Launch of a New Open-Market Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Program in partnership with McGill University’s Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship

This initiative distinctly combines the M&A Club’s deep practitioner expertise, national network of acquisition professionals, and transaction-focused programming, with the Dobson Centre’s proven strength in accompanying entrepreneurs through hands-on, practice-oriented training and integration within a leading ecosystem of mentors, investors, and operators.

The inaugural cohort is slated to begin in Summer 2026 and will prepare aspiring entrepreneurs to acquire, lead, and grow established small and medium-sized enterprises. The program responds directly to Canada’s growing business succession gap, as thousands of profitable companies transition ownership over the coming decade.

A structured, two-phase pathway to acquisition entrepreneurship

Developed jointly by the M&A Club of Canada and the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship, the program provides a clear and supported pathway from acquisition readiness to active deal execution, combining rigorous preparation with direct exposure to the transaction ecosystem. Open to professionals beyond a formal degree framework, the program provides a practical pathway for participants to develop the capabilities, relationships, and confidence needed to acquire and lead businesses.

Phase I – ETA Training Program/strong

Participants will develop the strategic, financial, and operational acumen required to pursue acquisition opportunities. Through structured sessions and expert guidance, participants will clarify their acquisition strategy, strengthen their evaluation and decision-making capabilities, and build the foundational framework necessary to confidently engage in the acquisition process.

By the end of Phase I, participants may submit an Investment Thesis Brief and become eligible for selection into Phase II.

Phase II – ETA Lab: Search and Acquisition Support

A practice-driven lab focused on actively pursuing acquisition opportunities, this phase provides individualized support, mentorship, and direct engagement with investors, lenders, and transaction partners, enabling participants to apply their strategy in real-world contexts and progress toward the successful acquisition and leadership of an established business.

Participants may pursue either an independent, self-funded search or engage with partner search funds supported by investors affiliated with the M&A Club of Canada, with potential access to capital and co-investment opportunities.

This program reflects a shared commitment by the M&A Club of Canada and the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship to expand access to acquisition entrepreneurship and equip the next generation of business owners to steward and grow Canada’s existing enterprises.

Responding to the “silver tsunami”

“With thousands of business owners approaching retirement, Quebec and Canada are facing a historic wave of business succession,” said Marie-Josée Lamothe, Executive and Academic Director of the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship. “It is a shared responsibility to lower the barriers to business acquisition for capable entrepreneurs willing to take on the risk of continuing and growing established companies. These businesses are essential to local economies, employment, and long-term resilience.”

Bridging education and real-world execution

The program builds on the Dobson Centre’s global reputation as one of the world’s leading university entrepreneurship hubs, recognized for its impact, scale, and commitment to building companies with purpose.

“Entrepreneurship through acquisition requires more than theory—it requires disciplined execution, judgment, and access to the right ecosystem,” said Kika Armata, Associate Director at the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship. “This initiative reflects our commitment to innovating beyond traditional academic formats and creating practical, inclusive pathways to entrepreneurship.”

Built by practitioners, for future buyers

For Ugo Dionne, President of the M&A Club of Canada and a three-time entrepreneur through acquisition, the program addresses a long-standing gap.

“We are designing the program I would have loved to attend before buying my first business at 27,” said Dionne. “Entrepreneurship through acquisition is often learned through costly trial and error. By combining structured education, hands-on coaching, and direct access to investors and deal flow, we aim to materially increase the success rate of the next generation of business owners.”

A distinctive model in North America

While Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) has traditionally been taught within select MBA programs in North America, this initiative introduces a distinctive model by offering university entrepreneurship centre–supported ETA training that is open to independent entrepreneurs, professionals, and executives outside a formal degree framework.

Beyond acquisition readiness, the program is designed to foster a lasting ETA community and knowledge base through a national alumni network and the development of practitioner-driven content—including case studies and podcasts—that capture real acquisition journeys and equip future cohorts with actionable insights.

About the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship

The Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship is the hub of entrepreneurial activity at McGill University. Its mission is to teach, coach, and support entrepreneurs as they build innovative companies with purpose. Dobson supports more than 530 active startups operating in 46 countries and has helped create over 12,000 jobs worldwide.

About the M&A Club of Canada

Founded in 2009, the M&A Club of Canada is the country’s largest membership-based network dedicated to mergers and acquisitions, bringing together more than 3,500 members and 250 firms across 16+ chapters nationwide.

The Academy page: https://www.maclub.ca/en/m-a-academy