Backing, acquiring,
and growing
strong SMEs.
Commercially led. Investor minded. Built for SME opportunity — acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and long-term value creation.
Founder, SML
Teresa Tan
Commercially minded.
Investor at heart.
Teresa Tan is an SME investor, acquirer, and founder of Stapleton Martin Lawyers. With a foundation built on deep legal expertise and years of navigating complex commercial transactions, Teresa brings a rare combination of analytical rigour and investor judgment to every opportunity she pursues.
Her work centres on identifying, acquiring, and growing strong SMEs — businesses with proven fundamentals, resilient revenue, and the potential for long-term value creation. She approaches each opportunity with the discipline of a transactional lawyer and the conviction of a founder: understanding risk, structuring for outcomes, and building relationships that endure.
Teresa operates with complementary capability across legal, M&A, accounting, and finance through her broader partnership ecosystem — enabling her to move with speed, precision, and confidence on the right opportunities.
SME
Focus
AU
Based
SML
Founder
M&A
Capability
Four ways
I create value.
Teresa's work spans acquisition, investment, strategic partnership, and commercial advisory — all oriented around one goal: identifying and building exceptional SME businesses for the long term.
01
Acquire & Invest in SMEs
Teresa actively seeks acquisition and investment opportunities in profitable, well-run SMEs. Whether you are considering a full exit, a partial sale, or a growth partnership, she brings the commercial judgment and transaction capability to move decisively on the right deal.
02
Partner on Strategic Opportunities
The best outcomes rarely happen in isolation. Teresa partners with founders, operators, and investors to co-create value — whether through joint ventures, bolt-on acquisitions, or strategic alliances that expand capability and market reach.
03
Advise on Commercial & Transaction Matters
Drawing on deep legal expertise and commercial experience, Teresa provides clear-headed guidance on deal structure, risk, and negotiation. Her approach is practical and outcome-focused — helping business owners and partners navigate complexity without over-engineering the process.
04
Build Relationships for Long-Term Value
Not every conversation leads to an immediate transaction — and that is by design. Teresa invests in relationships with business owners, intermediaries, and co-investors who share a long-term perspective, building a network that creates durable, compounding value over time.
Selective by design.
Open to the right conversation.
Teresa works with a focused group of people who share a serious, long-term orientation toward business and value creation.
Business Owners Considering Exit or Succession
If you have built something valuable and are beginning to think about what comes next — whether that is a full exit, a managed succession, or a growth partnership — Teresa is a credible, commercially sophisticated counterpart worth speaking to early.
Founders Exploring Growth or Acquisition Pathways
Founders who want to scale through acquisition, or who are open to partnering with a strategic investor, will find in Teresa someone who understands both the commercial and human dimensions of that decision.
Investors & Co-Investment Partners
Teresa welcomes co-investment conversations with investors who share a disciplined, long-term orientation toward SME opportunities. The right partner brings complementary capability, not just capital.
Operators & Strategic Collaborators
Experienced operators, industry specialists, and strategic thinkers who want to build something meaningful alongside a commercially sharp partner — Teresa is open to conversations that start with shared values and long-term intent.
Businesses built
with care and conviction.
Teresa is looking to connect with owners of longstanding, established businesses that have been built with care and have strong foundations for the future. These are starting points for a conversation — every situation is different, and she is open to hearing yours.
01
Built with Care
Businesses that have been grown thoughtfully over time — where the owner's values and standards are visible in how the business operates day to day.
02
Longstanding & Established
Businesses with genuine history and a track record of serving their customers well. Age and consistency are qualities Teresa respects and looks for.
03
Strong Foundations
Sound operations, a capable team, and a clear sense of what makes the business work — the kind of foundations that give confidence about the future.
04
Owner-Led Transitions
Owners who are beginning to think about what comes next — whether that is stepping back, passing the baton, or finding the right partner to carry the business forward.
05
Geography
Australia-based businesses preferred; open to select opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.
06
Open to Conversation
If you have built something you are proud of and are beginning to wonder what the next chapter looks like, Teresa would genuinely welcome the conversation.
What sets her apart
as a partner and investor.
Teresa is not a generalist. She brings a specific, hard-earned combination of capabilities that makes her a valuable counterpart for serious business owners and investors.
Strategic Thinking
Teresa approaches every opportunity with a clear commercial framework — understanding the business, the market, and the people behind it before forming a view.
Transaction Fluency
Years of navigating complex transactions have given Teresa an instinctive understanding of deal structure, risk allocation, and the moments that make or break a negotiation.
Investor Mindset
Teresa thinks like an investor: focused on fundamentals, long-term value, and the quality of the business — not just the headline price.
Founder Empathy
Having built her own business, Teresa understands what it means to be a founder — the pride, the complexity, and the weight of the decision to transition or partner.
Disciplined Judgment
Teresa is selective. She pursues fewer opportunities with greater conviction, and she brings the same rigour to every deal — regardless of size.
Legal Expertise Advantage
Her legal background is a competitive strength — it means fewer surprises, cleaner structures, and a counterpart who understands what the documents actually mean.
The right conversation
starts here.
If you are a business owner, investor, or strategic partner exploring the right opportunity, Teresa would welcome the conversation. No obligation — just a genuine exchange between serious people.
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