The ETA NYC Fellowship

We help current and prospective acquisition entrepreneurs maximize their probability of sucesss with a curated set of programming and resources:

  1. 1.

    2-day Executive ETA Intensive: Designed for experienced professionals, co-taught by NYU Stern faculty. The 2026 Intensive will be held on May 16-17th at The Andaz 5th Ave in New York City.

  2. 2.

    AI Deal Platform: Receive sponsored access to Prince, AI-native deal management platform, saving you time on manual work and coordination

  3. 3.

    Deal Execution Support: Participate in weekly deal review meetings with Deal Utility's experienced investment team and advisors.

  4. 4.

    Capital: Seed search capital of up to $500,000, plus up to $10mm+ in equity and debt to consummate acquisitions

Apply

The Executive ETA NYC Intensive

The Executive ETA NYC Intensive is a fully sponsored, highly selective seminar designed to prepare experienced operators, investors, and senior professionals to successfully acquire and lead a business. Hosted on May 16-17th, 2026 at The Andaz 5th Ave in New York City and taught in academic collaboration with faculty from NYU Stern School of Business and the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship, the Intensive combines institutional academic rigor with direct access to the Deal Utility acquisition ecosystem.

NYU ETA Event

Institutional capital and advisory

Beyond academic instruction, participants are introduced to Deal Utility's acquisition platform, which is designed to support serious buyers as they move from preparation to execution. Deal Utility provides entrepreneurs with access to acquisition infrastructure, transaction advisory support, investor connectivity, and a growing pipeline of acquisition opportunities.

A curated network of mission-aligned, institutional capital - co-investors, lenders, and family offices - have pledged $100mm+ to fund deals and growth under this ETA strategy.

$100mm+

capital pledged

10,000

NYC businesses that need transition

ETA, the AI-native way.

As part of the Intensive, search entrepreneurs receive sponsored access to Prince, an AI-native deal management and analysis platform. Instead of wrangling disparate PDFs and Excel files, Prince manages deal pipeline, due diligence, and deal structure modeling, in a unified AI platform, giving searchers an edge in the competitive acquisition landscape.

Applications are open

Applications for the Spring 2026 cohort are open now. Cohort size is limited so we can work closely with every participant.

Apply

FAQ

What is ETA NYC?

The Executive ETA NYC Intensive is a fully sponsored, highly selective seminar designed to prepare experienced operators, investors, and senior professionals to successfully acquire and lead a business. Hosted at The Andaz 5th Ave in New York City and taught in academic collaboration with faculty from NYU Stern School of Business and the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship, the Intensive combines institutional academic rigor with direct access to the Deal Utility acquisition ecosystem.

Who is ETA NYC for?

ETA NYC is best suited for individuals with strong entrepreneurial ambitions but value the stability of a company with proven revenue and operational history.

Profiles that may be a good fit include but are not limited to:

  • Mid-career operators and executives seeking greater ownership opportunity
  • Finance professionals with experience in private equity, venture capital, or other investing roles
  • Technologists with founder experience/ambitions who may have otherwise considered building a software company
  • Current or recent MBA graduates.

Tell me more about the 2-day Intensive

Over two full days, participants will work directly with NYU Stern faculty and experienced acquisition practitioners to develop the judgment, frameworks, and execution readiness required to acquire a business. The program focuses on the full acquisition lifecycle, including:

  • Building a disciplined acquisition strategy and proprietary sourcing approach
  • Evaluating acquisition opportunities using institutional financial and risk frameworks
  • Conducting diligence and understanding transaction structuring mechanics
  • Navigating negotiations, investor alignment, and acquisition financing
  • Preparing for the transition from executive to owner-operator
  • Establishing a clear and executable acquisition roadmap

What happens after the 2-day Intensive?

Following the Intensive, 20 participants will be invited to join the Deal Utility Acquisition Working Group, an invitation-only execution cohort for individuals actively pursuing acquisitions. Members of the Working Group receive ongoing access to Deal Utility's ecosystem, including live deal flow, advisory guidance, and investor relationships aligned to support successful acquisition and ownership.

Where is the Intensive held?

The Andaz 5th Ave in New York City.

What is the cost of the Intensive?

Participation is fully sponsored - there is no cost to accepted participants.

What is the application process?

Admission is competitive and holistic. The application process consists of 3 essay questions, a video submission, and an interview for shortlisted candidates.