Applied ETA: The Search-to-Operator Practicum

1.5 Unit

Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) represents a proven path to business ownership and leadership. This experiential course guides students through the complete ETA lifecycle--from identifying acquisition criteria to post-acquisition value creation--by connecting each student with an experienced ETA practitioner mentor for strategic touchpoints. Students will develop their own acquisition thesis, conduct market research, build financial models, and learn operational excellence strategies. The course culminates in a four-day immersion experience featuring site visits to acquired businesses, dialogues with successful search fund entrepreneurs, and presentations of individual acquisition plans. Prereq: DESN 419 and DESN 420 and DESN 421 .