This webinar, held on 10/15/25, is focused on Social Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (sETA). We share the key insights from our recent report on the topic, showcase a few compelling examples of funds implementing sETA and deepen connections in this emerging field.
Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) is a model where individuals or small teams buy and operate established businesses, often with backing from investors. Once a niche model, ETA has grown rapidly from only 14 funds in 1996 to more than 700 worldwide today. The model seems like an appealing option: it can deliver strong returns for investors while keeping vital local businesses alive as retiring owners step away. Unfortunately, ETA wasn’t built with impact in mind. It often remains accessible only to insiders, inherent features of the model can pressure entrepreneurs to prioritize short-term financial returns, and it introduces risks to workers, customers, and communities.
During this webinar, we discuss the ETA landscape and the opportunities and risks it presents for impact investors. We’ll also provide an overview of sETA, an approach for reshaping the model across four dimensions: opening doors for more diverse entrepreneurs, supporting employee ownership, embedding better operational practices, and anchoring businesses in their communities. The webinar also showcases the work of 2 sETA fund managers to illustrate what the approach looks like in practice.
