As an Analyst Intern, you'll work directly with our Founder, Melissa, on the actual work of finding and evaluating businesses to acquire. Your work will shape which industries Arcbright targets, which companies make it into the pipeline, and ultimately which business gets acquired.

This isn't a passive learning experience. You'll own real deliverables with real consequences. You'll be in the room (or on the call) for conversations that matter. And you'll get exposure to every part of the search fund process — from industry research to broker calls to financial modeling.

Industry Research & Thesis Development 30%

• Build industry theses on sub-niches we're considering — market size, growth, fragmentation, recurring revenue dynamics, regulatory environment

• Run sub-niche research sprints (one per month) using NAICS codes, IBISWorld, Capital IQ, public filings, and industry publications

• Apply frameworks like Porter's Five Forces and 7 Powers to assess where each niche sits in its lifecycle

• Summarize findings into concise memos and present them to our founder directly

Deal Sourcing & Outreach 35%

• Build proprietary target lists in Grata using top-down and bottoms-up search techniques

• Verify ownership, size, and fit against our acquisition criteria ($2M+ EBITDA, bootstrapped, owner-operated)

• Find owner contacts using tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator

• Draft personalized outreach emails and manage multi-step cadences in our email tool

• Connect with business brokers and intermediary networks to expand inbound deal flow

Deal Screening & Analysis 15%

• Run first-pass screens on incoming CIMs against Arcbright's acquisition criteria

• Pull out and normalize financials — revenue, EBITDA, customer concentration, recurring revenue mix

• Build company snapshots and deal memos for my review

Pipeline, CRM & AI Management 15%

• Keep HubSpot updated with target company data, contact records, and outreach activity

• Track deal flow from initial contact through screening

• Flag and escalate high-potential opportunities

• Create and Manage AI tools developed to support our search process (i.e. Claude Code, Notion)

Learning & Development 5%

• Regular 1:1s with Melissa to review work, share feedback, and talk through what you're learning

• Weekly all-team Huddles - a chance to share what you’re working on with other peers for feedback

• Bi-weekly development check-ins on the learning and development goals you'll set in your first week

• Self-directed projects on industries or topics you want to go deeper on

How lower-middle-market businesses are sourced, screened, and acquired in Canada and the US. The fundamentals of industry analysis. How to evaluate a CIM. How to build and execute a thesis-driven outreach campaign.

Financial analysis at the small business level — EBITDA normalization, add-backs, working capital dynamics, customer concentration, and revenue quality. The basics of LBO and SME valuation (EV/EBITDA, DCF).

How to talk to business owners with empathy and credibility. How to build relationships with brokers. How to make a confident pass / pursue decision under uncertainty. The judgment side of investing — not just the math.

You'll also pick up a variety of sales, marketing, technical, financial, and entrepreneurial skills along the way.

You’ll learn a ton and no day will be the same.

We’re looking for self-directed, intellectually curious students who are genuinely interested in entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) and want to see how a real search fund operates.

You don't need to come from a finance background — but you do need to be willing to learn fast and bet on yourself.

Essential Traits

• Self-starter. You don't wait to be told what to do. You take initiative, make decisions, and ask for forgiveness when needed.

• Curious. You ask questions because you genuinely want to understand, not because you're trying to look smart.

• Detail-oriented. You notice the things other people miss. You don't send work that hasn't been double-checked.

• Strong writer. You can take a complicated idea and make it clear in three sentences. You can draft a cold email that doesn't sound like a cold email.

• Comfortable with ambiguity. A lot of the work won't have a clear answer. You're okay with that.

• Comfortable on the phone. You can pick up the phone and have a real conversation with a business owner or broker without freezing up.

Preferred Experience

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program (any major — though business, finance, economics, or commerce backgrounds will get up to speed faster)

• Comfortable with Microsoft Excel and basic financial concepts

• Prior research, finance, consulting, or sales experience is a plus but not required

• Unconventional backgrounds welcomed — if you're driven, willing to work hard, and excited about this work, I want to hear from you

Core Values

Arcbright was built on five values. They show up in how we talk to owners — and in what we look for in every intern.

• We're hands-on operators. Roll up your sleeves and figure it out. We're entrepreneurs and we get things done. Problems get solved by trying, not by waiting. You won't get a lot of structure or hand-holding — you'll get problems, context, and trust. If you're stuck, ask. But try first.

• We're fair and human. Do the right thing, even when no one's watching. Treat owners, brokers, and teammates like the real people they are. There's a person behind every CIM, every email, every call and it’s important we never treat anyone like a transaction.

• We treat their business like it's our own. If you wouldn't be proud to send it for your own company, don't send it. Quality is the baseline, not the goal. Every email you draft, every memo you write, every screen you build should be at a standard you'd want if it were your business being looked at.

• We're always learning. Stay curious. Ask questions because you want to understand, not because you want to look smart. Be the first to admit what you don't know — that's where the real growth happens. Feedback is a gift, not a threat.

• We bring some joy. This work is hard. Bring positive energy to it. Find the funny moments. Don't take yourself too seriously — but take the work seriously. The people I want around me make this whole thing more fun.

• Workday consistency. Start and end times are flexible — work around your classes — but pick a rhythm and stick to it. Consistency matters more than which hours you choose. Shoot for 2–3 hour blocks at a time so you can actually focus.

• Equipment. Bring your own laptop and phone. We use Google Workspace, HubSpot, Grata, Notion, and Slack — We'll get you set up with everything in week one.

• Time off. Time off is fine — exam periods, family commitments, etc. Just give us at least one week's notice so we can plan around it.

• NDA. All interns sign a non-disclosure agreement before starting. You'll be exposed to confidential CIMs, owner conversations, and deal-specific data — confidentiality is non-negotiable.

A flat honorarium will be paid at the end of the internship for students not pursuing academic credit. Amount depends on hours and duration — we'll discuss this in our first call so it works for both of us.

For students whose program offers a co-op or for-credit internship pathway, we’re happy to work with your school to make this role count. We'll fill out paperwork, sign timesheets, and submit evaluations as required.

Interns whose work directly contributes to a successful acquisition during or after their internship may be eligible for a bonus.

We hope you’ll take even more away from this opportunity that’s not compensation or course credit. Specifically:

• Direct mentorship from Melissa. Not from a senior analyst or a rotation manager. Development check-ins, and real-time coaching on real deals.

• A line on your resume that opens doors. Search fund experience is rare and well-regarded by PE firms, investment banks, MBA programs, and operating roles at SMBs.

• A LinkedIn recommendation written by Melissa at the end of your internship, plus a reference letter on request.

• Real ownership. You'll point to specific industries researched, deals screened, and outreach campaigns you ran when telling your story to future employers.

We’re committed to making this opportunity accessible to students from all backgrounds. If financial circumstances are a barrier to taking this role, please tell us in your application — we can have a real conversation about what would make this work for you.