Deadline Date: June 15, 2026
The HKUST ETA Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications to develop future CEOs who acquire and scale established small and medium enterprises through the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition model supported by structured training, mentorship and investor engagement.
The focus areas of the fellowship include Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA), acquisition of established SMEs, search fund model implementation, leadership development for operational excellence, valuation and deal structuring, acquisition financing, post-acquisition business transformation, and building long-term investor and mentor ecosystems for sustainable value creation.
The program is structured as a 4–6 month cohort-based journey that progresses through selection, intensive training, practical development, and investor engagement, with emphasis on preparing participants for fundraising readiness and execution capability.
Participants undergo a structured learning experience that includes an intensive in-person training component focused on ETA strategy, valuation principles, deal structuring, acquisition financing, and leadership in post-acquisition business environments. This is reinforced through mentorship interactions and applied exercises designed to simulate real acquisition scenarios and decision-making processes.
Eligibility for the program is targeted toward experienced professionals with strong leadership and operational capability, including industry executives with management experience, investment professionals with SME or deal execution backgrounds, and strategic generalists with entrepreneurial drive and learning agility. Priority is given to HKUST alumni and students with relevant work experience, while exceptional candidates outside the alumni network may also be considered.
For more information, visit HKUST.
