Why We’re Here

At no other time in modern history has there been such a massive opportunity for individuals and small groups to acquire established businesses. A global “Silver Tsunami” is gathering force: in countries like the U.S., Canada, the UK, and many parts of the EU, millions of baby-boomer business owners are approaching retirement age. According to several chamber-of-commerce studies:

• United States: Estimates suggest 2.4 million businesses could change hands by the end of the decade.

• Canada: Over half of small-to-medium enterprise (SME) owners plan to retire in the next 5–10 years.

• UK & EU: Roughly one-third of small business owners are 55 or older. For example, in Germany over 1.3 million SME owners are already above 55.

Meanwhile, private equity (PE)–driven consolidation continues growing at double-digit rates in many sectors—from healthcare to manufacturing to niche professional services. Search funds—in which a budding entrepreneur (the “searcher”) raises capital to find and acquire a single business—have become a prominent vehicle in this ecosystem. The Stanford Search Fund Studies show historically high returns (with IRRs often exceeding 30% over multi-decade analyses), validating the model’s potential. However, those same studies also reveal a rising percentage of searchers who fail to find a suitable acquisition target, a figure some estimate at 25–30% (Europe) and 40-45% (US).

What does this mean? This perfect storm—a massive supply of retiring owners (who will need to find a successor, sell their business, or close the business altogether), thriving PE interest, and heightened competition among searchers—creates enormous opportunity and enormous complexity. Educational resources are more critical than ever, helping entrepreneurs, dealmakers, and investors navigate sector analyses, valuation, deal structuring, and post-acquisition growth. Our mission is to provide authentic, data-driven insights—about everything from how to win over a retiring founder to the nuances of a high-valuation search fund deal.

What’s Coming

1. Multi-Part Deep Dives

   Look for long-form articles (~15-minute reads) that dissect both mainstream and niche topics in M&A. Our first deep dive tackles veterinary consolidation, a booming sector with all sorts of operational twists. After that, we’ll turn to AI in Search Funds, exploring how new technology is transforming deal sourcing, financial modeling, and post-close automation.

2. Podcasts: Video & Audio

   Expect 30–60 minute discussions with top voices in private equity, search funds, AI, and more. Whether it’s a talk with a robotics pioneer or a private equity principal who’s shepherded dozens of deals, these episodes will go beyond theory to real-world, actionable insights.

3. Interviews with Industry Leaders

   We’ll publish written Q&As with proven operators, CEOs, and seasoned investors who have navigated acquisitions firsthand. They’ll share on-the-ground perspectives—helpful not just for searchers, but for anyone eager to understand M&A beyond the headlines.

4. And More…

   Content experiments, curated industry data, interactive sessions, and case studies—all geared toward growing your deal literacy and M&A strategy toolkit. We aim to post at least once a week, free of charge for now.

Meet the Minds Behind the Show

Christopher Pruijsen ^_[LinkedIn]

• Product leader with 13+ years of experience across A.Team, Udacity, SiFive, Prudential, and beyond, with deep expertise in AI-driven product development and scaling early-stage ventures.

• Holds an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM).

• Based in Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹 

Ben Moore ^_[LinkedIn]

• An ex-Stanford engineer specialized in robotics and AI, originally working on fraud detection and data-driven intelligence.

• Brings a decade of experience bridging cutting-edge technology and real-world operational problems.

• Based in Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹 

Together, we share a passion for digging deep into the hows and whys of M&A, entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), and private equity. We’ll explore these worlds from both the human and technical angles: from forging relationships with retiring founders to harnessing machine learning for advanced market research.

Stay Tuned

This is just the beginning. In the coming weeks, we’ll kick off our veterinary consolidation series, publish the first of many industry-leader interviews, and record a new podcast with a search-fund investor about using AI to supercharge search in today’s competitive marketplace.

You can find full recordings of the Podcast on Youtube and Spotify.

So welcome aboard. We’re thrilled you’re here. Make sure to subscribe or follow us, and get ready to expand your knowledge on everything from ETA best practices to the latest AI innovations in deal-making. The future of acquisitions is both brighter and more complex than ever—and we’re here to help you make sense of it all.

—Written by Christopher Pruijsen & Ben Moore for The Savvy Capital Show

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, all opinions and analyses shared on this blog are solely the author’s own, drawn from publicly available sources. This content is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.