While the startup world often grabs headlines with its rapid growth and innovation, a quieter but equally exciting opportunity exists in traditional small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). For Eric Koh, Co-founder and CEO of GenCap, a search fund focused on acquiring and managing SMEs, this lesser-explored space represents an untapped frontier. In this conversation with Elena Chow, Eric shares his journey from being a C-suite startup leader to building a search fund, the criteria for finding the right businesses, and how startup professionals can create value in the SME world.

Transitioning from high-growth startups and global corporations to a traditional small-to-medium enterprise (SME) is not a conventional career path. Malcolm Wong, with his rich experience at BCG, Temasek and startups, took this leap into the sanitary appliance business, carving out a unique path into scaling SMEs.  In this conversation with Elena Chow, he shares the motivations, challenges, and lessons learned from his journey, offering insights for startup professionals considering a similar pivot.