Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference

New Date and Programming Coming Soon

The Midwest’s premier entrepreneurship through acquisition event is returning to Butler University.

Join buyers, sellers, investors, advisors, and aspiring owners for a fully day of insights, connection, and practical guidance on acquiring and leading established businesses.

Spring 2027
Butler University
Main sessions in Hinkle Fieldhouse

“Whether you’re searching for your first acquisition, ready to pass the torch, or supporting others on their journey…this is your community.”

Across Indiana and throughout Midwest, thousands of small businesses are owned by entrepreneurs nearing retirement. Many lack a succession plan. These companies aren’t just businesses—they’re local employers, community anchors, and the backbone of regional economies. building something worth preserving. ETA Indy brings together buyers, sellers, advisors, lenders, educators, and ecosystem partners to strengthen the ETA pipeline across the Midwest. Whether you’re exploring your first acquisition, preparing to sell your business, or supporting founders through these transitions, this conference is for you.

Programming Focus Areas

The Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference features practical, experience‑driven programming that spans the full ETA journey—
from sourcing a deal to leading a business after close.

Future conference sessions are expected to explore:

Leading and growing a business after closing
Finding and sourcing acquisition opportunities
Evaluating and choosing the right business to buy
Conducting effective due diligence
Structuring and financing acquisitions

2026 Featured Speakers

These speakers represent just a few of the voices featured at the 2026 Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference.

Chelsea Wood
CEO & Co-Founder, Acquisition Lab | Chief of Staff, Buy Then Build

Chelsea Wood is an industrial-organizational psychologist and ETA strategist who helps entrepreneurs build high-performing companies. As CEO and Co-Founder of Acquisition Lab and Chief of Staff at Buy Then Build, she blends leadership development, human-capital strategy, and operational insight to equip acquirers to lead with clarity from day one.

Grant Hensel
Founder, Entrepreneurial Capital & Nonprofit Megaphone

Grant Hensel is an investor and entrepreneur supporting acquisition entrepreneurs through Entrepreneurial Capital, a $12.8M fund he co-founded. He also founded Nonprofit Megaphone, serving nearly 800 nonprofits with the Google Ad Grant. A former self-funded acquirer, Grant brings hands-on operating experience to the ETA community.

Lydia Henshaw
COO & Partner,
Neace Transportation

Lydia Henshaw is an operator and entrepreneur who specializes in building high‑performing logistics organizations. After acquiring Journey Warehousing, she doubled revenue and profits through process and systems improvements. Now COO and Partner at Neace Transportation, she leads team and operational integration across the company. She is also the author of Becoming Lucy (2023), a novel exploring resilience and transformation.

Chris Hirschfeld
Managing Director,
Capitale Analytics

Chris Hirschfeld is the Managing Director of Capitale Analytics, specializing in business valuation and transaction advisory. An accredited appraiser with deep technical expertise, he guides entrepreneurs through complex deals with rigorous analysis from diligence to closing. Chris holds an MBA from Chicago Booth and leverages his financial modeling and deal‑assessment experience to help acquirers focus on the metrics that truly drive successful transactions.