Welcome to the Pocket Fund edition. What started as a club at Claremont McKenna College became a community for entrepreneurs who measure success differently — not by how much VC funding you raise, but by how resourcefully you can build.
The premise was simple: a $5,000 search fund targeting small online businesses. Find a business on Acquire.com, operate it for 12–18 months, sell for a 5x valuation, and repeat. No pitch decks. No Series A. Just acquisition entrepreneurship at its most accessible.
Money isn’t the motivating factor here. Do it for the love of entrepreneurship.
What Is Pocket Fund?
Pocket Fund addresses what we saw as insufficient recognition for student entrepreneurs pursuing sustainable, profitable businesses rather than moonshot ventures. The organisation prioritises open-source practices, sharing activities and learnings with members and the broader community.
The core objective: demonstrate that acquisition entrepreneurship — buying, running, and selling small businesses — is an accessible path anyone can pursue. Donations function as a vote of faith rather than equity stakes. Every contribution is welcomed, regardless of size.
Business Selection Criteria
- Online businesses under $5,000
- Solves niche problems with minimal direct competition
- Focuses on untapped potential and leverages member strengths
- Bootstrapped, profitable operations emphasising systems and automation
The Three-Step Model
The model is deliberately simple. Step one: find and purchase a business on Acquire.com. Step two: operate the business for 12–18 months, applying systems thinking and lean operational improvements. Step three: sell for a 5x valuation. Then repeat the cycle.
This is not about building something from zero. It is about recognising value that already exists and having the discipline to grow it.
Founder Credentials
Dev Shah built a side business generating $25,000 at age 18. He then acquired Sourcely.ai for $4,000, growing it to a $100,000 valuation within three months. These early wins proved the thesis: small acquisitions, executed well, can generate outsized returns.
Why This Edition Matters
Pocket Fund was never about the money. It was about proving a model — that students with limited capital and unlimited energy could compete in the acquisition space. The expansion plans include establishing chapters across U.S. colleges, prioritising genuine leadership qualities over institutional prestige.
Every deal we close today traces back to this conviction. You do not need permission or a large balance sheet. You need a process, a community, and the willingness to start.