ETA Academy

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Academy

Everything you wanted to know about buying a business but were afraid to ask.

Key details

The training, resources, and network you need to buy and lead a thriving business.

Benefits of ETA

Skip the 0-to-1, and go 1-to-100

76% of small business owners are planning to exit their businesses by 2032, according to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Over 54,000 small businesses are on the market, offering a prime opportunity for new owners like you to step in and take the lead. (Canadian Chamber of Commerce BDL)

For all shapes

Inject new energy into an established business. Yours. —Turn your skills, experience, and mindset into an asset.

Career Transitioners

You’ve built a successful career in marketing, sales, operations, finance, or consulting, but you can’t shake that itch for something more. You're curious about entrepreneurship, but the startup struggle isn’t your thing.
Entrepreneurial Explorers

You’ve dipped your toes into entrepreneurship—maybe even run your own business—but now you’re ready for something bigger.
Community-Cravers

You’re exploring the opportunity of buying a business but don’t want to do it alone. You know learning is better together—and so do we.

Instructed by insiders

Leaders who’ve earned their lessons the hard way.

Mentorship experts from Canada’s ETA ecosystem—lawyers, investors, and experienced business buyers who’ve been in your shoes. See the full lineup

+25
More!

Course Highlights

Discover your inner entrepreneur.

Is buying a business right for you? Practical insights and hands-on workshops on the tricky ETA process in a supportive group setting. See full schedule.

In-person community

Start strong with your new cohort. Share a meal, dive into hands-on workshops, and hear from seasoned pros during this one-day event in Toronto.

Get back to the in-person energy we’ve all missed and connect with business owners, investors, and bankers here to help you find and fund your next business.
Reunite with your cohort in-person in Toronto to reflect on your journey and personal growth throughout the course. Take stock of how your perspectives on buying a business have evolved and get ready for the next steps in your business-buying journey.

But most importantly, celebrate 🙂

Online learning

Learn how to filter through potential acquisitions to find an enduringly profitable business. We’ll dive into industry and geography criteria, and practice using teasers and CIMs to refine your search. You’ll also define the characteristics of your ideal business and assess your qualifications to acquire it.

Discover the ins and outs of proprietary versus broker-led searches. We’ll cover when and how to work with brokers, where to find prospects directly, and how to build a pipeline using cold emails and calls. Plus, learn how to present yourself effectively to sellers and investors.
Learn what to expect and key red flags to watch for at each stage of your business buying journey. Gain insights from a diverse panel of searchers, owners, brokers, and investors on the steps involved in pre and in-depth due diligence.

Dive into the world of financial statements. You’ll learn how to analyze balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements in the context of your target filters. Plus, we’ll cover basic projections to assess a company’s growth potential, giving you the tools to make informed decisions.
Get the lowdown on funding options in Canada. Break down debt, equity, and seller financing, along with the requirements for each. Learn the steps to secure funding, and get to know the top institutional funders and ETA programs in Canada–plus their key requirements.

Learn the ins and outs of raising equity, from identifying key stakeholders to avoiding common pitfalls. You’ll estimate how much equity to raise and how it influences your acquisition and exit. Then, work in groups to create an effective debt financing plan for a target company.

Understand what banks are looking for when lending to businesses and why certain types face challenges in raising debt. We’ll explore how market conditions impact lending and what you can do to improve your chances of securing financing.
Get hands-on with Letters of Intent (LOIs) and Private Placement (PPMs). You’ll learn what to include, what to look for, and how to review these key documents effectively, setting the stage for successful deal-making.

Learn how to quickly gauge if a seller is truly motivated and worth pursuing for in-depth due diligence. Master negotiation best practices to approach conversations with confidence.

Prepare for the unexpected with insights from seasoned professionals on the main last-minute deal breakers and how to avoid them. Plus, explore various offer models from current searchers and owners to expand your toolkit.
Learn what support to ask for from the seller to ensure a smooth transition after acquisition and how to develop a transition plan for a successful start in your new business.

Discover strategies to establish trust-based relationships with your new customers and employees, laying the foundation for a positive and productive work environment.

How it works

ETA Academy at a glance

November
Send in your application

Complete a short written application form so we can get to know you.
- Only 25 spots available
- We review applications every week and advance successful applicants to the next step.
- Follow up info session and video interview.
Deadline: Feb 3, 2025
March
First day of ETA Academy 🤓

Kick off the journey with a warm welcome to the program, meet your cohort, and set the stage for success.
- Attend workshops
- Share a meal
- Network with peers, business owners and bankers.
Toronto: March 22
Hackathon Panelists (2023)
March
Dive into Online Sessions

Designed to fit into your professional lifestyle. 40 hours of fast tracked curriculum includes:
- Expert-led panels
- Hands-on workshops
- Keynotes
- Self-study time
Virtual: March 22-April 27
April
Graduation Day 🎓

Reunite with your cohort and prepare for the next steps in your business-buying journey.
- Create a draft search plan
- Reflect on your journey
- Celebrate!
Toronto: April 27

🔎 ETA Academy 101 Guide

Dive into everything you need to know about speakers, schedules, program info, and more.

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"As a former lawyer with a desire to do something entrepreneurial, I started a number of companies but nothing is as exciting in terms of scalability as ETA."

Dan King
Founder, Stealth Startup, Fireside Strategic

Are you a fit?

Want to find out if ETA is a good fit for you, your skills and your lifestyle.
Life-long learner, eager to participate in a community-based cohort.
Can commit to ~10 hours/week
Can be in-person in Toronto on March 22, 2025 and April 27, 2025
This course is best designed if you have at least 4 years of work experience.
This course is best designed if this is your first time buying a business.
This course is best designed if you are looking to buy a business for enterprise value between $2 million and $10 million.

Apply More Programs

For our inaugural cohort, the course costs $1200 CAD.

This special rate includes everything—from designing a hands-on curriculum to covering in-person sessions with meals and dedicated staff support throughout. The price will increase for future cohorts, so it’s a great opportunity to join at this introductory rate. Plus, we offer a flexible payment plan to make budgeting easier, with more details shared during the admissions process.
ETA Academy is focused on hands-on, practical learning specifically for buying and running an existing business. You’ll master real-world skills like:

crafting Letters of Intent (LOIs)

building financial projections

preparing Private Placement Memorandums (PPMs)

and analyzing financial statements.

Through interactive workshops, you’ll gain confidence in due diligence, funding options, and deal negotiation, while building a supportive network of peers, brokers, bankers, and industry experts to guide you along the way.
Plan for around 10 hours a week for our virtual learning sessions. Plus, we’ll meet in person twice—on March 22 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm) and April 27 (3:00 pm to 9:00 pm). These sessions are packed with value, including meals, networking opportunities with peers, business owners, bankers, brokers, lawyers, and investors.

You’ll also get to attend keynotes, workshops, and panels, all designed to give you hands-on learning and meaningful connections.
Companies across all sectors that are valued between $2M and $10M.
Nope, you don’t! We welcome applicants from all professional backgrounds, and we’ll guide you through what you need to know to feel confident.
This is a common fear, and it’s okay to feel uncertain. ETA Academy is designed to build both your knowledge and your confidence, debunking common myths about buying a business—like needing to be wealthy or already knowing everything about running a company. This course will help you decide if entrepreneurship through acquisition fits your skills, lifestyle, and goals, all with a low up-front investment. You’ll walk away with clarity and confidence about whether this path is right for you, without the risk of jumping in prematurely.
That’s okay! While we recommend this course for those with a minimum of 4 years of experience, we welcome applicants who have less experience but are eager to dive in 🙂 Let us know in your application why you’re a great fit and how this aligns with your skills, goals, and experience.
You’re not alone—many people feel this way, especially with the demands of everyday life. The ETA Academy was built with that in mind. We don’t just hand you a set of videos and call it a day. We kick off with an in-person session to set you up for success, and we close with a graduation day where you’ll reflect on your journey, celebrate progress, and be held accountable to what you’ve learned. With only five weeks of focused, targeted learning, you won’t lose momentum.

Plus, you’ll be supported by a tight-knit community and experienced mentors who are with you every step of the way, keeping you engaged and motivated throughout.

Learn More

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Academy

The training, resources, and network you need to buy and lead a thriving business.

Skip the 0-to-1, and go 1-to-100

Inject new energy into an established business. Yours. —Turn your skills, experience, and mindset into an asset.

Leaders who’ve earned their lessons the hard way.

Discover your inner entrepreneur.

In-person community

Online learning

ETA Academy at a glance

Send in your application

First day of ETA Academy 🤓

Dive into Online Sessions

Graduation Day 🎓

Applications Open

Last Day to Apply

Payment Deadline

Onboarding Day

Kick-Off Day

Graduation Day

Are you a fit?

Venture for Canada Launches New Pathway to Business Ownership with ETA Academy

What is Entrepreneurship through Acquisition?

Navigating The Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Landscape in Canada

Bridging the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Training Gap in Canada

Entrepreneurship ​Through Acquisition Academy

The training, resources, and network you need to buy and lead a thriving business.

Skip the 0-to-1, and go 1-to-100

Inject new energy into an established business. Yours. —Turn your skills, experience, and mindset into an asset.

Leaders who’ve earned their lessons the hard way.

Discover your inner entrepreneur.

In-person community

Online learning

ETA Academy at a glance

Send in your application

First day of ETA Academy 🤓

Dive into Online Sessions

Graduation Day 🎓

Are you a fit?

Venture for Canada Launches New Pathway to Business Ownership with ETA Academy

What is Entrepreneurship through Acquisition?

Navigating The Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Landscape in Canada

Bridging the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Training Gap in Canada

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Academy