In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, we sit down with JT Fitzgerald, CEO of Kingsway Financial Services—the only U.S. public company embracing the search fund model. JT traces his path from trading on the Chicago Board of Trade to acquiring his first company and ultimately building Kingsway Search Accelerator (KSX), a platform that partners with high-potential operators to acquire and grow small businesses. He explains how Kingsway’s permanent capital structure, tax advantages, and operator “scaffolding” differentiate it within the ETA ecosystem. JT also shares insights on “game selection,” the attributes of successful searchers, and why mentorship and fit are essential for long-term success in ETA.
All content for ETA Insider Podcast is the property of Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, we sit down with JT Fitzgerald, CEO of Kingsway Financial Services—the only U.S. public company embracing the search fund model. JT traces his path from trading on the Chicago Board of Trade to acquiring his first company and ultimately building Kingsway Search Accelerator (KSX), a platform that partners with high-potential operators to acquire and grow small businesses. He explains how Kingsway’s permanent capital structure, tax advantages, and operator “scaffolding” differentiate it within the ETA ecosystem. JT also shares insights on “game selection,” the attributes of successful searchers, and why mentorship and fit are essential for long-term success in ETA.
In this month’s episode, we sit down with Mark Jackson, MBA ’11, Co-Founder of Centennial Investment Partners, and operator to several business he acquired through ETA. Mark talks about his journey into acquisition and lessons he's learned along the way. From transitioning out of investment banking to building a self-funded portfolio, Mark shares the challenges, strategies, and key insights that have shaped his approach to acquiring, growing and starting businesses. He also dives into the importance of sourcing tactics, forming strong partnerships, and recognizing new opportunities within existing companies. Whether you're an aspiring searcher or an experienced operator, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways on scaling through acquisition.
ETA Insider Podcast
In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, we sit down with JT Fitzgerald, CEO of Kingsway Financial Services—the only U.S. public company embracing the search fund model. JT traces his path from trading on the Chicago Board of Trade to acquiring his first company and ultimately building Kingsway Search Accelerator (KSX), a platform that partners with high-potential operators to acquire and grow small businesses. He explains how Kingsway’s permanent capital structure, tax advantages, and operator “scaffolding” differentiate it within the ETA ecosystem. JT also shares insights on “game selection,” the attributes of successful searchers, and why mentorship and fit are essential for long-term success in ETA.
