When most people picture entrepreneurship, they picture a start-up: an idea, a garage and years of uncertainty before the first steady paycheck. There’s another path that gets far less attention, and it may suit experienced leaders better. It’s called entrepreneurship through acquisition, or ETA.
Instead of building a company from scratch, an acquisition entrepreneur buys an established business and leads it. You step into a company with established cash flow, leadership autonomy and greater stability from day one.
Aspiring owners choose acquisition because it gives them:
Sleeping Giant Capital focuses on the generational transition of closely held businesses. Many of those companies have loyal customers, skilled employees and deep roots in their communities. What they need is a successor: a prepared leader who will own the business and run it for the long term.
That’s why Sleeping Giant pairs permanent capital with prepared leaders. We buy without an intent, or need, to sell, so the people we back can build for decades rather than for an exit.
Buying a business is a serious decision, and it isn’t right for everyone. The Acquire Program exists to help you answer that question with clarity. Over the 10-Week Deep Dive, you work through seven modules, from why to acquire a small business to leading growth and transition after close, with weekly one-on-one coaching from Derrick McIver, PhD, co-founder of Sleeping Giant Capital.
Plan on 10–15 hours a week, and your enrollment stays confidential at your discretion. For many participants, Acquire is also the first step toward Sleeping Giant’s CEO-in-Residence Program.
Ready to take the first step? Every Sleeping Giant Capital CEO-in-Residence begins in the Acquire Program. Apply to the Acquire Program, or take the self-assessment first.