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From Search to CEO: Mastering the ETA Journey

From Search to CEO: Mastering the ETA Journey

Offered by Tina C.

5.0

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Search Fund Expert | From Thesis to Close | Stanford GSB

Stanford Graduate School of Business Logo

Studied at Stanford Graduate School of Business

Zeus Global Logo

Works at Zeus Global

Description

The Search Fund Coaching package is designed for entrepreneurs who are ready to pursue the ETA path and take ownership of a business. This package offers comprehensive guidance to help you confidently move through every stage of the journey, from shaping your strategy to stepping into the CEO role post-acquisition. Key components of this package can include, but aren't limited to: • Clarify your goals, strengths, and areas for development to ensure you’re prepared for the ETA process. • Compare self-funded, traditional, and incubated approaches to determine the structure that best fits your vision. • Build a differentiated investment thesis and map industries that align with your skills and investor appetite. • Develop polished materials, refine your narrative, and learn effective tactics for securing investor commitments. • Establish a repeatable sourcing engine, including outreach strategies, broker relationships, and deal tracking systems. • Use structured criteria to screen targets quickly and dig deeper into the most promising opportunities. • Learn strategies for structuring offers and managing seller dynamics to reach favorable terms. • Apply a disciplined process to uncover risks across financial, legal, and operational dimensions. • Prepare for the first 100 days post-close, focusing on culture-building, strategy execution, and team management. • Access ongoing mentorship to adjust your strategy, solve challenges, and maximize value creation as an operator. By the end of this package, you’ll walk away with a comprehensive ETA playbook, a refined strategy tailored to your profile, and the confidence to lead a successful acquisition and transition into the CEO seat.


What you'll get from this package

Customized ETA Roadmap – Tailored plan based on your goals, readiness, and fit across ETA models

Investor & Fundraising Playbook – Guidance on crafting your pitch, building relationships, and raising capital

Evaluation & Diligence Frameworks – Tools to analyze targets, run valuations, and conduct disciplined due diligence

Acquisition & Negotiation Support – Strategies for structuring offers, managing terms, and closing deals

CEO Transition Plan – Practical guidance for stepping into leadership and creating value post-close


Additional details

Coaching delivered via live sessions and .

Refund Policy

Services included:

Due Diligence

Investment Analysis

Board & Investor Management

Deal Sourcing

Industry & Company Targeting

Operational Strategy & Support

Funding Strategy

Thesis Development

Process Roadmap

Investor Selection


Tina C.

Offered by Tina C.

Joined July 2025

5.0

Search Fund Expert | From Thesis to Close | Stanford GSB

I help aspiring entrepreneurs successfully navigate the Search Fund and ETA journey — from refining your thesis and sourcing high-quality deals to raising capital, running diligence, and closing with confidence. Whether you're pursuing a traditional or self-funded path, I coach searchers on how to evaluate businesses, craft investor-ready materials, and execute like an operator-in-waiting. As the Founder of Zeus Global, I’ve lived the path firsthand — launching a PE platform, sourcing proprietary deals, and leading end-to-end M&A processes across vertical SaaS and tech-enabled services. I’ve raised capital from family offices, PE firms, and strategic partners while managing every stage of the transaction, including modeling, legal structuring, and post-close value creation. My earlier experience includes investing roles at LeapFrog Investments, the Africa Finance Corporation, and a $5B family office. I hold an MBA from Stanford GSB. I’ve coached first-time searchers, career switchers, and non-traditional candidates — with a particular focus on helping them develop conviction, tell a differentiated story, and build trust with capital partners.

Experience level: Executive

10+ people coached for Search Fund & ETA

$8,925

30h of coaching