What is ETA?
Buying a business instead of starting one
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition is exactly what it sounds like: becoming an owner by buying a business that already works, instead of building one from zero. It goes by a lot of names — search funds, self-funded search, ETA — but the core idea is the same. Existing revenue, existing customers, existing team. Different problem set entirely.
Who it's for
Searchers, buyers, owners, and the people around them
Searchers
actively looking at deals
First-time buyers
running the numbers for the first time
Owners
who've already been through a close
Lenders, brokers, and advisors
who work with all of the above
The curious
no commitment required
What to expect
Coffee and honest conversation
ETA Connect is a monthly early-morning coffee — smaller, quieter, and earlier than the flagship meetup. No speakers, no panels, no pitches. Just coffee and real talk about deal flow, financing, diligence, and what running the thing actually looks like after you close.
Save your seat
RSVP free on Luma. First coffee is on us.
Hosted by RDU SMB — see the main monthly meetup too.