M&A Zing (S2EP12) - Scientist Turns Searcher: Robert Shore on Healthcare ETA, AI Moats & Deal Flow

From vaccine research at Harvard, to AstraZeneca BD, to running a £50m book, and now a traditional, healthcare-only search. Robert Shore (Shorefox Partners) unpacks mid-career ETA, how science habits translate to sourcing, why “AI-proof” is now a diligence pillar, and the gritty reality of brokered vs proprietary deal flow. In this episode: Why a mid-career, sector-specialist traditional search (and not self-funded) Translating lab skills to ETA: hypothesis → test → iterate The three-leg diligence stool: recurring revenue, growth engine, AI risk Health-care niches with regulatory moats vs data-rich, easily automated targets Fundraising: building the cap table, reps before “A-list” investors Broker networks, proprietary angles, and pacing the journey Timestamps: [00:13] Welcome [00:20] What this show’s about & who it’s for [00:29] Guest intro: Robert Shore, Shawfox Partners [01:00] Mid-career searcher, healthcare focus & background [02:40] From engineering → PhD/Harvard → Wall St. → AstraZeneca → FO PM [06:58] Why an MBA; moving from science to finance and BD [09:45] Traditional search vs self-funded: choosing the structure [12:12] Sector thesis: defensive healthcare + regulatory moats [15:55] AI as diligence pillar: what’s automatable, what isn’t [19:10] Fundraise playbook: do reps, then pitch your A-list [21:18] Solo vs partner searches; what investors really prefer [24:30] ROI on time, legacy, and adapting across careers [28:42] Health-care targets that don’t fit (and why) [31:12] Early search challenges: broker coverage & proprietary sourcing [34:40] Quality vs quantity in outreach (and when that flips) [38:46] Iteration under fire: plan → fail → refine in search [42:41] Where Robert wants to be 12 months from now [46:05] Closing & how to connect Links & resources: Shorefox Partners https://www.shorefoxpartners.com/ Robert Shaw   / shoremail   BizCrunch - end-to-end platform for SMB succession M&A https://www.bizcrunch.co/