Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)
Acquire and lead an established SME — a direct path to entrepreneurship.
Developed in partnership with the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship at McGill University
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Intensive format (boot camp)
First cohort — Fall 2026
Day 1: October 27 – Montreal
Training Day 1
- 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Participant arrival and check-in
- 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Information session
- 10:00 AM: Start of classes. Full day of presentations, workshops, and working sessions
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Networking cocktail
Day 2: October 28 – Montreal
Training Day 2
- 8:30 AM: Start of classes. Full day of presentations, workshops, and working sessions
- Evening: Co-working session
Day 3: October 29 – Montreal
Training Day 3
- 8:30 AM: Start of classes. Full day of presentations, workshops, and working sessions
- Evening: Co-working session
Day 4: October 30 – Montreal
Training Day 4
- 8:30 AM: Start of classes. Full day of presentations, workshops, and working sessions
- Lunch
- Program closing
Program Overview
Becoming a business owner has never been more accessible, and the timing has never been more strategic.
Canada is facing an unprecedented wave of business transfers. Thousands of well-established, profitable SMEs, with teams in place and loyal clients, are looking for buyers. This is a generational opportunity, and most people do not know how to act on it.
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is the M&A Club and McGill's Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship's answer to this challenge. A rigorous program designed for individual acquisition entrepreneurs and those looking to launch a search fund, grounded in the realities of M&A transactions and built to equip the next generation of owner-operators.
What sets this program apart: you do not just learn, you move forward. Phase II places you at the center of an active lab, with mentors, investors, and the M&A Club's transactional ecosystem behind you as you actively search for your acquisition.
The program will be led by leading professionals actively involved in the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) ecosystem, along with experienced guest speakers who have successfully completed their own search and acquisition journeys.
Two Formats, One Program
The ETA is offered in two formats designed for different profiles and schedules. The content is identical. The experience is unique to each format.
Intensive Format (Boot Camp) Tuesday to Friday
- An intensive in-person training experience, Tuesday to Friday
- Intensive training days, group evenings, informal exchanges, and natural networking
- A tight-knit cohort, lasting connections, the model of the best residential programs in North America
- Ideal for those who want to accelerate and fully live the experience
- Location to be confirmed
Extended Format Over 3 months, evenings and weekends
- The same program spread over three months, on evenings and weekends
- Designed for those balancing this project with a career or other commitments
- An engaged cohort progressing together over time
- Time for reflection and application between each session
- Dates to be confirmed
What You Will Learn
The program unfolds in two complementary phases.
Phase I - ETA Training Program
A complete pathway covering the full acquisition cycle, from investment thesis to taking over the business.
- Develop a solid investment thesis and define your acquisition criteria
- Identify and evaluate SMEs to acquire with rigor and method
- Master the financial, tax, and legal dimensions of a transaction
- Structure financing and negotiate effectively
- Develop a strong understanding of the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) ecosystem, including the opportunities and challenges faced by acquisition entrepreneurs
- Submit an acquisition thesis brief, required for access to Phase II
Phase II - ETA Lab ((additional fees required for Phase II access
An active lab where you search for your acquisition, supported by mentors, investors, and transaction professionals.
- Active target search with hands-on support
- Personalized mentorship throughout the transaction cycle
- Direct access to active M&A investors and lenders
- Introductions to the M&A Club of Canada's transactional ecosystem
Who Should Attend
The ETA is for those who want to become owner-operators by acquiring an existing business, not by building one from scratch.
This program is for you if you:
- Are considering acquiring an SME as your path into entrepreneurship
- Are a professional, executive, or manager looking to become an owner-operator
- Want a structured framework to evaluate, finance, and close an acquisition
- Want access to a network of mentors, investors, and M&A professionals
- Are looking for a community of peers driven by the same ambition
- Are considering launching a search fund
Already a business owner looking to grow through acquisition? The ETA is not designed for you, but our Growth Through Acquisition program is.
Discover Growth Through Acquisition
Instructors and Expert Advisors
The program is developed jointly by the M&A Club of Canada and the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship at McGill University, combining the hands-on expertise of a national network of M&A professionals with the Dobson Centre's recognized strength in practical entrepreneur support. All instructors are active practitioners, transaction advisors, investors, mentors, and executives who have completed acquisitions. They bring directly applicable perspective, not theory.
At each session, an entrepreneur who has completed acquisitions shares their experience during a lunch conference. Real stories, concrete lessons, and all your questions are welcome.
Programme / Curriculum
Phase I - ETA Training Program
- Define your acquirer profile, objectives, and selection criteria
- Build a rigorous and compelling investment thesis
- Sources and methods for finding SMEs to acquire
- Initial analysis criteria, qualification process, and red flags
- Business valuation and performance analysis
- Tax structures and optimization for buyers
- Key documentation, representations, and warranties
- Risk management and due diligence
- Available financing sources for buyers
- Seller financing, senior debt, equity and hybrid solutions
- Planning the takeover of the business
- Managing teams, culture, and operational continuity
Phase II — Lab EPA
- Active target search and hands-on support
- Personalized mentorship throughout the transaction cycle
- Access to the M&A Club's transactional ecosystem, investors, lenders, professionals
Pricing
Intensive Format (Boot Camp)
$3,500$
Registrations are not yet open. Fill out our expression of interest form now to be notified as a priority when registrations open.
FAQ
No. The program is designed for professionals and entrepreneurs who do not necessarily have transaction experience. The goal is to give you the reflexes, tools, and network to take the leap, even if you are starting from zero.
The ETA is open to all, with no academic admission requirements. It is grounded in real transaction practice and designed specifically for those who want to acquire a business, not simply study the subject in theory. Phase II puts you in action mode from the end of training, with a network of active investors and mentors behind you.
The content is identical. The intensive format takes place over four consecutive days (Wednesday to Saturday) and focuses on intensity, immersion, and group cohesion. The extended format spans three months on evenings and weekends, for those balancing this project with other commitments. Both formats lead to the same certification and the same eligibility for the ETA Lab.
No. This program is for those looking to become first-time owners through acquisition. If you are already an executive looking to grow through acquisition, our Growth Through Acquisition program is built for you.
The program is offered in both French and English, depending on the cohort. Check each cohort's details for the primary language of instruction. During sessions, participants are welcome to express themselves in either language.
Cohorts are deliberately kept small to encourage authentic exchanges, quality support, and lasting connections between participants. Details to be confirmed.
Admission is based on an application. Each candidate completes a registration form that our team reviews carefully before confirming participation. We are selective, not to exclude, but to build cohorts where the quality of peer exchange is as valuable as the training itself.
Individuals who are planning to launch a search fund are part of this program's target audience.
While the program covers the full Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) process, several modules address topics that are directly relevant to search funds, including sourcing acquisition opportunities, acquisition financing, working with investors, negotiating transactions, and successfully taking over and leading an acquired business.
Whether you plan to acquire a business independently or launch a search fund, this program will provide you with the knowledge, practical tools, and network you need to structure your search and maximize your chances of success.
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