WayFinder Capital Managers is Australia’s first Fund Manager of Search Funds.
We champion the aspirations of entrepreneurs who want to acquire a company. We source, invest in, and support that talent to grow value together in Australia’s Mid-Market sector.
We work with talented entrepreneurs who
- Dedicate themselves to search for up to two years to find the best possible Mid-Market businesses;
- Acquire and Grow economic and social value;
- Exit; and
- Deliver outstanding investor Returns
These talented entrepreneurs are called “Searchers.”
The WayFinder Searcher Growth Fund In a Nutshell:
- Up to $25M in committed capital fund as a VCLP.
- First fund in Australia to invest exclusively in Search Funds and Searcher led transactions.
- Targeting an investor IRR of +20% (net of all fees).
- Search Funds are a globally proven investment vehicle for backing talent and investing in Mid-Market Enterprises (MME) businesses.
- Will invest in ~20 acquisition entrepreneurs in both their two year search phase and subsequent acquisition of the highest quality Australian "MME" businesses.
WayFinder Capital Managers is the first Australian Fund Manager to exclusively focus on Search Funds and Searcher led transactions.
But we are not the first in the world.
The WayFinder Searcher Growth Fund
Investment Summary
Fund
- Tax neutral VCLP
- First close $10m
- Final close earlier of 18 months or $25m
- Deliver outstanding investor Returns
Commitment
- Minimum commitment of $250,000
- 10% of commitment called at first close
- Plan to deploy capital over six years from fund final close
- Capital called as required
- Capital returns expexted to commence year seven
Target Returns
(Pre-tax IRR of 20% (net) after:)
- Management Fee
- Carried Interest of 20%
- Performance Hurdle 8% year seven
Unique in Australia
- Access to ~20 entrepreneurs dedicating 100% of their time for two years in searching for business
- Proven business and financial model overseas (+35 years in US)
- Investments are made in search and/or buyout phase
- Minority but significant equity investments
- Stable, sustainable low-mid market businesses with simple business models
- Tracking a pipeline of talented entrepreneurs and pending searchers currently in or intending to return to Australia
Contact us for more information on the WayFinder Searcher Growth Fund or to request an Information Memorandum.
A Search Fund is...
A financial vehicle and an entrepreneurial path undertaken by one or two individuals (the “Searchers”) who form an investment vehicle with a small group of aligned investors, some of whom become mentors, in order to search for, acquire, and lead a privately held company for the medium to long term.
About Us
Our Ethos:
- Talent First. Acquisition targets will come and go. What we know is that backing the right talent into an acquisition will create value.
- Skills & Aspiration. Work with high energy entrepreneurs who can lead, sell and relate; have empathy, listen, and are open to learning.
- Enduring. Value is built over time. Patient capital is needed for long-term, sustainable value creation.
- Community. Be active in the global Search Fund community.
We're passionate about enabling the
Australian Search Fund ecosystem
Introduced to one another by a mutual colleague in 2008, Lui and Ak began ‘trading notes’ on their combined experiences of helping clients with growth, mergers, acquisitions, MBOs and other forms of business transitions.
This led them to discover – and get passionate about – the Search Fund concept and investment asset class. In 2018 they established Second Squared to officially introduce Search to the Australian market and accelerate the opportunity for growing a thriving Search community here.
The unexpected speed with which the community has grown has led them to establish WayFinder Capital in 2021 with Nima Sedaghat, Australia’s leading practicing corporate lawyer and expert on Search Funds.
WayFinder Capital Fund Investments
Active Companies
