INSEAD ETA and Search Funds Podcast
INSEAD's ETA and Search Funds Podcast explores Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, offering insights for entrepreneurs and investors. Each episode features people at various stages of the ETA journey, from search to operations to exit, as well as experienced investors. It highlights success stories and lessons learned, with practical strategies for navigating acquisitions and leading businesses. The series also addresses the global succession crisis, showing how ETA can ensure business continuity and preserve legacies. Whether you are curious or committed, it provides actionable knowledge on ETA and search funds.
Épisodes
Insights from: Iberia - Searcher, Operator & Investor, Tiago Paixão of Zinc Capital, TECLENAJUNCOR & CONDE
In September 2019, Tiago Paixão and his partner began searching for a business in Portugal. Six months later, COVID brought the process to a standstill. Then, unexpectedly, the deal they thought had disappeared came back to the table.We caught up with Tiago Paixão, co-CEO of Teclena Juncor and co-founder of Zinc Capital, to explore the journey from search fund to industrial distribution platform.
Insights from: the first Search Fund in Peru - Searcher, Operator & Investor, Nicolas Lulli of Colca Capital
What does it take to turn a local search fund into a regional platform - and what can operators, investors, and searchers learn from building through one of the toughest operating environments imaginable? We caught up with Nicolas Lulli, managing partner and co-founder of Colca Capital, the first institutional search fund in Peru. After starting his career at Goldman Sachs in New York and later jo
Insights from: a UK Searcher - Melda Eren, Perennia Capital
Some search fund stories are about fit. Melda’s is about conviction.We caught up with Melda Eren, founder and managing partner of Perennia Capital, whose path into ETA runs through consulting, international growth, and one of the sharpest operating environments in recent years. After helping launch Getir as its first international employee on the ground, Melda brought that experience into a search
Insights from: an Entrepreneur - Yoni Wehbe, Kinetico Health
What does it take to build a healthcare platform from first principles, and what does that journey reveal about buying, scaling, and operating in ETA? We caught up with Yoni Wehbe, co-founder and co-CEO of Kinetico Health, where he leads the group’s operational growth and helps evaluate new partners for the platform. Before Kinetico, Yoni built experience across consulting, investment banking, and
Insights from: an Investor - Dr Thomas Buehler of Valmaris Partners
What separates search funds from PE giants - and how can searchers win in succession deals? We sat down with Dr. Thomas Buehler of Valmaris Private Investors, a 37-year PE veteran who co-founded Afinum Management, raised €1.8 billion across seven funds, completed 100+ acquisitions, and invested in 95 search funds. Now channeling his expertise into dedicated ETA backing, Thomas shares battle-tested
Insights from: the latest Investors. Meet INSETA Partners - Kieron Chalder & Dr Gernot Eisinger
What does it take to build an institutional-grade ETA investor from first principles - and why does it matter for every searcher, operator, and investor in this space? We caught up with Kieron Chalder and Dr. Gernot Eisinger, returning guests from season 1, who together with Professor Ivana Naumovska and Lukas Krauss, founded INSETA. INSETA is a dedicated platform supporting search fund entreprene
Insights from: an Entrepreneur - Alex Simmons, Inerva Software
Alexander Simmons doesn't do polish - and that's exactly why this conversation matters. We had to cut some real gems on account of Kudirat's maniacal laughter.Alex is the founder of Voyager Equity, Australia's very first traditional search fund, launched in 2019 when the model was virtually unknown Down Under. After raising capital, conducting a rigorous search, and navigating COVID-era complicati
Insights from: an Entrepreneur - Catching up with Monika Wincel, Rolfroz
In Season 1, Episode 1, Monika joined the INSEAD Entrepreneurship-through-Acquisition & Search Funds podcast as Poland’s first female-led search fund founder, sharing her early fundraising and search journey.In this Season 2 follow-up, we catch up in person at the INSEAD ETA Conference in Singapore (November 2025), just after she completed the acquisition of Rolfroz.This is an extra in-depth,
Insights from: an Investor - Ambit Partners (part 2)
In this episode of the INSEAD ETA & Search Funds Hub podcast, host Kudirat Olateju speaks with Rob LeBlanc, co-founder of Ambit Partners, about the roles of entrepreneurship through acquisition and small business in driving economic change and positive impact.In Rob’s journey around the world, he has seen how search funds can be powerful vehicles for directing private capital into shallow mark
Insights from: an Investor - Ambit Partners (part 1)
The search fund model is no longer a North American story.In this episode of the INSEAD ETA & Search Funds Hub podcast, host Kudirat Olateju speaks with Andrew Locke and Neil Wyma; both INSEAD alumni and partners at Ambit, about how they're backing exceptional entrepreneurs across Europe, Latin America, APAC, and the Middle East. Their journey began at INSEAD, where they first heard Will Thorn
Insights from: TWO Entrepeneurs - Daniele Schiavello and Giulio Marini, Napolillo Industry
Launching a search fund is never a straightforward path - especially in smaller ETA markets like Italy. In this episode of the INSEAD ETA & Search Funds Hub podcast, we sit down with Daniele and Giulio of Napolillo Industry, to explore how they built their partnership, shaped their investment thesis, and faced the uncertainty of fundraising and deal-making.Beyond the transaction, Daniele and G
Insights from: an Entrepreneur - Pawel Malon, SINGU/Micad
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is a rapidly evolving path for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale companies, yet it comes with a host of challenges. While the potential to acquire and transform a business is immense, success requires sharp focus, credibility, and a relentless drive to execute. In this episode of the INSEAD ETA & Search Funds Hub podcast, host Kudirat Olateju s
Insights from: The 2025 INSEAD ETA Conference
What happens when over 350 of the sharpest minds in Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition gather in one room? Pure entrepreneurial gold. For our Season 1 finale, we're bringing you the highlight reel from the INSEAD ETA Conference 2025 - six power-packed segments that distill hours of insights into your personal 30-minute masterclass. From Fontainebleau's historic halls, we captured the conversatio
Insights from: an Entrepreneur, Andrew Black
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) can feel like a roller-coaster of strategy, capital, and heart. In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Black - Managing Director of VetCare Canada and architect of a 50-clinic veterinary roll-up - to unpack how he turned a thesis on “mission-driven pet care” into a nationwide platform. Andrew pulls back the curtain on: Finding the right industry fit: wh
Insights from: a Searcher, A.C. Goh
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is a path that requires equal parts strategy, adaptability, and relationship-building. In this episode of the INSEAD ETA podcast, we sit down with A.C. Goh, founder of Garlic Equity Capital, Singapore’s first traditional search fund, to explore his journey and the unique challenges of navigating the search phase in Southeast Asia. A.C. shares how his care
Insights from: an Entrepreneur, Kieron Chalder
Entrepreneurship often begins with a bold leap, and for Kieron Chalder, that leap meant transitioning from a corporate career to pursuing his entrepreneurial vision through acquisition. As co-CEO of Emotion and founder of the search fund Iberica Cap, Kieron’s journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and innovation. In this episode of the INSEAD ETA podcast, we delve into Kieron’s experiences, f
Insights from: an Advisor and Investor, Dr Gernot Eisinger
As an evolving pathway that blends strategic vision with hands-on business leadership, Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is growing in popularity. For aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors alike, understanding the nuances of this field is critical to success. In this episode of the INSEAD ETA podcast, we speak with Dr. Gernot Eisinger, a leading voice in the ETA space and a foun
Insights from: a Searcher, Monika Wincel
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is becoming an increasingly popular career path for recent MBA graduates and mid-career professionals. The entrepreneurial route of acquiring and scaling a business holds immense promise, however the journey is anything but straightforward. In this episode of the INSEAD ETA and Search Funds podcast, we speak with Monika Wincel, founder of CEDO Capital and
