Day 1 Sessions
8:00am SBO Financial Barista Coffee Cart Opens in the Deckhouse Courtyard
Searcher Stream - Facilitated by Luke Taylor
9:00am The Myth of the Idea
Unlocking the Potential of Search. Speaker: Newton Campos, Professor of Entrepreneurship through Acquisition, IE University
- Why search works, and why it’s right for you
- Raising a Fund and Working with Investors
- Structuring your cap table for success
- Lessons from Global Search
10:45am How to Run a Successful Search
Strategies for maximising efficiency.
Speaker: Luke Taylor
- Interns & tech
- Sourcing deals:
- targeted & direct, vs big outreach campaigns.
- broker vs proprietary
- Getting to the needle
- Screening deals
- Database and pipeline management
- Tracking and feedback
- Investor Communication and Relationship Management
12:00pm Lunch break
Courtesy of Ambit Partners, Gold Education Partner
12:45pm Plenary Session: Showing Up with Dean Carey, Founder & Director, Dean of Theatre, Actors Centre Australia | Director, Dean Carey Creative
What does it really mean to put our best foot forward and to ‘show up'?
- Deep dive into ways of distinguishing what may get in the way of our effectiveness and what may indeed accelerate it.
All Streams Session - Proudly sponsored by WayFinder Capital
1:45pm Practical advice on making offers and structuring deals
Mastering the Science and Art of Pricing & Deal structures that work.
Speaker: Michael Chew, Managing Director, Flywheel Effect | Pete Seligman, Search Investor, PAS
- Pricing
- EBITDA multiples
- Pricing rules-of-thumb
- Making that first offer
- Deal structures
- The Earn Out
- Vendor Finance
- Rolled Equity
3:30pm Getting to Yes
Navigating the post deal, pre completion mountain: CIM, Legals, SPA and acquisition fundraising
Speakers: Panel session with Michael Kurland, Founder and Managing Director of Arrowpoint Capital, Derek Roth-Biester Partner, Anderson Lloyd & Douglas Cook, Director, DaS Private Capital
- Selecting and using advisors
- Writing an IM
- Communication with Investors
- Keeping the owner on the hook
4:30pm Arrowpoint Capital Graduation & Networking Drinks
Operator Stream - Facilitated by Nick Bamford
Operator Stream kindly sponsored by Frank Law + Advisory
9:00am Taking the helm
Practical and leadership tips for your first year in the job.
Speaker: Jason Andrew, Director / Head of Growth, SBO Financial
- Post completion practicalities (banks, ATO, compliance, licensing etc.)
- What can/ should you tolerate vs. change in the first couple of months
- How do you know the team is ready for further change
- “It’s not if you miss things in DD but how much you missed”
- Preparing to lead
- Cash
- Navigating the seller relationship (seller walking the plank?)
10:45am Setting sail
Establishing a firm base for profitable scaling/sailing. Speaker: James Frank, Chief Executive Partner, Frank Law + Advisory
- Leading with values
- Organisational rhythm – meeting cadence etc.
- People – attracting and retaining the right crew (tours of duty)
- Cash management
- Legal & compliance
- Expanding your leadership toolbox
12:00pm Lunch break
Courtesy of Ambit Partners, Gold Education Partner
12:45pm Plenary Session: Showing Up with Dean Carey, Founder & Director, Dean of Theatre, Actors Centre Australia | Director, Dean Carey Creative
What does it really mean to put our best foot forward and to ‘show up'?
- Deep dive into ways of distinguishing what may get in the way of our effectiveness and what may indeed accelerate it.
All Streams Session - Proudly sponsored by WayFinder Capital
1:45pm Charting the course
Strategies for SMEs – keeping it simple (this is not big corporate). Speaker: Nick Bamford
- Setting the vision & North StarGrowth strategies (regional expansion, international expansion, new product development, taking market share)
- Cost strategies (back end efficiencies - Eliminate, Automate, Outsource; supply chain)
- Valuation uplift (scale, increase rr, technology, diversify risk, improve governance etc.)
- M&A in search businesses
3:30pm Weathering the storm
Tales from the poop deck when things got rough.
Panel session + Q&A Facilitator: Nick Bamford
Panel: Monte Davis, Partner, Scipio Holding Group | Alex Simmons, Director, Inerva Software | John Williamson, Founder + Director, Construct Health
- Key personnel leaving
- Cashflow challenges
- Unforeseen market shifts
- Banking & funding
- Recessions
4:30pm Arrowpoint Capital Graduation & Networking Drinks
Investor Stream - Facilitated by Lui Pangiarella
9:00am Perspectives of a Global Investor (Part A)
- Video recording of Jan Simon with questions asked and discussed by the panel.
Panel: Monte Davis, Partner, Scipio Holding Group & Ak Sabbagh, Managing Director | Co-Founder, WayFinder Capital Managers, Jose Moreno, Managing Partner, AIJ Global Holdings
10:45am Perspectives of a Global Investor (Part B)
- Video recording of Jan Simon with questions asked and discussed by the panel
Panel: Monte Davis, Partner, Scipio Holding Group & Ak Sabbagh, Managing Director | Co-Founder, WayFinder Capital Managers, Jose Moreno, Managing Partner, AIJ Global Holdings
12:00pm Lunch break
Courtesy of Ambit Partners, Gold Education Partner
12:45pm Plenary Session: Showing Up with Dean Carey, Founder & Director, Dean of Theatre, Actors Centre Australia | Director, Dean Carey Creative
What does it really mean to put our best foot forward and to ‘show up'?
- Deep dive into ways of distinguishing what may get in the way of our effectiveness and what may indeed accelerate it.
All Streams Session - Proudly sponsored by WayFinder Capital
1:45pm Deal Terms
- Traditional & Self-Funded – the similarities and differences
Panel: Jamie Restas, Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers | Nima Sedaghat, Co-Founder, WayFinder Capital / Tax Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers | Johnson Wang, Co-Founder, Riverlane Capital
3:30pm Characteristics of a good business for a Searcher
Panel: Newton Campos, Professor of Entrepreneurship through Acquisition | Jake Nicholson, Managing Director, SMEVentures | Pete Seligman, Search Investor
4:30pm Arrowpoint Capital Graduation & Networking Drinks
Day 2 Sessions
7:45am Nexia Networking Breakfast in the Courtyard
8:00am SBO Financial Barista Coffee Cart Opens in the Courtyard
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor Terem Joint Ventures for bringing us the following sessions
8:45am Welcome to 2023 EtA Forum
- Opening Address by Pete Seligman
9:00am Keynote Presentation: The impact of Australian demographics on the SME market
Speaker: Hari Hara Priya Kannan, Chief Data Scientist, The Demographics Group
9:45am Search Market Update & Panel Discussion
- Unveiling the latest trends and Panel Discussion Led by Jake Nicholson
Speaker: Jake Nicholson, Managing Director, SME Ventures & Noriko Shimazu, Founder & CEO, Japan Search Fund Accelerator
11:00am The Business Owners' Perspective on Selling / Succession
- Business Owners' Insights, Strategies and an expert Panel Discussion
Speaker: James Frank, Chief Executive Partner, Frank Law + Advisory
Panel: Andrew Zorzit, Founder and Managing Director of Therapy Care | Matt Hall Proprietor, Gas Equipment Solutions | Ray Lehrer, CEO at Advance Design Group
11:45am How to Get Returns From Technology: Increasing Your Valuation And Chance of Success
- Insights on Enhancing Operations and Offerings for Unlocking Business Potential
Speaker: Scott Middleton, CEO, Terem Joint Ventures
12:30pm Lunch sponsored by Liston Newton Advisory
Thanks to our Gold Sponsor Liston Newton for keeping us fed and watered at the breaks!
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor Balmaghie for bringing us the following sessions
1:30pm The Power of Storytelling in Business | "Hero's Journey" Documentary
- Engaging Customers and Fostering Brand Loyalty
Speakers: Mick Mooney, Founder & Creative Director
2:15pm Deep into the Operating Phase
- Insights beyond the Search & Acquisition
Speaker: Jack Lancaster, CEO, Evolution Surgical
3:30pm The march of search across the globe
- Exploring Innovations, Challenges & Future Trends
Speaker: Newton Campos, Professor of Entrepreneurship through Acquisition
4:15pm EtA Forum Summary & Wrap Up
Speaker: Pete Seligman
