ETA Is Breaking (and Going Global): Investor Conflict, Weak Boards, and Structural Shifts - Ibrahim Abdel Rahim of Moonbase Capital
In this episode of Surge Funded, Ibrahim Abdel Rahim of Moonbase Capital reflects on five years of growth in the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) space, highlighting the shift from a Europe‑centric model to a truly global, home‑based approach with searchers in Brazil, Mexico, India, China, and beyond. He notes that while the core search‑fund playbook remains consistent, emerging markets now see a surge in search activity, diversified founder profiles, and increasing investor participation, though the influx of new investors raises concerns about board involvement and maintaining high‑quality support. Abdel Rahim emphasizes that successful investing in search funds requires active value‑add beyond capital, and that the SME pipeline remains robust, especially in Spain, ensuring a steady flow of acquisition targets.
From M&A in Africa to Enterprise Wireless Infrastructure, DC Moore of ATG
In this episode, host Nick Law talks with DC Moore, a former Motorola, Lockheed Martin, and McKinsey executive who spent eight years doing M&A in Africa before acquiring and running Atlantic Technology Group, an enterprise wireless and mobility solutions provider. DC...
From Fired Searcher to $50M in Deals in One Year | Kevin Hong, Caprae Capital
In this episode, Kevin Hong shares his journey from being a fired search fund CEO to founding CapRate Capital, where he has closed over $50 million in lower‑middle‑market private equity deals. He explains how he built a fragmented cap table to...
Employee Ownership as a Search Fund Advantage, Turner Wyatt of Small Capital
Turner Wyatt, founder and CEO of Small Capital, funds self‑funded searchers who embed employee ownership from acquisition day one. He argues that search fund deals can address income inequality while enhancing business performance by giving employees a stake. Small Capital’s...
