Lacking Pedigree but have access to Capital. Is ETA for me?

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July 10, 2021

by a searcher from University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA, USA

Hello,

I am new to this forum and currently in the process of reaching out to other searchers/serial entrepreneurs to understand if I should pursue this path. I have approximately 2 years of Asset Management experience in Retail Real Estate and have experience leading over 10 different teams of people working out to roughly 30 people. My family has money that they have expressed being interested in investing in the correct senerio of up to 1 million dollars. The problems that pop out to me are my lack of experience, pretty young (25 years old), and no MBA I can leverage for other outside investors. Would be curious to hear about other younger entrepreneurs in the space!

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Reply by a searcher
from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, USA
Regarding an MBA, I grew up in my families small grocery business. And I have an MBA. The MBA was a complete waste of time for me. You will learn more operating a small business and MBA won't teach you what you need to know. Do you actively learn things you are interested in? If not, this path is not for you. If you enjoy learning, then use those skills to learn what you need to make this happen. It will be tough so you must have a strong "Why" to drive you through the tough parts. And the search part is very different than the operator part. So the learning journey is long, and really never ending. I don't say this to discourage you, just to set the right expectations. Make a list of what knowledge you think you lack. If you share more details people here can point you to resources or add to your list for things you missed. I'd suggest sharing what you think you know and what you think you don't. That would probably start an interesting conversation for many on this site.
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Reply by a searcher
in Portland, OR, USA
My first post on Searchfunder was similar to your question. I don't have an MBA and I don't expect to start one until I have worked as an operator of a small company. I'd say it boils down to your drive.

When I was 25 the US military trusted me with managing ~40 people. To ensure success, the big military system had a lot of policies and procedures in place to make it safer. They also paired me with older, more seasoned managers that either reported directly to me or directly managed junior staff members. It was a well built (albeit not perfect) system. While I haven't succeeded as a business owner, my experience tells me that your success will hinge on finding a match. By that I mean maybe aim for a business that can cater to your lack of professional work experience yet allow you to fully employ your vision, enthusiasm, and drive. I'm not sure what the right answer is but if you're committed you'll figure it out.
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