2023 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

There will NOT be a virtual or recorded option for the conference this year. It will be held in-person at Duke University.

Friday, September 8, 2023

3:45pm: Registration

4:15pm: Welcome

4:30pm: Overview of the ETA ecosystem

This session is designed to be an introduction to ETA for any conference attendees that are not familiar with the overall concept or want to learn more about ETA before the Saturday sessions.

5:00pm: Do I really want to be a CEO?

This session is designed to challenge attendees to understand if they have the right skillset, temperament, and experience to be a CEO of a small or mid-sized business. This panel of owner-operators will discuss their experiences, including surprises post-acquisition about the company and themselves. In retrospect, what were key steps they took to prepare themselves for success? What would they have done differently both pre-and post-acquisition?

6:00pm - 7:00pm: Opening Reception

Saturday, September 9, 2023

8:00am: Registration / Check-In

8:45am: Opening Comments

9:00am: The Search: What should I be doing now to prepare?

How did you come to the decision that ETA was the right path? What should students and recent grads be doing now to help make that decision? Once you decide, what is the timeline and what do you need to do to prepare? How do you set up a search?

10:00am: Networking

10:30am: Building a team and getting deals done in an uncertain economy

You will hear from leading legal, financing and fund experts who work with searchers and other buyers. They will focus on how to get deals done using legal and negotiation tips, and how to spot both opportunities and potential pitfalls. In the current macroeconomic climate, given higher interest rates, how are industry professionals thinking about financing acquisitions?

11:30am: Lunch / Networking

1:00pm - 2:30pm: Break Out Sessions

(Sessions run 40 minutes and attendees can choose two)

Option 1: Is Search Accessible for Me? 

What is the search path for international students? What if I don’t have the capital to acquire a business? What resources are available to support women and underrepresented minorities in search? What kind of background is most valued in search?

Option 2: What if I don’t acquire during my search phase?

In this breakout, we will explore the reality of risk in search and unanticipated silver linings. Candid conversations with those that have navigated search that did not end with an acquisition. The outcomes based on the skills, knowledge and relationships built over the search phase may surprise you!

Option 3: Go Big or Go Small?

Explore search economics in detail. Enter the debate as to whether it is better to go big and maximize a larger businesses or self-fund a sub $1M EBITDA business and professionalize it.

Option 4: Considering Traditional Search?

How do you market your search to investors? What’s important in a Private Placement Memorandum (PPM)? How is building your cap table strategic?

2:30pm: Break / Networking

3:00pm: Which Search Model is Right for Me?

This session of ETA investors is designed to help potential searchers determine the appropriate model for their search and acquisition process. The session will provide an overview of the established models: traditional, accelerator and self-funded search. The moderator will explain the differences between these models and then open up the discussion for the panel to debate the pros and cons of these various models during each phase: the search process, due diligence, closing a deal and post-acquisition. Attendees should begin thinking about the models and which one fits best with their backgrounds, style and target industries.

4:00pm: Closing Comments and Networking Reception