Search Funds have gained huge traction in recent years and a record number of Search Funds were raised between 2013 and 2019 according to IESE’s International Search Funds 2020 report. More entrepreneurs and investors are being drawn to this exciting asset class thanks to its potential to deliver higher returns, with lower risk.    

Acquiring a company through a Search Fund is not easy and we have found that having a strong support network is essential for SME success. This is why we have created an expert advisory group that offers valuable support and guidance throughout the Search Fund process.  

Today, we will be interviewing Carlos Cami, a member of Moonbase Capital’s advisory board, to discuss his experience with the model and how he is supporting Search Fund entrepreneurs. 

Hi Carlos! Can you start by telling us a bit about your background?

I completed my MBA at INSEAD and then started my own business in the food and retail sector. 

After running the business for 5 years, I sold the company and joined a startup as a shareholder and general manager. I worked there for 8 years and managed to successfully grow the company before selling it in 2016. 

After that, I then joined my family business where I currently manage a group of schools with around 2,000 students. There I am responsible for managing the business side of the schools e.g. strategy, human resources, etc. The business was started by my grandfather and is now run by myself, my brother and my sister.  

Why did you become an advisor and what do you enjoy most about the role? 

Starting a company or searching for a company is hard work and I valued guidance and feedback when I was in that position. I know how important a support network is and I wanted to pass on my experience and knowledge to new entrepreneurs and help them succeed. 

The thing I enjoy most about being an advisor is that I have the opportunity to give something back. All of the advisors have been an entrepreneur at some point in time and they understand the challenges first-hand. 

Why do you think having an advisor is important?  

I think having a Search Fund advisor is a wonderful thing! Most Search Fund entrepreneurs are young professionals who have just completed an MBA and have minimal business experience.

Having the support of an advisor with experience in a specific sector can be a huge help when entrepreneurs are starting out. The advisor will have lots of experience in that specific sector and will be able to provide them with expert advice and guidance.

Do you think offering support can benefit the advisor? 

Having the support of an advisor is a huge benefit to entrepreneurs, but it can also benefit the advisor. I enjoy being in contact with fresh young minds who have new ways of doing things. Advisors can profit and learn a great deal from young Search Fund entrepreneurs. 

What support have you offered Search Fund entrepreneurs? 

I have been mentoring an entrepreneur who is looking to acquire an education company in Italy. I have a lot of experience in education, but acquiring a company in another country is a challenge as the sector is highly regulated and different EU rules apply in different countries. 

However, we were able to find similarities in both markets and I still gave the entrepreneur good advice and guided their business journey, despite the difficulties. 

This was a very interesting experience for me as I had the opportunity to gain experience in two different education markets and build my mentoring skills. 

Finally, would you be happy to do more advisory work in the future? 

Yes of course! I think it’s a wonderful thing and I would like to do this again to help other entrepreneurs when I can.

How can you get involved with Search Funds? 

The Moonbase Capital team has over 50 years of SME experience and we’re passionate about supporting entrepreneurs at every step of the Search Fund process. We leverage our industry knowledge (and that of our advisory board) to identify companies with the highest growth potential.   

Get in touch with Moonbase Capital if you would like to learn more about Search Funds and how to get involved in this exciting asset class.

You can also find lots of useful information and resources on our website.