the search risk yourself.

3. Traditional search fund

The classic model is slightly different. You first raise money from investors specifically to pay you to search full-time. Once you find a company, those investors then have the opportunity to fund the acquisition.

The typical targets are larger than self-funded searches—SearchFund.org cites roughly $5–30M purchase prices and $1–5M EBITDA as common traditional-search territory.

There are also independent search-fund investors, family offices, and ETA communities that can help you assemble this capital base.

What I'd recommend for you

If your goal is essentially:

"I want to find one good, established small business, buy it, become CEO, and spend the next 5–10+ years owning and growing it." then I would investigate SFA first, and simultaneously learn about self-funded ETA.

The key question isn't really "Which accelerator should I join?" It's what size/type of business do you want to buy, and how much personal capital/experience do you bring to the search?

For example, there's a big difference between:

• buying a $1.5M HVAC company with an SBA loan,
• buying a $7M industrial-services company with institutional search-fund investors, and
• buying a $20M business through a traditional search fund.

If you tell me (1) your age/career background, (2) approximate personal capital available, (3) whether you have an MBA, (4) what industries interest you, and (5) roughly what size business you'd like to own, I can narrow this down to the best 5–10 search-fund/ETA programs and investors for your specific profile, including their economics, eligibility, deal size, and application process.

You don't necessarily need to join an accelerator. Another increasingly common route is a self-funded search: you fund your own search, find a business, and then raise acquisition capital from investors and/or use SBA/bank debt and seller financing.

SearchFund.org describes self-funded searches as one of the fastest-growing paths, with searchers often targeting smaller companies—roughly $500K–$2.5M of EBITDA—and using some combination of personal equity, outside equity, seller financing, and senior debt.

This route can be attractive because you can potentially retain substantially more ownership than in a traditional funded search, but you're taking on more of the search risk yourself.

3. Traditional search fund

The classic model is slightly different. You first raise money from investors specifically to pay you to search full-time. Once you find a company, those investors then have the opportunity to fund the acquisition.

The typical targets are larger than self-funded searches—SearchFund.org cites roughly $5–30M purchase prices and $1–5M EBITDA as common traditional-search territory.

There are also independent search-fund investors, family offices, and ETA communities that can help you assemble this capital base.

What I'd recommend for you

If your goal is essentially:

"I want to find one good, established small business, buy it, become CEO, and spend the next 5–10+ years owning and growing it." then I would investigate SFA first, and simultaneously learn about self-funded ETA.

The key question isn't really "Which accelerator should I join?" It's what size/type of business do you want to buy, and how much personal capital/experience do you bring to the search?

For example, there's a big difference between:

A search fund accelerator (SFA) provides aspiring entrepreneurs with a salary during the search phase, operational mentorship, legal and financial templates, and guaranteed equity capital for the final acquisition.

Prominent Search Fund Accelerators

Review the leading accelerators below to see which model fits your background and geographic focus:

Core Differences: Traditional Search vs. Accelerator Model

• Traditional Search Fund : You independently raise a small pool of capital (~$300k–$500k) from 8–15 individual and institutional investors to fund a 2-year search salary and expenses. You own more governance control initially, but the fundraising process is exhausting.
• Search Fund Accelerator (SFA) : The accelerator funds your search salary directly and guarantees the equity capital for the buyout, reducing fundraising friction. In exchange, they take a larger pre-negotiated equity stake and maintain an active advisory role post-acquisition.

To help narrow down which accelerator fits you best, tell me:

• What is your target geography (US, Europe, Asia)?
• Do you have prior management or deal-making experience?
• Are you looking for a traditional self-funded model or an accelerator-backed cohort?

Yes — what you’re describing is usually called Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). A search fund or search-fund accelerator can be a very good fit if your goal is “find one solid existing business, buy it, and become its CEO” rather than start a company from scratch.

The ecosystem has also expanded beyond the traditional search-fund model, so there are several routes worth considering.

The options I'd look at

1. searchfundaccelerator.com — closest match

This is probably the first program I'd investigate based on your description.

SFA backs individual searchers, provides coaching and a network, and—importantly—has a fund of committed capital available when you find an acquisition. It says it has worked with 46 searchers, with 27 becoming CEOs after acquiring businesses.

Their current requirements include:

• Solo searchers (not partnerships)
• Nationwide U.S. search
• U.S. work authorization
• They typically look for highly motivated MBA graduates

Search Fund AcceleratorWhy I'd put it first: you aren't just getting education—you are looking for a partner that can help you actually execute the search and finance the acquisition.

2. Traditional search fund

This is the classic model developed at Stanford.

You raise a relatively small amount of capital to search full-time for a company, generally for up to about two years. Once you find a suitable business, your investors provide additional capital for the acquisition. You then become CEO and operate the company.

Stanford's newest 2026 study is particularly useful: it reports that the median purchase price for acquisitions in 2024–25 was about $16 million, and that the typical search took around 20 months.

This route makes the most sense if you're comfortable pitching investors and want substantial institutional support.

3. Self-funded search / “fundless” search

This is the other route I'd seriously consider.

Instead of raising a search fund before you start, you fund the search yourself, identify a company, and then assemble the acquisition financing—potentially using investor equity, seller financing and bank/SBA debt.

This has become increasingly common. SearchFund.org describes self-funded searches as perhaps the fastest-growing path and notes that they often target smaller businesses than traditional search funds.

The big attraction is economics: you can potentially retain substantially more ownership than with a traditional search fund.

The tradeoff is that you have to build your own support system—deal sourcing, diligence expertise, financing relationships, experienced mentors, etc.

4. Searchfunder

searchfunder.com is worth joining even if you ultimately pursue SFA or a self-funded search.

It's a large ETA community where searchers, investors, brokers and business owners interact. It also has hundreds of brokers posting deals and an internship/job ecosystem that can be useful for getting exposure before committing to your own search.

I'd view it more as infrastructure/community for your search, rather than an accelerator that will personally take you through the process.

5. SearchFund.org

searchfund.org is another excellent starting point because it maintains resources around search funds, self-funded searches, investors and accelerators.

Stanford also just released its 2026 Search Fund Study, so we're in a particularly good position right now to evaluate the economics of the model using current data rather than relying on older search-fund lore.

The important question: what size business do you want?

This is actually the first thing I'd figure out before choosing a program.

There are roughly three different games:

These aren't rigid boundaries, but they represent meaningfully different strategies. SearchFund.org describes traditional search funds as generally targeting $5–30M companies, while self-funded searchers commonly pursue smaller businesses.

And ETA can go substantially smaller: Penn's ETA program notes that acquisitions can range from $25,000 to $25 million.

What I'd recommend for you

If your actual goal is:

“I want to find one good, boring, profitable company, buy it, become CEO, and spend the next 5–10+ years operating it.” I'd investigate three paths simultaneously:

1. Apply to Search Fund Accelerator
2. Talk to traditional search-fund investors
3. Learn the self-funded/SBA acquisition model

Then choose based on your background, personal capital, desired purchase price, and how much ownership you're willing to give up.

One particularly important point: you don't necessarily need an MBA to do this. SFA currently says its entrepreneurs are typically highly motivated MBA graduates, but the broader ETA ecosystem includes experienced operators and other professionals.

If you want, I can take this one step further

Tell me your age, career/background, approximate personal capital available, whether you have an MBA, and what size business you'd ideally like to own (e.g. $2M, $5M, $10M purchase price).

I can then give you a shortlist of 5–10 specific search-fund accelerators/investors/programs you should approach, ranked by fit, along with what each is looking for and how I'd approach the application.

Instead of raising a search fund before you start, you fund the search yourself, identify a company, and then assemble the acquisition financing—potentially using investor equity, seller financing and bank/SBA debt.

This has become increasingly common. SearchFund.org describes self-funded searches as perhaps the fastest-growing path and notes that they often target smaller businesses than traditional search funds.

The big attraction is economics: you can potentially retain substantially more ownership than with a traditional search fund.

The tradeoff is that you have to build your own support system—deal sourcing, diligence expertise, financing relationships, experienced mentors, etc.

4. Searchfunder

searchfunder.com is worth joining even if you ultimately pursue SFA or a self-funded search.

It's a large ETA community where searchers, investors, brokers and business owners interact. It also has hundreds of brokers posting deals and an internship/job ecosystem that can be useful for getting exposure before committing to your own search.

I'd view it more as infrastructure/community for your search, rather than an accelerator that will personally take you through the process.

5. SearchFund.org

searchfund.org is another excellent starting point because it maintains resources around search funds, self-funded searches, investors and accelerators.

Stanford also just released its 2026 Search Fund Study, so we're in a particularly good position right now to evaluate the economics of the model using current data rather than relying on older search-fund lore.

The important question: what size business do you want?

This is actually the first thing I'd figure out before choosing a program.

There are roughly three different games:

These aren't rigid boundaries, but they represent meaningfully different strategies. SearchFund.org describes traditional search funds as generally targeting $5–30M companies, while self-funded searchers commonly pursue smaller businesses.

And ETA can go substantially smaller: Penn's ETA program notes that acquisitions can range from $25,000 to $25 million.

What I'd recommend for you

If your actual goal is:

“I want to find one good, boring, profitable company, buy it, become CEO, and spend the next 5–10+ years operating it.” I'd investigate three paths simultaneously:

Entering the world of Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (EtA) via a search fund or accelerator is an exciting path to becoming a CEO. Traditional search funds involve raising a small pool of capital from 10–20 individual investors to fund a 2-year search, whereas search fund accelerators typically provide a structured cohort environment, institutional capital, formal training, and dedicated operational mentorship.

Top search fund accelerators and institutional investors in the ecosystem include:

• Search Fund Accelerator (SFA) : Founded by Timothy Bovard, SFA is recognized as the original accelerator model. They run structured cohorts (operating out of hubs like Boston and New Orleans) and fund 100% of the search and equity capital requirements for the eventual acquisition.
• Pacific Lake Partners : One of the absolute largest and most prominent institutional investors in the space. They don't just provide capital; they provide extensive human capital, recruiting support, and strategic guidance throughout the entire lifecycle of the search and operation.
• Relay Investments : Focuses heavily on backing and mentoring first-time searchers, providing both capital and deep operational/tactical resources through every step from sourcing to post-acquisition value creation.
• SME Ventures : Combines upfront training, modern searcher tooling, one-on-one coaching, and capital to help acquire lower-middle-market companies.
• Trilogy Search Partners : Works hand-in-hand with early-stage search entrepreneurs, offering partnership, capital, and an experienced sounding board through the acquisition and scaling phases.

To help narrow down which accelerator or funding path fits you best, tell me:

• What is your professional background (e.g., MBA, consulting, operations, sales)?
• Are you looking for a traditional self-funded model , a traditional syndicated search fund , or a structured accelerator cohort?
• Do you have a target geography or industry in mind?

Navigating the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) space via a search fund or accelerator is an incredible path to becoming a CEO. Unlike traditional self-funded searches where you fly completely solo, accelerators provide structured bootcamps, shared resources, active mentorship, and committed capital pools.

The top search fund accelerators and institutional investors in the space feature distinct models and resources:

• Search Fund Accelerator (SFA) — Widely recognized as the pioneer of the accelerator model for searchers. Based in Boston, SFA runs an intensive initial bootcamp, provides ongoing weekly coaching, helps with deep due diligence, and supplies committed capital to close the deal so you can transition straight into running the company.
• Pacific Lake Partners — One of the largest and most prominent institutional investors in the search fund ecosystem. They back both traditional searchers and accelerator-backed models, offering massive pattern recognition, extensive network access, and a dedicated value-creation team post-acquisition.
• Relay Investments — Focuses heavily on backing first-time entrepreneurs, providing capital, operational guidance, and structured coaching through the search, acquisition, and scaling phases.
• Trilogy Search Partners — Known for working very closely with individual search fund entrepreneurs, offering both early-stage funding and hands-on operational mentorship drawing from their own track record as operators and investors.
• NextGen Growth Partners — Blends traditional search fund principles with a private equity/accelerator hybrid approach, supporting searchers through the sourcing phase and partnering deeply during operations.

To help narrow down which of these paths or partners might fit you best, could you share:

• Are you looking for a traditional accelerator (cohort-based training, shared office/tech stack, direct sourcing support) or a pure institutional capital partner?
• What is your timeline for launching a search?

A search fund accelerator is probably the closest match for what you’re describing: a program that helps you find, finance, acquire, and become CEO of one existing business (often called Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, or ETA). The typical model is not buying a franchise or starting a startup; it is acquiring an established small business and operating it.

Here are some of the better-known options to explore:

Search fund accelerators / ETA programs

Search Fund Accelerator

• One of the most established dedicated search fund accelerators.
• Selects aspiring CEOs, provides coaching, search methodology, peer community, and committed acquisition capital when a suitable business is found.
• Best fit if you want a structured path and are willing to commit full-time to becoming an operator.

• A broader ETA/search-fund community and resource hub.
• Useful for learning the ecosystem, finding investors, understanding deal structures, and comparing traditional search funds vs. self-funded searches.

Fox Three Partners

• Offers a search accelerator model combining acquisition education, mentorship, and potential investment support.
• Worth considering if you want a more operator-focused community.

Other paths besides accelerators

Traditional search fund

You raise money from investors to fund your search, then investors typically provide acquisition capital once you identify a target. Search funds commonly target profitable, established companies with stable cash flows rather than high-growth startups.

Typical target:

• Revenue: roughly $2M–$30M
• EBITDA: roughly $1M–$5M
• Industries: services, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, specialty businesses

Self-funded search

You fund the search yourself (often with savings or a small investor group), then raise acquisition financing after finding a company. This can preserve more ownership but requires more personal risk.

CEO-in-training / operator programs

Some groups focus less on the classic search-fund structure and more on developing future CEOs who will acquire and run companies.

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What these programs usually look for

You do not necessarily need an MBA, but strong candidates often have:

• General management, operations, sales, finance, consulting, or investing experience
• Leadership experience managing people or budgets
• Ability to communicate with business owners
• Willingness to spend 12–24 months searching before closing a deal
• Commitment to operating the acquired company for years afterward

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A few questions that would help narrow the right path

1. What is your background? (operator, sales, finance, engineering, military, consulting, etc.)
2. Are you looking to leave your job and search full-time, or do this alongside your current work?
3. What size business are you aiming for? - <$1M purchase price

• $1M–$5M
• $5M–$20M+

4. Do you have personal capital available for the search/acquisition? (even a rough range is enough)
5. Are you open to relocating to run the company?

With those answers, I can suggest whether you should pursue an accelerator, a self-funded search, SBA-backed acquisition, or a different ETA route.