Books, courses and communities for searchers and ETA buyers
Start with the free Stanford GSB Search Fund Primer and the latest Stanford and IESE studies, read one practitioner book on buying a business, take a course if you want structure, and join a community where searchers and investors answer questions.
Key takeaways
- The Stanford Primer and biennial study are the standard references. The study is free; the primer requires a registration form.
- Universities now teach entrepreneurship through acquisition as a course.
- Only resources I could confirm exist are listed; check each page for current dates and prices.
Primary research
- Stanford GSB, A Primer on Search Funds: a practical guide for entrepreneurs embarking on a search fund. Free after a registration form; the 2026 edition is catalogued as Stanford case E958.
- Stanford GSB, 2026 Search Fund Study: Selected Observations (Kelly, Zenios and Ng). Case E967, 30 pages, data through December 31, 2025. Free download.
- IESE, International Search Funds 2026: Selected observations (ST-689-E). Covers 492 funds outside the U.S. and Canada, with data as of December 31, 2025.
- SBA, SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15 for acquisition lending rules. Read it before you talk to a lender.
Books
- HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business: Think Big, Buy Small, Own Your Own Company, by Richard S. Ruback and Royce Yudkoff, Harvard Business Review Press, 2017. The authors teach Entrepreneurship through Acquisition at Harvard Business School.
- Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game, by Walker Deibel, Lioncrest Publishing, 2018.
University courses
Several business schools list entrepreneurship through acquisition courses. Check each school's page for current dates, price and format.
- Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead: three ETA courses covering funding models, acquisition criteria, finding targets and running an acquired business.
- Dartmouth Tuck: an elective on pathways to ETA and phases of the entrepreneur's journey.
- University of Virginia Darden School (Batten Institute): courses covering searching for a company, valuing a small business, structuring a deal and closing.
- Duke Fuqua: a class with a project on an industry, geography or acquisition target for a targeted search.
- University of Washington (Professional and Continuing Education): an online ETA course covering search, valuation and financing.
Communities
Searchfunder is a long-running community and forum for search fund entrepreneurs and investors, and it publishes summaries of the Stanford studies. The WhoBoughtWho community has forums, events, mentorship posts and a member directory. The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) runs chapters and events for dealmakers and advisors.
A 30-day study plan
Use this path if you are starting from zero.
WEEK 1: Understand the models - Read the Stanford 2026 study summary and the what-is-a-search-fund guide - Read the glossary - Write down: which route (traditional, self-funded, sponsor) and why WEEK 2: Understand the numbers - Read the evaluating, valuation and SBA guides - Rebuild the Example Co calculations in a spreadsheet - Read the financial modeling resources WEEK 3: Understand the process - Read the timeline, sourcing, LOI and diligence guides - Draft your search criteria and a buyer profile - Request the Stanford primer; read it with a highlighter WEEK 4: Talk to people - Join Searchfunder and this community; post an introduction - Ask for two calls with recent searchers and one with an investor - Read SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, and list the rules that affect your deal - Draft your first outreach messages OUTPUT: a one-page plan with route, criteria, budget, timeline and first 25 outreach targets
Frequently asked questions
Read the Stanford primer, then the what-is-a-search-fund and timeline guides here, then pick one book and talk to two searchers or investors in the community.
No. Many searchers learn from the primer, studies, books and mentors. A course adds structure and a network, so consider it if you want both.
Sources
- Stanford GSB, A Primer on Search Funds
- Stanford GSB, 2026 Search Fund Study: Selected Observations
- IESE, International Search Funds 2026
- Case Western Reserve University, ETA courses
- Dartmouth Tuck, ETA elective
- UVA Darden Batten Institute, ETA courses
- Duke Fuqua, learn and engage
- University of Washington PCE, ETA course
- Searchfunder
- ACG
Last reviewed . General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.