Engage

The Journey

From a Sunday newsletter to closing $1M+ in deals.

What started as a weekly breakdown of five small businesses became a community, then a fund, then a firm. Every edition, every deal sourced, every lesson learned in public — documented from day one.

2023
Where it all started — a Sunday newsletter about buying small businesses.
EDITION ZERO
May 2023

Where it all started — a Sunday newsletter about buying small businesses.

This Is Bizness launched as a weekly breakdown of five small businesses.

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A student-led fund buying businesses for under $5,000.
THE POCKET FUND
Oct 2023

A student-led fund buying businesses for under $5,000.

Pocket Fund launched as a student initiative focused on acquisition entrepreneurship — buying, operating, and selling small online businesses.

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2024
Why college is the best launchpad for your first business.
COLLEGE STARTUPS
Feb 2024

Why college is the best launchpad for your first business.

Reduced startup costs, AI tools, and a generation-wide shift toward entrepreneurship make college the best time to build.

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Breaking down a $15K micro-SaaS supporting children with autism.
POCKET DEALS
May 2024

Breaking down a $15K micro-SaaS supporting children with autism.

A micro-SaaS offering visual schedules and step-by-step guidance for children with autism — at a $15K asking price.

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Five filters for spotting real opportunities in a sea of listings.
DEAL SOURCING
Jun 2024

Five filters for spotting real opportunities in a sea of listings.

After acquiring six micro-startups, five practical strategies emerged for filtering quality deals from marketplace noise.

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2025
The best acquisitions are the ones nobody else sees coming.
HIDDEN VALUE
Jan 2025

The best acquisitions are the ones nobody else sees coming.

An under-monetized newsletter becomes a case study in how strategic improvements can dramatically increase business value.

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How a Stanford model from the 1980s became a new asset class.
SEARCH FUNDS
Nov 2024

How a Stanford model from the 1980s became a new asset class.

From Stanford MBA experiment to distinct asset class — the search fund model and its evolution across institutional and self-funded approaches.

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2026
Five deals. Six months. $200K closed — here is what we learned.
DEAL CLOSING
Feb 2026

Five deals. Six months. $200K closed — here is what we learned.

The team shifted from buying businesses to advising entrepreneurs on acquisitions, closing five deals totaling $200K.

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From the Studio

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Event
Inside the Room
What happens when acquisition entrepreneurs get together.
Culture
Beyond the Deal
The people behind the spreadsheets.
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Deal breakdowns, market analyses, and the journey — documented weekly on @devlikesbizness
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