ETA Equity | Search Fund Investors

INVESTING IN AND SUPPORTING SEARCH FUND ENTREPRENEURS

We are search fund investors dedicated to investing in and supporting the best and brightest entrepreneurs striving to acquire and lead growth companies.

Respectful Search Fund Investors

Respectful Responsiveness

We know every day in the search is valuable, and we commit to respond to you in a timely fashion.

Feedback Search Fund Investors

Real-Time, Actionable Feedback

It is our intention to provide valuable, actionable insights to the searcher.

Data Analysis Search Fund Investors

Objective, Data-Driven Analysis

We have carried the ‘searcher briefcase’ before and know what it’s like to navigate the highs and lows of the search fund life cycle.

Searcher Testimonials

AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE

Matt and Mark with ETA Equity have proven to be great partners throughout all phases of my search and operations process. From the launch of my search fund through deal execution, they provided detailed feedback and support that helped me find and acquire what I believe to be a great business. Post-close, Matt has served as a Spivey Services board member where he has been an invaluable resource in guiding me through the early stages of my role as CEO. I’m thankful for the partnership and I’m confident that Matt and Mark have made me a better Searcher and Operator.

Wade Chipps, CEO

Spivey Services

ESSENTIAL TO MY JOURNEY

ETA has been essential to my journey. I would not have even known of, much less considered trying, entrepreneurship through acquisition without my conversations with ETA. They introduced me to the concept and explained how it overlapped with my personal and professional objectives versus alternative approaches. They also introduced me to other investors they believed would make a good fit, simplifying my fundraise. Post launch, they have been excellent and active sources of advice, insights, information and feedback. Matt and Mark go out of their way to make sure we’re all successful at the end of the day.

D.C. Moore, Managing Partner

Griot Partners

PROPELLED OUR COMPANY FORWARD

ETA Equity has been an invaluable partner on my entrepreneurial journey. Their technology expertise provided critical insights that enabled us to modernize our operations efficiently. Their presence on our board has been instrumental, offering high-quality feedback and strategic guidance that has propelled our company forward. I'm grateful for their unwavering support and commitment to our success.

Jeff Brewer, CEO

Cornerstone Licensing Services

DEDICATED AND THOUGHTFUL

ETA Equity is a fantastic partner for any searcher. They are dedicated, always available, and incredibly thoughtful partners. They are also great at connecting searchers/operators across their portfolio who may have synergies in order to help everyone achieve their goals.

I would highly recommend working with them if you are thinking about embarking on the search path.

Ania Aliev, CEO

Life Support Systems

A TREMENDOUS PARTNER

ETA Equity has been a tremendous partner throughout my entrepreneurship through acquisition journey. During the search, Matt and Mark were helpful sounding boards, and their guidance on industry theses and deal opportunities saved me lots of potentially wasted time. Once I found “the one,” I was grateful for their direct, transparent feedback. Wrangling a diverse investor group is hard, but I always knew where things stood with ETA Equity. Finally, as an operator, Matt and Mark give me room to run my business while remaining accessible as mentors. I couldn’t ask for better partners!

Cliff Nelson, CEO

PGS PsychoGeriatric Services

THEIR IMPACT WAS IMMEASURABLE

ETA Equity is one of the best Search Fund investor groups to partner with during your Search & Operating phases. Their team is experienced in operating a Search, acquiring a business, scaling the acquired company, and reaching a successful exit for its investors. With Malvern, ETA Equity was responsive, thoughtful, and supportive throughout all phases and workstreams (Search fundraising, Sourcing, LOI Negotiations, Due Diligence, Debt/Equity Raise, Seller Negotiations, etc.). I can’t say enough great things about Mark and Matt at ETA Equity. Their impact on my Search experience was immeasurable.

Jameel Francis, CEO

Kore Technologies

GUIDING THE ENTIRE PROCESS

The guys at ETA Equity have been a helping hand in my search since I began fundraising - showing their ability to guide, brainstorm, and coach throughout the entire process. Since launching they've been just as helpful, partnering with me to think through strategies for the first 100 days of searching, ways of assessing new businesses, and drawing on their experience in search to help inform my decisions. Always responsive, with real insights into making the search process more enjoyable.

Chris Goyen, Managing Partner

Outback Ventures

GENUINE AND COMMITTED

I am grateful to have ETA Equity on my cap table. Matt's generosity with his time and resources has been instrumental, while Mark's depth of operational experience brings a refreshing perspective. Both are genuine and committed partners. I look forward to our continued collaboration.

Kai Zhang, Founder

Moonlight Street

ACCESSIBLE PARTNERS

Matt was a great resource when I was thinking about how to start my fund, and as my first investor he was critical in helping me make connections throughout the industry. He and Mark have been accessible thought partners throughout my search, always offering to plug in where they can be helpful.

Kenny Friede, Founder & Principal

Apache Capital Management

IMMENSELY HELPFUL

My experience with ETA equity has been great. Matt and Mark are always there when I need them. They have been willing to dedicate time, dive into the details and have been immensely helpful to avoid pitfalls on the process. I can always rely on them for good advice and am fortunate to have them as mentors throughout my search.

Maxime Aymonod, Founder

Alpex Capital

IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

It is important to be able to differentiate between an investor and a partner. Although at times being viewed as synonymous, the differences between the two are drastic and extremely important to appreciate. ETA Equity epitomizes the values of partnership, providing time, knowledge, and continued guidance above and beyond their capital investment to ensure the success of their teams. These qualities place ETA Equity in a league of their own, making them an invaluable resource to any searcher, regardless of their search stage.

Ameel Velji, Partner

Shorelife Brands

Meet Our Team

Matthew Zucker, Co-Founder

Matt’s career has spanned multiple fields including technology, management consulting, family offices, and private equity. He has led many transactions, as large as $250 million, and successfully raised capital for multiple investment opportunities. Matt has actively invested in search funds and their acquisitions since 2008. Prior to ETA Equity, he was an investor in 17 search funds which returned a 38% IRR and 4.8x MOIC.

Matt has volunteered as a high school basketball coach for over 10 years and recently helped lead the Yavneh Academy of Dallas to a Texas State Basketball Championship, the first state championship ever won by a Jewish high school.

Matt is an MBA graduate in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of Business, and he holds a BBA in Management Information Systems from The University of Texas at Austin.

Mark Sinatra, Co-Founder

Prior to ETA Equity, Mark was CEO of Staff One HR (acquired via Mark’s search fund) where he led the company through a period of substantial growth highlighted by achieving the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for four years in a row, and culminating in Staff One HR’s sale to its largest privately-held competitor, Oasis Outsourcing, in December 2017. Mark oversaw the Western half of the country for Oasis Outsourcing until its sale to Paychex for $1.3 billion in December 2018. Prior to his leadership experience in the HR industry, Mark worked as a consultant and investment banker.

Mark has published several articles and has spoken on numerous occasions across various media outlets, including Knowledge at Wharton, Sirius XM Business Radio, Inc. Magazine, Forbes, CBS Radio, and Dallas Business Journal.

Mark is an MBA graduate of the Wharton School of Business, and holds a BA in Economics from Fordham University. He has earned the SHRM-CP designation, is a Certified Predictive Index analyst, and is a graduate of the Stagen Integral Leadership Academy. Mark has been an active member of YPO since 2014.

Jay I. “Bud” Applebaum, Senior Advisor

Bud is a Partner with Wingate Partners. He joined the firm in 1989 and has been involved in well over 50 acquisitions. Wingate has been investing in manufacturing, distribution, and services businesses across a wide variety of industries.

Ravi P. Dattani, Senior Advisor

Ravi is President of Schiavi and Dattani, Delaware’s first fee-only and fiduciary-based wealth management firm. Ravi has extensive experience in financial planning, investment research, tax planning, real estate, financial technology, and operations.

*Mr. Dattani’s involvement with ETA Equity is strictly in a fiduciary capacity for clients of Schiavi and Dattani Financial Advisors. He receives no compensation as an advisor to ETA.

Rick Lacher, Senior Advisor

Mr. Lacher is a Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group. He also serves as Co-Head of the firm’s M&A Committee and Co-Head of the Board and Special Committee Advisory practice.

Giovanni Gallo, Advisor

Giovanni’s career has spanned working in innovative startups and advising multinational companies on strategic growth initiatives. While guiding growth-oriented healthcare providers, he realized that a strategically oriented and properly executed compliance function can be a key driver of quality and help organizations achieve their mission.

OUR Investments

The above represents a selective list of current and prior investments that the principals of ETA Equity have invested in on behalf of ETA Equity, as individuals, or on behalf of prior unaffiliated entities.