Find purpose and prosperity by becoming a business owner.
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Train.
Acquire is an executive education coaching experience that trains experienced professionals on small business strategy in order to become effective owner-operators of their own $1 to $10 million company.
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Search.
Upon completing Acquire, you are eligible to apply for acceptance into a search accelerator program. This program provides the data, framework, resources and connections needed to find a company to buy.
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Buy.
Searchers can qualify for investment capital through Sleeping Giant Capital—a $50 million, West Michigan-focused buyout fund. Sleeping Giant aspires to generate financial, social and educational returns by backing the next generation of principled business leaders.
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Discover a new career path.
Program Features
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Intensive coaching
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In-person coaching available
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Great value
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Individualized and personal
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Learn from experts
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Real-world cases and prospects
Course comparison
| Educational Modules | 1-Day Intro Bootcamp | 8-Week Deep Dive |
|---|---|---|
| Module 1: Why acquire a small business | Full | Full |
| Module 2: Reflection and leading your acquisition process | Full | Full |
| Module 3: Thesis development and sourcing process | Half | Full |
| Module 4: Leading selection and evaluation | Half | Full |
| Module 5: Leading negotiation and offer | Half | Full |
| Module 6: Leading due diligence and closing | Not included | Full |
| Module 7: Leading growth and transition | Not included | Full |
| Bonus module: Financial modeling help and more | Not included | Full |
| Additional Included Materials | ||
| Weekly coaching calls | Not included | Included |
| Financial modeling coaching | Not included | Included |
| Webinar lectures | Not included | Included |
| Three graduate-level course credits through Western Michigan University | Not included | Included |
| Employer reimbursement | Not included | Included |
| Cost of course | $500 | $5,000 |
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Acquire will grow your knowledge about acquisition possibilities. You will learn about sourcing and deal flow, negotiation and thesis development. The program positions you to acquire, own and operate a small business. Choose the option that's right for your future.
Meet Your Instructors
Derrick McIver and Doug Lepisto are founders and managing directors of Sleeping Giant Capital, co-directors of the Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy, and associate professors at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business. Their research has been published in top management journals and their consulting and industry experience has taken them to Fortune 500 companies.
Your path can lead you to ...
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Understand and overcome the hidden fears and obstacles preventing you from becoming a business owner.
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Discover a viable path that will transform you from experienced professional to effective business owner.
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Explore various pathways to define targets and create deal flow.
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Evaluate potential targets by applying various personal, strategic, and financial filters and models to assess the attractiveness of targets.
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Develop a thesis on post-acquisition growth strategy.
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Learn how to structure a deal.
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Utilize tactics and best practices as you transition into the ownership role.
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In the News
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Investment firm with ties to WMU launches $50M fund to acquire local companies
KALAMAZOO, MI — A private investment firm has formed with a goal of acquiring West Michigan small businesses, and those owned by alumni of Western Michigan University. Sleeping Giant Capital, a Kalamazoo-based private investment firm with ties to Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business, recently announced the launch of a $50 million investment fund to generate economic, social and educational returns in West Michigan by acquiring small businesses...
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New $50 million VC fund aims to keep businesses local for next generation
KALAMAZOO — A new $50 million venture capital fund that organizers launched in Kalamazoo seeks to offer opportunity to a new generation of business executives while keeping established businesses local. Formed by two business professors at Western Michigan University, the Sleeping Giant Capital Principled Impact Fund I LLC has already secured “significant” commitments from investors, said Doug Lepisto, an associate professor at the Haworth College of Business...
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New $50M fund set up to acquire West Michigan businesses
A private investment firm with ties to Western Michigan University recently launched a fund that will help aspiring owner-operators acquire small businesses in West Michigan. Kalamazoo-based Sleeping Giant Capital, a firm launched out of WMU’s Haworth College of Business, said it established a $50 million investment fund with a goal of generating economic, social and educational returns by acquiring small businesses primarily based in this region...
Acquire is offered by Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy.