If you're running a search fund in 2025, you're in the fight of your life.

You’re competing for quality businesses against private equity firms with massive teams, years of relationships, and plenty of dry powder. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to outspend them—you just have to outsmart them.

And that starts with how you originate deals.

The most successful searchers right now are ditching the "spray and pray" method and using targeted, tech-enabled outreach to create off-market, one-to-one conversations with founders before anyone else gets there.

1. Play to Your Strengths

Searchers have a unique advantage: you’re not an institution. You’re a real person buying one business to run long-term. For many founders, that’s exactly who they want to sell to. But you need to get in front of them first, and early.

2. Outreach at Scale (Without Burning Out)

Cold outreach works, but not if it consumes 80% of your week. Platforms like OutSearched automate personalized emails, phone follow-ups, and even direct mail, giving you massive outbound reach while you focus on due diligence and closing deals.

3. Sharpen Your Target Criteria

Top searchers define their ideal business narrowly: $1–5M EBITDA, founder-led, recurring revenue, specific regions or industries. OutSearched helps you build outreach lists that match your exact investment thesis with no fluff, and no wasted effort.

4. Build Real Relationships, Not Just Pipelines

Search fund success is built on trust. When a seller engages, it’s not about blitzing them with a term sheet. It’s about having the bandwidth to build a real connection. OutSearched keeps your calendar full of qualified, motivated sellers, so you can focus on the human side of the deal.

5. Level the Playing Field with Tech

You don’t have a big team—but you can have big reach. By leveraging OutSearched, search funds are now competing directly with institutions and winning because they’re faster, more focused, and more founder-friendly.

Key Takeaway:

The best search fund deals aren’t found on Axial or in your inbox. They’re found by reaching out directly to the right sellers before anyone else does.

Platforms like OutSearched give search funds the power to act like a large firm, but with the personal touch of a solo buyer. In a competitive market, that combo wins.