#24 - Building Businesses and Navigating Challenges: Insights From the World’s Fifth Searcher

Simon Webster was the fifth person in the world to launch a traditional search fund and is currently a lecturer at London Business School and the University of Cambridge. Simon sheds light on the challenges and nuances of building businesses, such as the underwhelming rewards when selling a small business to corporates and the perils of private equity's price downgrades. Listen in as he articulates the difficulty of recruiting someone for a venture when the original entrepreneur exits and the quest to find not just any company to buy but one ripe for value addition and meaningful impact.Drawing upon experiences from notable names like Bill Egan and Rob Johnson, who've invested in search funds, Simon details the two-fold conversation challenge—introducing the uninitiated to the search fund model and honing presentation skills to persuade potential investors. The episode delves deep into the making of a CEO, from the early days of grappling with challenges to evolving into a mentor, guiding the next wave of entrepreneurs. As we discuss entrepreneurship through acquisition, Simon highlights its rising prominence in the curriculum of renowned business schools like INSEAD, IESE, and Oxford.The global nature of business today underscores the importance of geographic diversification, the role of local investors, and the invaluable contributions of international search fund investors. Their unique commercial mindset, adaptability, and in-depth cultural understanding infuse startups and turnarounds with a refreshing perspective. But entrepreneurship is no walk in the park, as Simon reveals. From the rigorous demands of being a first-time CEO to the nuanced skills startups require versus turnarounds, every challenge mandates thorough research, unwavering tenacity, and a dash of determination.Join us to explore the highs and lows, the successes and failures, and the learnings that shape the entrepreneurial journey, informed by case studies, real-world experiences, and Simon's insights from his MBA days. Whether you're considering a career path as a CEO, thinking of investing in search funds, or just curious about the entrepreneurial ecosystem, this episode promises a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective.Timestamps[00:01:24] MBA student learns about search funds.[00:05:11] Research before approaching industry vendors and contacts.[00:07:41] Columbia MBA led to search fund success.[00:13:18] CEO learning process: experience, mentoring, teaching, investment.[00:16:51] ETA or entrepreneurship through acquisition now taught.[00:22:02] Being a search fund CEO requires adaptability, learning and making changes to the acquired company while a startup CEO focuses on raising funds. Turnarounds require operational and financial decisions.[00:25:42] Entrepreneurship through Acquisition: a broader entrepreneurial approach.[00:29:37] Smart mentor's ideas ignored until later acknowledged.[00:30:59] Entrepreneurship on the rise; generational change.[00:35:09] Choose right business for enjoyable journeyRecommended Resources (Affiliate)If you’re looking for a good editing team, I’ve been pleased with the work of We Edit Podcasts.Castmagic has helped me prepare the show notes. It provides summaries, timestamps, key quotes and a lot more, including custom prompts.