Own Your Future: The ETA Cohort for Aspiring Acquirers
Are you a second-year MBA student* at Duke with a clear ambition to own and lead a small business—either right after graduation or following your first post-Fuqua role? The ETA Cohort is your launchpad. This year-long program is designed for students who are serious about pursuing Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and ready to commit time, energy, and intention to that path.
As a member of the cohort, you’ll gain:
- Dedicated mentorship from Duke’s I&E ETA Advisory Council
- Insightful conversations with guest speakers active in the ETA ecosystem
- Financial support for immersive, off-campus field trips
- A tight-knit community of peers to challenge, refine, and support your ETA journey
Program Commitments:
- Weekly lunch meetings (11:30am–12:25pm)
- Charlotte field trip (Fall 1 – Wednesday)
- Spring 2 field trip (date TBD)
- Optional, student-led independent field experience
Next Steps:
For those ready to apply now, we will have a first round application deadline of April 30th. The final application deadline will be Monday, September 8, 2025. If you’re ready to take action toward owning a company and shaping your leadership legacy, the ETA Cohort is here to equip you.
Let this be the year you stop preparing to follow a traditional career path—and start preparing to chart your own entrepreneurial journey.
*Note the ETA Cohort is open to all graduate students in their final year of study at Duke