From Red-Eye to Ready: My Day at Deal Team Day New York

Collita
Jun 18
4 min read

On June 3rd, I boarded a red-eye flight from Seattle to attend the "Deal Team Day" in New York, organized by the Search Fund Coalition.

Before catching my flight, I squeezed in a parent-teacher conference at my daughter’s new German preschool. She will be going there this coming school year. And you know, if you’re a mom and work in any capacity, back-to-back schedules are just part of the hustle.

After landing around 6 a.m. and doing the finest airport bathroom glam-up (plus a quick breast pumping session, because that is my life right now), I made it to the venue by 8:30 in the morning. I got lucky and was greeted by bagels and coffee 🙏.

The event officially kicked off an hour later, which gave me time to network and sniff out the few other women in the room while enjoying some caffeine.

Who Is This Event For

This event felt especially helpful for early-stage and self-funded searchers, but honestly, there was something valuable for everyone. The vibe was informal and chill. It felt like a real community. You could ask questions without intimidation, and the group was small enough that real conversations happened. No getting lost in a crowd.

Event Details

For whoever is interested here are some details about the event.

Price: Ticket was $149, but I received a 50% discount through the Women’s Searchers Community (thank you!). With my ticket, I was allowed to extend a discount to others as well. I think this was a great step toward community-building and accessibility.
Location: The event was held at Serendipity Labs, a coworking space in New York. I’ve heard this event rotates cities, so it’s a great opportunity to meet people locally, or build in a trip to a new place.
Length and Structure: A full-day event packed with expert-led panels, breaks for networking, and plenty of one-on-one chats. A very full but very energizing day.
Food: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Bagels and coffee in the morning (YES), a Mediterranean spread for lunch, and pizza with wine to wrap things up.

Panel Takeaways

Because this blog is meant to be a helpful resource for other searchers, I’ve summarized the key takeaways from each panel in this section. These insights reflect the most practical advice shared during the day. If you're looking for a more detailed breakdown, I’ve also put together a PDF with all my raw notes. You can download it here if you’re interested.

Deal Sourcing Mastery

Brokers get flooded (100+ inquiries in 24 hours for deals over $450K SDE!). You are one of many, so make it count.
Lead with your why. Brokers want to know why you are the right buyer.
Personalized messages and human connection matter.

Financial Due Diligence Breakdown

Due diligence starts before the LOI.
Watch for red flags: stagnant accounts, large margin swings, improper revenue recognition, ERC (Employee Retainment Credit) issues, or misclassified workers.
To start your due diligence you need tax returns, bank and credit card statements, and the general ledger.
Understand your working capital needs early.

Essential Legal Strategies

Using legal templates can be risky as they could leave out critical elements like how to handle working capital and deferred revenue. Seeking legal advice early can be a lifesaver.
Think holistically: legal, tax, insurance, HR, and entity structure all matter.
Avoid broker LOI templates. Don’t send deposits blindly. Handle working capital and deferred revenue early.

ETA Debt and Equity Solutions

SOP 8 changes are bringing back cautious lending. Expect a tighter processes.
Equity is expensive. If you take on investors, make sure they bring more than just cash.
Double your working capital estimate. Take the line of credit. The J-curve is real.

Risk and Business Operations

Validate licenses, insurance, and tax accounts for the business. This will reduce risk significantly.
Customer contracts may include specific insurance clauses, review them.
Ensure subcontractors are properly insured and contracts are compliant.

From Searcher to Operator

Talk to a bankruptcy attorney before you buy. Having a plan of action is always a good idea.
Complete as many setup tasks as possible before closing (set up bank account, business phone, systems).
Make sure to get access to the business email address and other systems.
Don’t fix what isn’t broken. Be deliberate with post-close changes.

Personal Highlights and Inspiring Conversations

My personal highlight of the day? The women. They were sharp, insightful, and brought real substance to the conversation.

Laura Gieseke didn’t just answer questions, she broke down complex topics like how to structure the purchase of an S-Corporation with clarity and depth.

Sarah Andrews seemed to have the SBA SOP changes memorized (honestly, she could’ve written them) and offered clear, practical advice on how to navigate them. Grania Michel stood out for her candor. She shared what it was really like to survive the first six weeks of ownership and ride the emotional rollercoaster of the J-curve. And Kay Azmat shared her powerful story of acquiring a business while pregnant, discovering it wasn’t the right fit due to an unethical seller, and ultimately exiting before launching Chief Rebel, where she now helps founders reclaim their time and build more exit-ready companies.

These conversations weren’t just informative—they were genuinely inspiring. They reminded me that there are powerhouse women in ETA, and they’re reshaping what leadership, resilience, and expertise look like in this space.

Conclusion

Deal Team Day delivered what so many other events don’t: tactics. No vague “follow your dream” speeches. This was about the grind, the deals, and the real people behind them.

I can say for myself that the investment I made—and the hours of sleep I lost—were absolutely worth it. The experience was energizing, informative, and filled with authentic connection.

Big thanks to the Search Fund Coalition for putting together a high-value, high-impact day!