The people behind SMEVentures.
SMEVentures comprises a small team of entrepreneurs looking for a business to buy and run. We understand that your business is your baby, and our unique approach is designed to preserve and honour the legacy you have built by providing reliable continuity and capable stewardship for your business.
Jake Nicholson
Jake Nicholson, Founder and Managing Director at SMEVentures, backs vetted entrepreneurs to acquire and operate established ANZ businesses from retiring owners, and hosts The Search Fund Podcast. He has been inside the entrepreneurship-through-acquisition model since 2011, was the first employee at Search Fund Accelerator and led Australia’s first search fund acquisition in 2021 and New Zealand’s second in 2024.
Sawyer Tadano
Sawyer Tadano is a Principal at SMEVentures. He works with entrepreneurs at every stage, from their first conversation with the firm to raising capital, buying a business and running it as CEO. During the search, he helps them find and assess businesses, then supports them through due diligence until the purchase completes. He also leads the firm’s early work in Japan. Before SMEVentures, Sawyer was Southeast Asia Regional Manager at a global venture capital firm.
Gavin Kaparis
Gavin has more than 20 years of experience investing in private businesses and real assets across Australia, the United States and the Middle East. He began his career in M&A at Lazard, then spent 12 years with Black River Asset Management, the Cargill investment business later spun out as Proterra Investment Partners, where he established the firm's Australian presence. At Mubadala in Abu Dhabi he co-led a new global private equity strategy for industrials and business services. Since 2023 he has run EK Investments, advising institutional investors, family offices, founders and management teams. Now Entrepreneur Partner at SMEVentures in Sydney, Gavin works alongside business owners and the entrepreneurs who take over from them.
Meet the entrepreneurs we back to buy and run ANZ businesses.
Our entrepreneurs →