Capital

Buy a larger
business without
giving up control

With aligned investor backing, you can target materially larger companies while maintaining majority ownership.

Acquisition Lab Capital
1200+ Members 400+ Deals Closed $1B Enterprise Value 40%+ Acquisition Rate EIR Program The Fund Majority Ownership Succession Planning 1200+ Members 400+ Deals Closed $1B Enterprise Value 40%+ Acquisition Rate EIR Program The Fund Majority Ownership Succession Planning
Investor-Backed Search
Buy larger with
Investor-Backed Search

Most acquisition entrepreneurs assume that their only options are to either self-fund and own 100% of a small business or use a traditional search fund to purchase a larger company while diluting ownership to a minority stake.

Acquisition Lab uses a model that we call “Investor-Backed Search,” and it sits between those two paths.

Here’s how it works:

  • In a self-funded model, a Searcher’s personal available capital determines the size of the business they can buy. Even when leveraging an SBA loan, the Searcher is still limited by the funds available for a down payment
  • Investor-Backed Search changes that equation by combining Searcher capital with committed investor equity and SBA leverage. Using this approach, Searchers can reasonably acquire a business up to 4X the size of what they could on their own while typically maintaining 70–80% ownership
  • In a traditional Searcher model, investors often coordinate with Searchers coming out of elite MBA programs. They pay Searchers during their search for the right (not the obligation!) to invest in any deal the Searcher finds. While this works well when buying large companies, the Searcher loses control and only earns a minority share during this process, effectively becoming an employee of the investor

The Lab’s model offers a capital structure that preserves Operator control while expanding buying power. Rather than choosing between scale and ownership, Searchers can pursue materially larger businesses with aligned investor support and majority equity.

01
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence
Solve the capital “chicken & egg” problem

Often, Searchers face a major barrier when pursuing opportunities.

Brokers want proof of capital before sharing deals with Searchers while investors want to wait until a deal is under LOI before committing funds.

The EIR Program removes that friction by issuing a binding capital commitment before a deal is identified, so Searchers can get access to larger deals than they could otherwise pursue by themselves — solving the chicken-and-egg problem — while enjoying 1:1 support along the way.

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02
Fund
Capital from a dedicated investor base

The Fund is backed by 130+ high net worth and family office investors — composed of experienced entrepreneurs, operators and fund managers — who know that the value we provide our backed Searchers goes far beyond our finances, leading to better outcomes for our portfolio companies than self-funded Searchers could achieve on their own.

This isn’t the deal-by-deal crowdfunding commonly seen with startups. When a transaction meets our criteria, we can commit and close alongside your lender without uncertainty from our dedicated fund.

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03
Succession
A direct exit pathway for Lab members

Ownership is long-term but not always permanent.

When a Lab member chooses to step away, we may serve as a long-term buyer for select businesses.

In doing so, we can help to preserve continuity and support your transition without having to run a typical process.

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Why Us?
We’re interested in long-term ownership, not extraction

Many funds and capital sources are built for speed, resale, or minority control. Our EIR Program and direct Fund investments are built for acquisition entrepreneurs who intend to lead, grow, and steward their business over time.

01

Majority Ownership

Our model supports Operators retaining control rather than becoming employees.

02

Long-term View

We support the businesses we back with a patient, long-term oriented, value preservation mindset.

03

All-in-one Platform

Capital is only one pillar of Acquisition Lab’s funding network. We also offer deal support, dedicated Services (CFO and accounting), a vetted deal team, and exit pathways.

Testimonials

Proven outcomes from
our portfolio

“In the last month alone, I’ve gone further in several processes than I did in the previous ten months on my own. That difference is hard to ignore. It’s experienced operators and investors who actually lean in, push on assumptions, and help sharpen the strategy.”

Since joining the EIR Program a little over a month ago, I’ve felt a real shift in how I’m running my search. The team has been in the weeds with me across the entire pre-LOI process, stress testing underwriting, tightening up structure, thinking through risk, answering questions promptly, and even getting on management calls to speak to their committed capital and strengthen my credibility with sellers. I’ve also noticed a change in how the market responds. There’s been more engagement from brokers and sellers, more traction on larger deals, and I’m taken more seriously in conversations. What stands out to me is that this is not just capital. It’s experienced operators and investors who actually lean in, push on assumptions, and help sharpen the strategy before anything goes out the door. That combination of real backing and real support has made a big difference. I feel much more confident stepping into larger, more competitive deals knowing SHV is behind me.

Brendan Doney
Current Lab & EIR Program Member

“The committed investor capital enables me to acquire a much larger business and accelerates reaching my entrepreneurial goals. The combination is a massive competitive advantage over similar investment groups.”

Acquisition Lab and the EIR Program are a powerhouse combination of support that accelerates the acquisition process for all qualified individuals seeking to acquire a business. The combination itself is important, and a massive competitive advantage over similar investment groups. With Acquisition Lab you’ll begin by learning the core fundamentals of the acquisition process and how to interact with sellers and brokers within the market. The learning continues with access to frequent advisory calls, deal review forums, and access to specialized provider services with lifetime access. The EIR Program builds on the tremendous support and infrastructure of the Acquisition Lab, enabling qualified searchers to obtain game-changing, committed financial support from investors that genuinely care about your personal and entrepreneurial success. EIR Advisors provide additional, specialized advising, deal valuation, and elevate resources to support acquisitions with investor capital. I’m extremely grateful for the support of both the Acquisition Lab and the EIR Program, as the combined guidance, resources, and particularly the committed investor capital enables me to acquire a much larger business and accelerates reaching my entrepreneurial goals.

Tony Heller
Current Lab & EIR Program Member
Get in Touch

Let’s assess your
path to capital

If you are committed to acquiring and operating a real business, you need structure and partners who understand ownership. Our investing approach is built for Searchers pursuing durable cash flow businesses with an aligned minority capital partner.