

ETA First 100 Days - Presidential Edition
ETA’s First 100 Days – Presidential Edition
A lot can change in 100 days. Especially when the White House does.
From shifting SBA lending landscapes to sudden tariff tweaks and unexpected administrative pivots, the first stretch of the new presidential term has made waves—and not just in Washington. It’s made its way into the world of ETA.
So what does this all mean if you’re mid-search or gearing up for acquisition?
This month, we’re breaking it down. No cable news drama—just real talk from operators, lenders, and advisors who are already seeing the ripple effects in live deals.
We’ll cover:
How SBA rule changes are impacting self-funded Searchers right now.
What the new tariff landscape means for businesses with international exposure.
What regulatory updates really matter—and which ones are noise.
How you should be thinking about risk, structure, and timing in your next LOI.
… and More!
Whether you’re just getting started, on the hunt or under LOI, this is your inside look at how policy changes translate into deal terms—and what to do about it.
Our panelists:
Jared Johnson, VP @ First Internet Bank
Saumil Jariwala, Founder @ Feta Fund
Eric B. Pacifici, Partner @ SMB Law Group
Lisa Forrest, Head of Search Fund Lending @ Live Oak Bank
Thank you to our Partners:
Oberle Risk Strategies - Specialty insurance brokerage providing industry leading services and complimentary due diligence assessments of commercial insurance and employee benefits needs. Contact: Search Fund Team
System Six: An outsourcing partner that manages day to day finance and accounting needs for growing SMBs. Searcher owned & operated. Contact: Chris Williams
First Internet Bank: One of the nation's fastet-growing preferred SBA lending banks. Leader in small business finance, offering industry leading expertise and customer service. Contact: Jared Johnson
Live Oak Bank: A finance leader dedicated to the support of Small Business Entrepreneurs and the Search Fund Community. Contact: Lisa Forrest
Cullen and Dykman LLP: A full-service law firm with dedicated M&A and Operating Solutions that delivers top-tier, cost-effective legal services to Search Funds, Independent Sponsors and more. Contact: Joseph Spina
Treewalk Consulting: Mid-size advisory firm specializing in Financial Reporting, CFO, and Transaction Advisory Services, trusted partner of active Searchers and Independent Sponsors. Contact: Avnit Sekhon
About Search Fund Coalition
SFC is a community of Small & Lower Middle Market Business Searchers, Entrepreneurs, Intermediaries, and Service Providers supporting entrepreneurial dreams.