Chibunna's path to ETA started in a classroom and ended with a mission. He was first introduced to Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition at Duke Fuqua through Professor David Robinson's Finance 898 course. That idea stayed with him. He continued learning from Fuqua alumni who had acquired and operated businesses, and received guidance through Duke's Innovation & Entrepreneurship advisory council. When Chibunna transitioned into healthcare investment banking, the principles of ETA came back into focus: value creation, disciplined decision-making, long-term stewardship. In 2025, he acquired Veterans Room, a behavioral health platform serving veterans, where he is now focused on building and scaling a system worthy of those who served. "NMC played a meaningful role in helping me successfully acquire Veterans Room. The cohort model gave me access to a community of acquisition entrepreneurs who provided perspective, accountability, and support throughout the search and diligence process. Equally valuable was NMC's ecosystem of transaction resources, partners, and evaluation frameworks, which helped me assess opportunities more rigorously and execute with greater confidence."
Many ETA journeys start with big life transitions. This was the case for Olvin. His journey began after being laid off from an engineering role in oil and gas in 2020. Olvin’s layoff motivated him to pursue his MBA at Rice University, which spurred both a career pivot and a stronger business foundation. In one of his final courses, Enterprise Acquisition, he was introduced to the ETA model for the first time, and it immediately resonated. From there, he immersed himself in the community through conferences, networking events, podcasts, and webinars and began searching part-time after graduating.
Meredith Savill’s journey started in 2024, when she was first introduced to ETA by a friend. Meredith shared, “I knew starting a business from scratch wasn't in the cards, so when I discovered it might be feasible to buy an existing business by leveraging an SBA loan and potential investors, I knew I had to give it a shot.” She gave herself two years to make the dream happen, or set it aside. Just four months later, she found herself under contract for a business, but it fell through. Undeterred, Meredith started bETA in 2025 while in full search mode and already under LOI for her second potential deal.
Tommy Henley had a unique journey to ETA. With a decade-plus career in education, and a focus on underserved students, Tommy knew mission-alignment was critical to his acquisition journey. He closed on the Kumon of Harlem East in March 2026 – a math and reading education franchise with a focus on K-12 students.
In October 2025, Sonya Hopson closed on CF Wright Consulting LLC, an engineering firm specializing in airport planning services, including roadways, underground utilities, passenger walkways, and traffic flow. The acquisition marked a strategic expansion beyond her existing engineering services company, positioning her to grow into new commercial markets while strengthening her footprint in infrastructure and aviation. “The NMC support was out of this world. The instructional sessions and information from my peers in the cohort provided real-life scenarios that drove home the process.” – Sonya Hopson
In 2024, Mitchell Harris left his executive corporate role to pursue a bold goal: acquire and operate a business that would allow him to lead with purpose, impact his community, and create long-term freedom in his life. After a self-funded search spanning 20 months, including three LOIs, Mitchell closed on Vertex Communication Group, an enterprise email marketing operations firm, in September 2025. “You have to shake off the 'no's,' push forward, and stay focused on the end goal.” – Mitchell Harris
In 2024, Raul Muniz completed the bETA accelerator in Washington, DC, with a clear goal: to acquire a business where he could work alongside his family and create local jobs. Just months later, he closed on Speedy Fire Protection in South Florida, launching a new chapter of ownership and creating a lasting legacy for his family and the community at large.
Our community is built by entrepreneurs who not only acquire businesses but also strengthen them. We caught up with Ben Onukwube, bETA Atlanta ’23 alum and owner of Star Nsurance + Tax, to hear about his post-acquisition journey and what he’s learned as a first-time owner. “Community is critical—before and after the deal.” – Ben Onukwube
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