“We buy great small businesses and shape them into timeless ventures”
About Us
It all starts with a huge problem SMBs are facing.
As the overall age of the western population increases, micro and small businesses are struggling with succession planning. Retiring owners often don’t have relatives to pass on their small family business to and exit opportunities to third-parties of employees are rare. Consequently, the majority of them are shutting down endangering millions of jobs.
In Italy, our first geography of interest, nearly 80%, meaning 4 out of 5 companies below €10M in revenue, will shut down because of a loss of continuity. We’re talking about a huge know-how that won’t be transferred and tens of thousands of employees that will be sent home.
This is why at Equis we’re building a tech platform which:
- Acquires these small businesses whose founders are retiring
- Gives the majority of the shares back to the employees
- Supports these companies in creating a bridge to a solid and scalable future
A few insights about the companies we're targeting:
- Up to €5M in revenue;
- 10%+ Ebitda margin;
- B2b, services and manufacturing;
- Based in Italy;
- Owner looking for retirement;
- No consumer, distressed companies or turnarounds.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for an Entrepreneur Through Acquisition (’ETA’): A motivated, ambitious and talented mid-career professional and/or entrepreneur ready to take the next big career step - without building the company from scratch.
As Equis acquires these SMBs, we offer experienced executives a structured opportunity to become an entrepreneur through acquisition while having the support of a powerful tech platform and an internal ecosystem made of business experts with great expertise.
The partnership between Equis and the successful candidate extends beyond an employment/employer contractual relationship and will be defined by several agreements, willing to turn the candidate into the CEO and new entrepreneur of an acquired company.
Our selection process is highly competitive and includes several interviews, case assignments and personality assessments.
Responsibilities
- Based on your experience, we will define together the company that best suits your experience, where you’ll become CEO and new entrepreneur (or if you have identified a target company, we can match it with capital);
- Definition of the growth strategy of the company, with a 120-day plan and a longer term view, with a goal to grow at least double digit both revenue and ebitda, yoy;
- Creation of a culture that embraces innovation and digital transformation;
- Total review of the product and service offerings, strategy, positioning and gaps identification;
- Identification and development of geographical expansions and other value creation opportunities;
- Preserve a profitable growth while looking for automation and efficiencies improvement.
Requirements
- Min. 3+ years in leadership roles managing a team of cross-functional employees;
- A previous full and demonstrated P&L responsibility;
- Lived and worked in Italy for at least 3 years;
- Fluent in Italian and English.
Nice-to-have requirements
- Experience managing and operating an SME;
- Owner, Founder or Co-founder of a Startup;
- Experience in Business development on multiple countries;
- Experience in International expansion;
- Experience in successful Business transformation;
- Consulting experience from a top consulting firm (Bain & Company, McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group);
- Executive MBA (EMBA) or MBA from a top tier business school (IESE, Insead, HEC Paris, LBS, IMD).
What we offer
- Salary: up to €80k at day 1, based on the company size, subject to fast growth depending on how fast goals are reached;
- Shares (no investment required):
- from 5% to 8% after a few months;
- up to 25%+ in 10 years;
- and up to 60%+ in 20 years, based on results;
- Start date: mid 1Q25~end 2Q25 based on the acquisition timeline (but we’re hiring on a continuous basis, so if your timeline is not aligned, feel free to apply anyway);
- Geography: Italy, precise location based on the company HQ, on site;
- Type of job: full time.
Why Equis and not a search fund or another type of SME
- We buy the company providing the capital and make it available immediately;
- Tangible salary from day 1;
- No search period, hit the ground running immediately;
- Majority shares in the long term;
- Dividends distribution.
If you’re passionate about building companies, searching for your next opportunity to lead, and want to be part of an ambitious fast-growing environment with experienced entrepreneurs, join us! For more on Equis check us out here http://www.gruppoequis.com/