Investing equity in Search / ETA deals
About ETA and me
Previously, I spent 12 yrs as VP Sales for 2 fast-growing and acquired technology companies. I learned the ins and outs of driving the plans, teams, systems, and culture required for growth. Then I acquired a Bay Area vines and wines company, with 5x growth achieved in 10 years.
You can see how it operates at postandtrellis.com and lahondawinery.com. Happy customers and happy employees mean happy results, with a lot more fun and success ahead!
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Now I can condense those responsibilities to 2-3 days a week and my kid is at school. So for the next adventure, I'm investing in and helping with others' acquisitions.
These are typically minority equity stakes in leveraged buyouts, alongside ETA self-funded searchers and independent sponsors planning to both grow and further acquire other similar companies.
So far, investments include companies in medical homecare, holiday home maintenance, electricity backup services, remote IT support, restaurant maintenance, niche manufacturing, waste management, and B2B software.
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Are you an acquiring SMB entrepreneur who’s under LOI and has an equity gap to close?
I can just send the check and champagne, or help you rock this.
Starting when under LOI, I offer the helpful & thoughtful support of an owner-operator that’s a few shades savvier after my own ventures' many lessons. I also offer the benefits of a deep network, including both sector & skill experts and an active group of like-minded fellow ETA investors.
Many investors don’t have the time or inclination to help beyond asking for updated financials, long-winded analyses and fast exits. But the diligence, acquisition, consolidation, growth, lots more growth, and exit phases are all full of snakepits and opportunities where having suitably experienced investors pays huge dividends.
Want to go fast? Go solo. Want to go far? Get the right investors.
Contact me when you’re under LOI and raring to go. Or if you're an investor wanting to share deal flow.
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For those of you acquiring:
- Please get in touch for signed LOI deals only. I'm focused on diligence & plans for live deals, helping completed acquisitions, and my own company, so can't offer time before that. Bookmark me and get in touch later!
- My 'investment thesis' is broad and unsurprising - a promising market, a quality deal, strongly recurring/repeating revenues, viable growth and acquisition plans, leaders with talent and experience.
- If you've not got a signed LOI yet, hang in there - this is worth it! If you are under LOI, watch out! You're now hunting for alternative deals and landmines. Find them before you step stridently into a minefield. Either way, happy hunting!
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Contact me on 415 202 4428 or david@posttrellisventures.com if I may be able to help.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhpage/
https://acquiringminds.co/articles/david-page-post-trellis
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About ETA and search funds:
$ results study - https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/case-studies/2022-search-fund-study-selected-observations
Economist article - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1izAvToavu7VaigKQjD0DXzXCfMLIM6qYyv6CrY4xMHc/edit?usp=sharing
Pros & cons - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/search-funds-private-equity-class-own-ben-saward/
'How to' guide - https://store.hbr.org/product/hbr-guide-to-buying-a-small-business/10090