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Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

Search starts here.

Vanderbilt's ETA curriculum equips students to become owners and operators of enduring businesses by buying rather than building from scratch. Real responsibility. Real ownership. Real impact.

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HANDS-ON LEARNING

Real businesses. Real experience.

PRACTITIONER-DRIVEN

Operators, investors and alumni.

A STRONGER TOMORROW

Preserving businesses. Strengthening communities.

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Why ETA at Vanderbilt

Real businesses. A real difference.

We blend academic rigor with real-world application, giving students the frameworks, relationships, and hands-on experience to confidently pursue and operate acquired businesses.

Preserve what works

Access through trust, networks, and long-term relationships.

Learn from doers

Practitioners, investors, and alumni share real-world insights.

Build for lasting impact

Create jobs, strengthen communities, and carry forward legacies.

Thrive beyond graduation

Practical skills and lifelong relationships to support your journey.

Core learning components

From Search to Stewardship
Proprietary Deal Sourcing

Proprietary Deal Sourcing

  • Relationship-driven sourcing
  • Owner psychology
  • Outreach and credibility-building
  • Brokers and off-market channels
Due Diligence and Valuation

Due Diligence & Valuation

  • Financial analysis
  • Market diligence
  • Operational and customer concentration risk
  • Valuation frameworks
Deal Structuring and Finance

Deal Structuring & Finance

  • Equity, debt and seller financing
  • Search fund and independent sponsor models
  • Legal considerations
  • Negotiation and closing
Transition and Leadership

Transition and Leadership

  • CEO mindset
  • Founder transitions
  • Governance
  • Culture and trust-building

Real perspectives. Practical insights.

Past Guest Speakers

Dru Heinz

CEO, ArborOne

CEO of ArborOne, focused on sourcing, negotiating, and executing acquisitions. He brings experience in acquiring businesses and working with management teams on strategy, growth, talent, and value creation.

Dru Heinz

CEO, ArborOne

Grant Todd

CEO, Dragonfly Pond Works

CEO of Dragonfly Pond Works, a pond and stormwater services company. He is a certified general contractor, certified BMP inspector, and holds an MBA from Vanderbilt Owen.

Grant Todd

CEO, Dragonfly Pond Works

Yaz Yildez

Founder, Dune Peak Partners

Founder of Dune Peak Partners, created to identify, acquire, and operate an enduring business with a long-term focus. His background connects entrepreneurship, operations, product, engineering, and consulting experience.

Yaz Yildez

Founder, Dune Peak Partners

Michael LeGrand

Co-CEO, Alpine Street

Co-CEO of Alpine Street. Before Alpine Street, he worked at General Atlantic, where he focused on acquiring and helping build high-growth companies.

Michael LeGrand

Co-CEO, Alpine Street

Jay Davis

The Nashton Company

Vanderbilt ETA past guest speaker affiliated with The Nashton Company.

Jay Davis

The Nashton Company

Jim Vesterman

Raptor Technologies

Vanderbilt ETA past guest speaker affiliated with Raptor Technologies.

Jim Vesterman

Raptor Technologies

Experience. Perspective. Impact.

Meet the team

Contact the team →
George Malone

Partner, Hadley Capital

Partner at Hadley Capital with experience in acquisition, ownership transition, and long-term value creation for small and lower-middle market businesses.

George Malone

Partner, Hadley Capital

Baxter Webb

Director, C4E

Director of Vanderbilt C4E, healthtech founder, and venture-building leader helping students and alumni build, launch, and commercialize new companies.

Baxter Webb

Director, C4E

A front door for
what's next.

The Center for Entrepreneurship is the front door for Vanderbilt students and alumni to build a company of consequence — whether by starting or owning one.

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