Insights from: a UK Searcher - Melda Eren, Perennia Capital

Some search fund stories are about fit. Melda’s is about conviction.

We caught up with Melda Eren, founder and managing partner of Perennia Capital, whose path into ETA runs through consulting, international growth, and one of the sharpest operating environments in recent years. After helping launch Getir as its first international employee on the ground, Melda brought that experience into a search journey built around long-term ownership, personal branding, and a clear sense of purpose.What makes this conversation especially useful is how practical it is.

Melda speaks candidly about what it really takes to raise capital, source opportunities, build investor trust, and stay grounded when the pace of growth gets uncomfortable.In this episode, we cover:

• How Melda shaped Perennia Capital around her own story, and why she chose not to follow a standard fundraising template.
• Why the UK was the right place for her to build, both as a market and as a long-term home.
• What her experience at Getir taught her about speed, capital allocation, and the hidden cost of aggressive growth.
• How she thinks about proprietary sourcing through trade shows, conferences, and direct owner conversations.
• What she now looks for in a target, including family ownership, culture, fragility, and sustainable growth.
• Why leadership in ETA often comes down to empathy, transparency, and the willingness to do the hard thing.
• The lesson that no amount of preparation replaces the moment you actually start.