Acquire Established SMEs
Enter businesses with existing products, customers, teams, and cash flow, then take operating responsibility.
HKUST ETA Fellowship
Moving ETA education into candidate readiness
The HKUST ETA Fellowship is jointly offered by the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center and HKUST MBA Program, with Search Panda serving as a strategic partner. The program aims to prepare high-potential individuals to acquire and operate established SMEs through entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Application details, eligibility, and timing should be confirmed on the HKUST official page.
HKUST Official Program Introduction
Pioneering Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition in Asia
The HKUST ETA Fellowship is designed to prepare high-potential individuals to acquire and become CEOs of established small-to-medium enterprises through Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, using the proven search fund model.
Compared with starting from zero, ETA begins with existing customers, products, teams, and cash flow. Across Asia, where many SMEs face succession, growth, and professionalization questions, it gives operating-minded entrepreneurs a path to take responsibility for real businesses and create long-term value.
Structured Preparation
Build a preparation path across search, evaluation, transaction understanding, financing, and succession.
Long-term Operation
Focus on governance, growth, digital upgrades, and organization building after acquisition.
Search Panda connects
International community experience and local practice
Search Panda connects international investors, search entrepreneurs, mentors, and local collaborators, bringing practical experience from different markets into information sessions, program materials, and candidate communication.
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Community resources
Connect investors, search entrepreneurs, mentors, and local collaborators so the program discussion stays close to market practice.
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Entrepreneur reach
Use community communication and events to help more operating-minded candidates understand entrepreneurship through acquisition.
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Candidate communication
Help candidates enter the conversation around company search, target evaluation, investor communication, and post-acquisition operations earlier.
Program Progress
Current Program Progress
The information session and application stage have been completed. Applications are currently under review, with further arrangements to follow through HKUST program communications.
16 Apr 2026
Information Session
Introduced the ETA path, Fellowship structure, and application arrangements.
15 Jun 2026
Application Deadline
Candidates submitted their application materials.
In Review
Application Review
The program team is reviewing applications and preparing next-stage arrangements.