Research Analyst (Lead Generation, Research & Company List Building)

About Us
We are a Chicago-based search fund focused on identifying and acquiring a small to medium-sized business. Our pace is fast, our standards are high, and our focus is clear: find great businesses and great people to partner with.
We are looking for a high-performing, resourceful Research Analyst to become a critical part of our sourcing and research operations.

Key Responsibilities
List Building
Identify potential acquisition targets using Grata, Google, ChatGPT, conference lists, industry databases, and other lead generation tools (familiarity with platforms like Inven, Apollo, ZoomInfo, or similar is a plus).
Organize and maintain lists in Excel, Google Sheets, and CRM systems.

Contact Research
Track down direct contact information (email, LinkedIn profiles, and phone numbers) for executives (CEOs, founders, owners) of identified companies.
Verify and validate contact details using online tools and manual research.

Market Research
Conduct detailed research on target industries and adjacent sectors.
Identify key trends, growth drivers, industry reports, and potential acquisition opportunities.
Summarize findings in clear, structured formats (Google Docs, PowerPoint summaries, etc.).

Conference & Association Research
Identify relevant industry conferences, trade shows, and associations.
Build lists of attending companies, speakers, and executives.
Source or scrape member directories or exhibitor lists where available.
Highlight potential targets and new industry pockets for outreach.

Owner/Executive Background Research
Conduct pre-call research on business owners and executives.
Compile information such as executive bios, LinkedIn profiles, past companies, press mentions, and relevant interviews.
Summarize into short briefing documents for meetings and outreach prep.

Other Research Tasks
Ad hoc research projects to support sourcing, diligence, and strategic planning.
Stay proactive in suggesting new tools, databases, and methods for better results.

Ideal Candidate Profile
Experience:
Minimum 2 years experience in lead generation, market research, or sourcing roles (search funds, investment firms, executive recruitment, or B2B lead generation highly valued).
Experience with Grata, Apollo, ZoomInfo, Inven, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and scraping tools is a strong plus.
Strong familiarity with U.S. business culture and B2B markets.

Skills:
Expert at online research — can creatively find contact info and company data even when it’s buried.
Fast and accurate data entry; organized spreadsheet management.
Strong English communication skills (written and verbal).
Critical thinking: not just pulling information but understanding what’s useful.
Self-starter attitude: you don’t wait to be told what to do — you suggest next steps.

Tech:
Proficient with Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Slides).
Comfortable with CRM software (Pipedrive).
Bonus: familiarity with basic automation (Zapier, web scraping, etc.).

Work Setup
Full-time (Monday-Friday), ideally aligned to partial U.S. Central Time hours (at least 4 hours overlap).
100% remote; must have reliable internet connection (at least 50 Mbps).
Must have access to a professional computer setup (laptop/desktop with updated software).