International Search Fund Center
Entrepreneurship through acquisition
Search funds provide an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to become equity-owning CEOs and for experienced search fund investors to support those young entrepreneurs in their first CEO roles.
IESE International Search Fund Center is committed to supporting entrepreneurs and investors from around the world who are involved in search funds. Working since 2011 in conjunction with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, IESE International Search Fund Center identifies and tracks international search funds and publishes a biennial report on the results of international search funds. Stanford’s biennial study covers search funds in the United States and Canada, while the IESE study covers search funds in all other countries around the world.
Since 2015 IESE has hosted the biennial International Search Fund Conference, bringing together search-CEOs, searchers and investors to discuss issues that individuals in the search fund community face. The International Search Fund Conference alternates each year with the Search Fund CEO Conference held at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. These two conferences have become the premier networking events in the international search fund community.
IESE was the first business school outside North America to offer its students an intensive course focused on search funds — now one of the most popular electives at IESE. Over 60 IESE graduates have raised search funds in 20 countries on 5 continents.
IESE International Search Fund Center forms part of IESE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem for the development of new ventures, innovation and growth.
Conferences
5th International Search Fund Conference
The 4th International Search Fund Conference, scheduled to be held at IESE in Barcelona in October 2020, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3rd International Search Fund Conference. IESE, Barcelona – October 4-5, 2018
Videos of the sessions:
2nd International Search Fund Conference. IESE, Barcelona – October 28, 2016
Videos of the sessions:
1st International Search Fund Conference. IESE, Barcelona – April 24, 2015
At the inaugural International Search Fund Conference in April 2015, over 180 attendees, including 20 searchers and CEOs from four continents and investors from the United States and Europe, learned from in-depth discussions on ideas and issues involving search funds. As one U.S. serial investor stated, “The event far exceed my expectations, the panels were truly world class, producing valuable insights for all.”
Videos of the sessions:
HKUST – IESE Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Summit
2nd IESE – Spectra Latam Search Fund Conference
4th CEO Summit, May 14th, 2026 (By invitation only)
7th Investor Summit, May 15, 2026 (By invitation only)
Publications
International Search Fund Study
Strategic Partner.
Sponsors.
