ETA Courses

Overview

All three ETA courses can be taken in any order and are complementary. All three courses are taught by actual ETA investors and entrepreneurs who share their experiences, networks, and strategies for using ETA to go from employee to business owner. The study of ETA is valuable to students considering acquiring a company of their own or others seeking to develop skills to evaluate and execute small company acquisitions, including managing a business post-acquisition.  Note, ETA courses will be available to undergrad students starting Spring 2025.

ETA 1 - Fall 2025, with Reid Tileston. 1.5 credit Online Course, Tuesday 7 - 8:30 p.m., October 14th to December 2nd, 2025 (no class October 21): This course introduces frameworks and real‐world solutions to pursue the acquisition and leadership of a company using various ETA strategies with focus on "self-funded searches.” The class will walk through the lifecycle of a typical path to finding and running a business, including information on raising capital, searching for a company, buying a business, leading that business and then ultimately selling it.

ETA 2 - Spring 2026, with GJ King. 1.5 credit In-Person Course, Tuesday 6 - 8:30 pm, January 13th to February 24th, 2026: This course focuses on 1) defining the different types of ETA strategies with a particular emphasis on "search funds,” 2) exploring the most common industries targeted by ETA entrepreneurs like healthcare and software, and 3) the post-acquisition experience of leading a small business. The course will also utilize in-class role plays of real-world small business leadership scenarios.

ETA III - Spring 2026, with Scot Lowry. 1.5 credit In-Person Course, Tuesday 6 - 8:30 pm, March 3rd to April 21st, 2026: This course focuses on 1) ETA journey from employee to business owner, with emphasis on the “aligned investor,” funding model 2) how to prepare to become a highly credible ETA buyer 3) introduction to the Promise Partners ETA Incubator (founded by a WSOM professor) and the strategies used by the group that have helped over 70 people become owners in 107+ companies using ETA (including 44 WSOM Alumni) post-graduation.