Today we’d like to introduce you to Nico Goldberg.
Hi Nico, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My path hasn’t been traditional, but every unexpected turn has led me exactly where I’m supposed to be. Growing up with parents working internationally, I was exposed early on to diverse cultures and perspectives – my first steps were in a museum in Russia, and my earliest memory is sneaking plates of chocolate chips from a hotel buffet in Chile. Back home, however, I was a numbers nerd. I grew up competing in Math Olympiad, and by 16, I’d finished my high school’s and local community college’s entire math curriculum. Yet, the excitement and unpredictability of travel planted a seed – leaving me to wonder if the grass was greener in the creative, human side of life.
At Brown, it took me three weeks to change my major from pure math to economics – aka “cool math” – and eventually, I wound up studying international relations and spent six months in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After graduation, I decided to skip the conventional career paths and instead took a fellowship at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office in Oakland, CA. There, my days were intense and unpredictable, supporting clients facing housing insecurity and trauma, navigating difficult conversations with skeptical judges, lawyers, and social workers. Unknowingly, I was gaining invaluable experience in leadership, sales, and crisis management. By the end of it, I got frustrated putting band-aids on deeper, systemic issues, and decided to find a way to scale my impact – leading me to pursue both business and law school.
I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur because it combined the chaos and intensity I thrived on, with the potential to lead and create meaningful improvements. When I arrived at business school, I thought entrepreneurship meant tech startups and venture capital, so I launched a mental health-focused startup. But the more feedback I received, the clearer it became that my passion lay elsewhere – not in chasing massive “unicorns,” but in acquiring and growing an impactful existing business through search funds. This realization brought clarity and excitement, aligning perfectly with my strengths: building teams, shaping culture, and creating lasting value.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not smooth – but that’s what’s made it worthwhile! My path has been shaped by rejection, a lot of it, and each one has guided me back to what feels authentic. Applying to college, I was incredibly lucky to get into Brown, but I was rejected from plenty of other places – places I might have chosen out of what I felt was expected of me, and not what I really wanted. I’m very grateful that my first-choice job after college – studying immigration in Norway on a Fulbright – also didn’t pan out. And working with formerly incarcerated people, there were extreme highs, like helping my client get his commercial trucking license and rent his first apartment, and deep lows, such as losing a young client to gang violence. The Lows and Nos have always pointed me toward opportunities that genuinely resonate with who I am – and centered me on becoming a better, more compassionate person.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now I am launching “Nico’s Search Fund” – which is exactly what it sounds like – no fancy name, no pretension, just me (and some amazing investors!) searching for a great business to lead and grow. While some people approach search funds primarily as financial vehicles or investments, I see it as fundamentally about people and culture. I’m looking to acquire a single, exceptional business with strong values alignment, recurring revenue, and genuine potential for sustainable growth.
What sets me apart is my relentless focus on relationships and authenticity. Rather than purely financial metrics, I prioritize mutual trust and cultural fit with the owners, employees, and communities. The ideal business for me isn’t just profitable – it’s meaningful. It’s something I would want to do even if money wasn’t involved. Whether it’s connecting with owners over dawn patrol surf sessions or childhood stories, my approach is personal and intentional.
I’m proud of building something transparent and approachable what you see is genuinely what you get. Nico’s Search Fund is rooted in my belief that great leadership isn’t about being a solitary star performer, but about elevating those around you, creating environments where everyone thrives, and optimizing systems in ways that feel natural, effective, and deeply human. Right now, my search is focused on California, especially Los Angeles, and I’m actively looking for exceptional businesses whose owners care deeply about their legacy and impact. If you or someone you know might be looking for a partner to help cement and grow that legacy, I’d love to hear from you!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is from the summers spent visiting my aunt in Guatemala City, where my mom grew up. We’d spend months there, each day filled with adventure, discovery, and purpose. My aunt volunteered with an animal rescue organization, and because of Guatemala’s many stray dogs, our days often unfolded into spontaneous rescue missions. I vividly remember driving along, eyes peeled for a lost pup wandering on the highway shoulder. We’d stop the car without hesitation, gently coaxing these frightened creatures inside to foster them back at my aunt’s home, often alongside three or four others already awaiting adoption.
As a kid, it was magical. It wasn’t just about helping hurting dogs – it was witnessing how acts of kindness could ripple out to create meaningful change.
Contact Info:
- Website: Coming soon: nicos-searchfund.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nico_goldberg/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-goldberg/
