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Let’s Talk About Growth Through Acquisition

Let's Talk About Growth Through Acquisition

By Mikel Berger, President and CEO, Greater Lafayette Commerce

Mikel BergerWhat does it take to grow your business? Sometimes the best move isn’t starting something new. It’s acquiring an existing business. Your latest innovation might be built using a business that someone else started, even decades ago. That’s what we’ll be talking about at the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Meetup on Tuesday, September 9 at MatchBOX Coworking Studio.

This is an informal, bring-your-own-lunch conversation—no slides, no lectures. Just real talk with people who’ve been there.

Why come?
Because this isn’t theory. Pat East and I have both walked this path. Pat built businesses, launched coworking spaces, and led Bloomington’s startup scene as executive director of The Mill. Now he’s exploring ETA and hosting meetups across Indiana to gauge interest and connect people.

I’ve been in the acquisition game since 2016 with my partner, Daryl Starr, at Little Engine Ventures. Together, we completed 17 acquisitions—mostly from retiring owners, some as expansions, some brand new. I recently stepped away from that work to lead Greater Lafayette Commerce, but I still believe in theMatchBOX Coworking Studio ETA Meetup power of ETA to grow businesses and communities.

This meetup is about more than learning. It’s about connecting. We want to know:

  • Who else is thinking about ETA in Greater Lafayette?
  • What’s already happening here?
  • How can we make it easier for more people to succeed?

Bring your questions, your experience and your curiosity. Let’s figure out what’s next—together.

📅 Date: Tuesday, September 9
🕛 Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
📍 Location: MatchBOX Coworking Studio
🔗 Register here

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