What Search Fund Investors Really Look For with Ibrahim Rahim

In this episode of the Found & Funded Podcast, we’re joined by Ibrahim Rahim, Managing Partner and co-founder of Moonbase Capital, a global investment firm backing search fund entrepreneurs to acquire and grow established businesses. Ibrahim shares his journey from growing up in Egypt and working in the family business, through to consulting at McKinsey, and ultimately returning home to help 10x the family business over a decade. Along the way, he reflects on the real challenges of operations — from digitising systems and restructuring businesses, to navigating high-interest debt in Egypt that nearly wiped the company out. After later attending Stanford University, where he discovered the search fund model, Ibrahim went on to found Moonbase Capital — combining his hands-on operational experience and his background in consulting with an investor’s perspective. In this episode, Ibrahim discusses: His journey from SME operator to global investor Lessons learned scaling a family business and the importance of going slow How his investment approach compares to the Stanford search fund model Sectors he’s avoiding (and where he sees opportunity) The growth of search funds across Europe What he looks for in a searcher The most common challenges when taking over a business Practical advice on scaling and improving operations 🕒 Key Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Ibrahim’s Background 03:46 10x’ing The Family Business 08:23 Discovering Search Funds at Stanford 11:44 Launching Moonbase Capital 15:45 Evaluating Search Fund Investments 17:58 Standing Out In A Crowded Investor Market 20:00 How Search Fund Investors Can Add Value Beyond Capital 21:29 Sectors To Watch 23:58 Up & Coming European Search Markets (Poland & Portugal) 26:33 What Does An Investor Look For In An Entrepreneur 29:54 Mastering the First 100 Days As A New CEO 33:13 Mistakes To Avoid 37:07 Working With & Involving The Founder 39:16 The Changing Investor Landscape In Search Funds 41:31 Advice For Other Search Fund Investors 🔗 Connect With Us Follow on LinkedIn:   / the-found-funded-podcast   Follow on Instagram:   / foundandfundedpod   Visit our website: https://www.foundandfunded.co.uk/ Enjoyed this episode? Hit the SUBSCRIBE button and click the bell icon 🔔 to stay updated on our latest interviews with search experts and business owners. #searchfunds #eta #entrepreneur #business #investing #entrepreneurshipthroughacquisition #investors #privateequity