Buyers and Builders 35+ Acquisitions, $1.3B Exit and Backing 80+ Searchers | Mark Sinatra of ETA Equity
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May 7, 2026 Mark Sinatra, experienced search fund operator turned investor and co-founder of ETA Equity. He recounts raising a search, buying StaffOne HR just before the financial crisis, surviving and turning the company around, selling to Oasis, and then building ETA to back 80+ searchers. He also discusses hiring talent, modern deal underwriting, due diligence, and what he now looks for in founders and companies.
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Hire For Urgency And Behavioral Fit
- Hire for behavioral fit and urgency; benchmark top performers and use tools like Predictive Index to find profiles that match sales and client roles.
- Prioritize pace, independence, and cultural add when scaling small teams.
Take Care Of Yourself And Use Your Board
- Protect your health and time-block renewal; Mark started exercise and calendar blocks to be visible and effective as CEO.
- Also, proactively call investors or board members for support—vulnerability is strength, not weakness.
Turnaround Led To Strategic Sale And Faster Exit
- After the turnaround, StaffOne achieved consecutive years of double-digit growth and sold to Oasis Outsourcing in 2017.
- Oasis then sold to Paychex about a year later, validating the roll-up strategy fit.