The HKUST Entrepreneurship Center recently concluded the inaugural HKUST ETA Fellowship Intensive Training, bringing together 11 accomplished fellows to explore the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) journey over two intensive days.

For many participants, the programme marked a pivotal step in transitioning from interest in ETA to actionable preparation for becoming future owner-operators. Through structured sessions and collaborative discussions, fellows explored key aspects of the ETA pathway, from assessing personal fit and developing a search mandate, to validating opportunities, understanding the capital ecosystem, and preparing a credible action plan.

Throughout the programme, fellows engaged in topics including:
•    Future-operator readiness and pathway choice
•    Search mandate development and market validation
•    Validation conversations and evidence loops
•    Capital partner fit and the local ETA ecosystem
•    Legal, financing, and tax considerations
•    Building a credible narrative and structured action plan

The cohort brought together individuals with experience spanning strategy, investment, M&A, finance, operations, entrepreneurship, and family business. Their diverse perspectives enriched discussions and fostered a highly collaborative learning environment.
A heartfelt thank you to our speakers, mentors, and industry practitioners for sharing their expertise and practical insights throughout the programme: Prof. Carrie Ling, José Moreno, Yiqiao Wang, Stephen Shih, Bill Lui, Pangiarella, and Victor Wu.
As the intensive training concludes, the journey is only just beginning. The HKUST Entrepreneurship Center looks forward to supporting this pioneering cohort through mentoring, market validation activities, peer learning, and the upcoming ETA Summit as they continue taking the next steps toward becoming future business owners and operators.