Search Fund & Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Coaching, Events, and Resources

Welcome to my profile! With over two decades of experience in leadership roles across various industries, I bring a wealth of knowledge to aspiring search fund entrepreneurs. As a former Searcher, now CEO and Search Fund Investor, I have successfully navigated the complexities of acquiring and managing a company, backed by a group of Italian and international investors. My journey involved screening over 400 manufacturing companies and negotiating multiple deals, providing me with firsthand insights into the search fund process. I have coached 30+ searchers, helping them refine their strategies and achieve their entrepreneurial goals. If you're looking to embark on your search fund journey, let's connect and craft a tailored plan for your success!

I bring both personal and academic experience to coaching in the Search Fund and ETA space. I founded and raised a traditional search fund outside the US, securing commitments from investors across America, Spain, and the rest of the world. The fund was 100% oversubscribed in just three months, after which I led the sourcing process, acquired, and now operate an SME. My MBA at Kellogg gave me deep exposure to the US ETA ecosystem—through coursework, the Zell Fellows program, and peer collaboration—so I understand both US and international dynamics. Beyond my own journey, I’ve had first-hand exposure to self-funded search, as my wife successfully raised and acquired through that model. I also authored a paper on raising search capital, distilling insights on investor expectations and best practices for first-time searchers. This combination—traditional + self-funded perspective, US + international experience, operator + investor view—gives me a unique platform to help aspiring searchers navigate ETA with clarity and confidence. How I Can Help You: i) Deciding whether to raise a Search Fund ii) Raising capital & preparing materials iii) Designing an efficient search strategy & process iv) Evaluating opportunities v) Negotiating a deal vi) Closing a deal & bridging the equity gap vii) Navigating the first 100 days as CEO viii) Long-term strategy & operation Whether you’re still debating if ETA is right for you or already deep into the journey, I can serve as a sounding board and guide at each stage. Coaching is my way of sharing the lessons I’ve learned so you can focus on building a company that becomes a part of you.

I'm an investor with 10 years of experience across hedge funds, growth equity and investment banking. I have more recently spent the last 2 years in the ETA world and been under LOI on 3 businesses including currently in process of closing a 9 location brick and mortar platform. I can discuss all aspects of the ETA process including sourcing, modelling, due diligence and raising money. Previously, I spent the last 10 years in investment banking (Goldman Sachs) and investing (Citadel and Echo Street) focusing on both public equities and private growth equity investments. I graduated first class honors from Queen's University and held multiple internships throughout college in finance including at Goldman Sachs in my junior summer where I received a full time offer.

My first search fund bought or launched 25 companies over the course of 8 years across a variety of industries, coast to coast. The thesis was that owner-operated small businesses were undervalued and would dramatically increase in value if we put them under management so they became absentee owned. We proved that investors were willing to immediately pay double our purchase price once the company hit our portfolio. In fact, investors paid us hundreds of thousands of dollars upfront to buy companies and we retained a controlling interest in all of them. I now help other ETA entrepreneurs to do the same and get top-tier companies ready to sell at top dollar.

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.

Chase Murdock is a long-time entrepreneur and operator who’s lived every stage of the ETA journey — from raising capital, sourcing deals, and closing acquisitions to running multiple companies under a diversified holding company model. As CEO of Decada Group, he leads a permanent holding company that acquires, grows, and stewards small businesses for the long haul. Chase and his team have diligenced more than 100 businesses, acquired five companies, and started three. Today, Decada operates a diverse collection of six businesses spanning fractional CFO and accounting, the electrical trades, luxury retail, an art school, and a membership-based business community. At Decada Group, Chase’s role centers on evaluating acquisitions, leading diligence, and advising the CEOs who run Decada’s portfolio companies. His focus is on being the slowest heartbeat in the room — helping leaders navigate the post-acquisition J-curve, identify leverage points, and build durable, successful companies. Through Durable, Chase acts as a CEO coach and advisor, working with dozens of searchers and operators building real businesses — helping them think like owners, navigate deals, and grow into capable, long-term leaders. He also sits on the boards of multiple searcher-led companies, grounding his coaching in lived experience, not theory. If you’re serious about acquiring a great company, becoming a capable operator, and using ETA to build a purposeful life — Chase can help you get there.