A full-cycle program for aspiring and active acquisition entrepreneurs
The ETA Hub begins with a structured 90-day cohort experience and continues with support throughout the search journey, helping fellows prepare for, improve, and navigate their search with greater clarity, credibility, and judgment. Fellows are exposed to each stage of entrepreneurship through acquisition so they can spot issues earlier, ask better questions, and make stronger decisions as their search develops.
We take a multifaceted approach: live cohort sessions, data-informed feedback, peer discussion, targeted mentor support, Searcher Circles, Deal Huddles, and access to VAULT. The Hub gives fellows a place to sharpen their pitch, pressure-test their plan, troubleshoot live search issues, and build the pattern recognition needed to move toward acquisition with confidence. New for 2026, the Hub also includes ETA PitchRef, our proprietary narrative evaluation system built specifically for EtA.
The next cohort begins September 2026. Pricing depends on your enrollment window. Searchfunder members can use code SEARCHFUNDER for a discount.
New for 2026
ETA PitchRef brings evidence-based pitch evaluation into the ETA Hub
ETA PitchRef is our proprietary, AI-enhanced narrative evaluation system built specifically for entrepreneurship through acquisition. Drawing on patterns from 3,000+ EtA-specific videos in VAULT and informed by real investor and operator experience, it helps fellows strengthen the 2–5 minute narrative they use with investors, lenders, and sellers.
Integrated into the ETA Hub, PitchRef adds a structured feedback layer to the broader cohort experience. Fellows use it to sharpen credibility, clarify positioning, and improve how they communicate under pressure, then continue refining their thinking through live discussion, mentor input, and peer feedback.
Overview
There is a lot of ETA information available. But finding it, evaluating its worth, and figuring out what it means takes time — time that could go into the actual work of the search. And hunting and pecking for answers carries real risk: of missing something key, misreading signals, or drawing the wrong lessons from limited context. The ETA Hub is built for professionals who would rather learn from others’ hard-won experience in a supportive environment.
The experience begins with a 90-day cohort program that helps fellows build traction through live sessions, practical frameworks, data-informed feedback, and direct access to experienced guidance. From there, support continues through Searcher Circles, Deal Huddles, community channels, and targeted mentor support so fellows can pressure-test decisions, troubleshoot issues, and keep improving as the search becomes more complex.
The goal is not to move fellows through a rigid formula or preset scripts. It is to help them develop the judgment, credibility, confidence, resilience, and support system they need to navigate the search and business-buying journey.
Who it’s for
The EtA Hub is designed for growth-minded professionals who want a more intentional, better-supported path into acquisition entrepreneurship.
- Searchers who want better structure, stronger practices, and more traction
- Owners considering acquisition as a path to leveling up and growing their business
- Students trying to clarify which EtA path best fits their goals, resources, and life circumstances
- Acquisition entrepreneurs who value thoughtful guidance, community, and practical support in a fast-evolving EtA landscape
Fellows come from a range of backgrounds, including operators, executives, business owners, attorneys, consultants, corporate leaders, and others preparing to pursue acquisition entrepreneurship with greater clarity and discipline.
What fellows build in the first 90 days — and continue strengthening throughout the search
The first 90 days are designed to create meaningful traction quickly while setting fellows up for long-term success. Fellows build the narrative, plan, judgment, and support system they need to prepare for the search, improve what is already underway, and course-correct when new information, feedback, or opportunities emerge.
Pitch
Develop a clearer, more credible 2–5 minute narrative you can use with investors, lenders, brokers, and sellers.
Plan
Develop a practical, personalized plan for your search model, finances, sourcing approach, and next 6–12 months.
Peers
Join a trusted cohort of searchers, mentors, and advisors you can continue learning from and leaning on long after the cohort ends.
Pattern Recognition
Improve your ability to ask better questions, recognize patterns earlier, pressure-test decisions, troubleshoot issues, and move through the search process with greater confidence.
What’s included
The ETA Hub combines live learning, VAULT access, the EtA Guidebook, practical tools, expert support, and ongoing access to a broader ecosystem. The structure matters. The shared base of understanding matters. The feedback loop matters. Together, they help fellows turn information into better judgment, clearer decisions, and practical next steps.
- Six live, interactive cohort sessions, three hours each, exposing fellows to each major phase of the search journey
- The EtA Guidebook, a practical workbook designed to help you absorb the material, sharpen your thinking, and apply each session directly to your own search
- Practical frameworks, tools, and materials to support traction, reflection, and decision-making
- Two optional EtA PitchRef Labs, our proprietary narrative evaluation system for EtA
- Access to VAULT’s repository of 3,000+ EtA-specific videos that are AI-enabled with Ziobot, plus curated field guides and checklists exclusively for Hub fellows
- Direct guidance, structured feedback, and targeted mentor support in areas where fellows need additional perspective
- Monthly Searcher Circles and weekly Deal Huddles for peer discussion, live troubleshooting, and decision pressure-testing
- Slack and WhatsApp channels for real-time questions, support, and connection
- Access to a community of peers, mentors, and advisors building from a shared language and common foundation
- Ongoing support throughout the search journey, with continued perspective as questions, concerns, opportunities, and decisions evolve
How it works
We begin with fit, story, and positioning so fellows can better understand how to present themselves as future CEOs and acquisition entrepreneurs. From there, fellows are exposed to the major stages of the search journey, including search design, financing strategy, sourcing, negotiation, diligence, operating readiness, and pitch development.
The Hub is structured, but versatile and flexible. Fellows use the shared language, frameworks, and expectations from the cohort to have better conversations, receive more useful feedback, and troubleshoot the issues that arise in their own searches.
The 90-day cohort creates the initial foundation and momentum. The ongoing support helps fellows keep pressure-testing their thinking, adapting their approach, and improving their decision-making as the search unfolds.
Ongoing support
The cohort is only the beginning. Many of the most important questions in entrepreneurship through acquisition emerge after the initial learning phase — when industry theses need pressure-testing, sourcing becomes more active, diligence gets more complex, and conversations become more consequential.
That is why the ETA Hub is designed as a broader support system, not just a short program. Through Searcher Circles, Deal Huddles, community channels, and targeted mentor support, fellows continue to have places to raise concerns, troubleshoot live search issues, stress-test decisions, spot problems early, and keep building traction throughout the search process.
Once a fellow acquires a business — whether that happens in two months, two years, or longer — we also provide six months of support to help with the transition into the CEO role.
The goal is not simply to help searchers save time or money. It is to help them build stronger judgment, greater credibility, and better readiness for the realities of acquisition and leadership.
Why this approach works
The problem is rarely a lack of information. More often, it is a lack of structure, context, feedback, and practical ways to turn knowledge into better decisions.
ETA Hub is built around an intentional feedback loop. Fellows are exposed to each stage of the search journey, then use data-informed feedback, peer discussion, mentor perspective, Searcher Circles, and Deal Huddles to pressure-test their thinking and improve their approach as real questions arise.
ETA PitchRef is one tool inside that broader process, helping fellows strengthen the 2–5 minute narrative they use with investors, lenders, and sellers through an evidence-based rubric, structured feedback, and live review.
What fellows say
“Karen has a gift for helping people see around corners. Through her coaching, network, and strategic insight, I gained a stronger sense of how to position myself, how to think more clearly about next steps, and how to navigate the entrepreneurship journey with more confidence.”
Client testimonial
“What stood out most was the combination of thoughtful guidance, sharper frameworks, and support that helped me tighten my thesis, clarify my story, and move with more traction.”
Client testimonial
“The biggest difference was not just what I learned, but the quality of the thinking and feedback around me. It helped me spot issues earlier, ask better questions, and build confidence in how I was approaching the search.”
Client testimonial
Choose your path
For 2026, the ETA Hub offers both full-cycle and modular pathways. You can begin with the most comprehensive level of support or start with the core 90-day experience and continue into ongoing support when it makes sense for your search. Scholarship opportunities may also be available for eligible applicants.
Full-Cycle PlanOur most comprehensive option. Includes 1:1 pre-cohort sessions, the 90-day program, ongoing access to search support, and six months of CEO Roundtable support after acquisition. |
Scholarships and partner opportunitiesScholarship opportunities may be available for eligible applicants, including through partner organizations and special initiatives. If cost is a concern, we encourage you to reach out. |
Modular Pathway
For applicants who prefer a step-by-step approach, the ETA Hub also offers a modular pathway: begin with the core 90-day program, then continue into ongoing support when it makes sense for your search.
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Step 1 ETA Hub – 90-Day ProgramIncludes the core cohort-based Hub experience with live sessions, tools, VAULT access, community, and support to help you build traction over the first 90 days. |
Step 2 Ongoing Support PlanAvailable for fellows or alumni who want continued search support, perspective, and structured guidance as they move deeper into sourcing, diligence, and decision-making. |
Common questions
Who is the ETA Hub for?
The Hub is for aspiring and active acquisition entrepreneurs who want a more structured, better-supported path into entrepreneurship through acquisition. Some fellows are still evaluating fit. Others have already started and want stronger practices, sharper positioning, and more grounded support.
What is the time commitment?
The Hub begins with six live cohort sessions of three hours each over 90 days. Beyond that, fellows can continue engaging with ongoing support, community, and guidance throughout the search journey, depending on the path they choose.
What will I leave with at the end?
By the end of the initial 90-day experience, fellows typically leave with four major outcomes:
Pitch — a clearer, more credible 2–5 minute narrative
Plan — a practical, personalized plan for the next stage of the search
Peers — a trusted cohort and support network
Pattern Recognition — stronger pattern recognition and better decision-making
What is ETA PitchRef?
ETA PitchRef is our proprietary, evidence-based narrative evaluation system built specifically for entrepreneurship through acquisition. Integrated into the ETA Hub, it helps fellows strengthen the 2–5 minute pitch they use with investors, lenders, brokers, and sellers through structured feedback, AI-enhanced analysis, and live review.
Is the Hub a step-by-step program?
The Hub is structured, but it is versatile enough to allow fellows to dive deep where they need more support and move more quickly through areas where they already have a strong foundation. Fellows are exposed to each stage of the search journey so they can prepare, improve, and make better decisions as their own search journey evolves. The live sessions, Searcher Circles, Deal Huddles, and mentor support help fellows apply the material to their specific goals, constraints, questions, and opportunities.
What search models does the Hub support?
The Hub supports a range of EtA paths, including self-funded search, traditional search, partner-led models, and other entrepreneurial acquisition strategies. Part of the process is helping fellows better understand which path fits them best.
What if I am still unsure whether entrepreneurship through acquisition is right for me?
That is exactly the kind of question the Hub is designed to help with. The process gives you a chance to evaluate fit, clarify your goals, and explore whether acquisition entrepreneurship is the right path before you commit more deeply.
Are scholarships available?
Yes. Scholarship opportunities may be available for eligible applicants, including through partner organizations and special initiatives.
If you have questions about fit or scholarship availability, please reach out before applying.
What if my goals change during the process?
That happens. Part of the value of the Hub is having the space and support to refine your thinking as you learn more. Depending on your situation, that may mean adapting your work inside the Hub, redirecting toward a better-fit path, or identifying the next best form of support within the broader ecosystem.
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on your enrollment window. Searchfunder members can use code SEARCHFUNDER for a discount. Review the tuition options above for current pathways.
Ready to build traction with real support?
If you would rather learn from others’ experience than hunt and peck for answers alone — with structured exposure to each stage of the search, data-informed feedback, live troubleshooting, sharper judgment, and support that continues as real decisions arise — the ETA Hub may be the right next step.