From summit conversation to owning a business.
Canada’s Succession Summit is where the country’s business-transition conversation happens — one curated day with the leaders, investors, advisors, and policymakers shaping it. ETA Bootcamp is another side of that same question: Venture for Canada’s five-week program for anyone thinking seriously about buying a business — or who knows someone who wants to.
- Starts
- Oct 24, 2026
- Format
- Hybrid · 5 weeks
- Live sessions
- Tue & Thu, 7–9 p.m. ET
- Tuition
- $2,600 CAD · scholarships available
Enrolment closes October 14, 2026. Early-bird tuition of $1,950 CAD is available for a limited time.
Canada’s Succession Summit
The conversation · One day · October 17, 2026 · Calgary
A curated convening for the people already shaping Canada’s ownership transition — buyers, sellers, capital providers, advisors, and policymakers. Come to understand the landscape, meet the ecosystem, and see where you fit in it.
ETA Bootcamp
The doing · Five weeks · Online + Toronto
The hands-on counterpart for aspiring buyers. A structured, expert-led pathway through the full acquisition cycle — from thesis and deal pipeline to financing, negotiation, and ownership. No prior M&A experience required; designed to fit around your current career.
The Summit and the Bootcamp look at the same question from two sides — the Summit shows you the ecosystem; the Bootcamp makes you a participant in it.
Everything you need to make your first acquisition
Three pillars, taught step-by-step by buyers who have closed real deals in Canada.
Targeted thesis & pipeline architecture
Move from vague interest to a focused acquisition thesis. Define rigorous target criteria, then build your own sourcing engine so deal flow aligns with your lifestyle and goals.
Financials & first filters
Read financial statements, decode the Confidential Information Memorandum, and master the “Art of the No” — quickly telling which businesses are worth pursuing and which to walk away from.
Capital stacks & the path to LOI
Understand deal structure and capital providers in the Canadian landscape, then demystify the Letter of Intent so you can negotiate with confidence toward the finish line.
Five weeks. Hybrid. Built for busy professionals.
- 1
Launch Day in Toronto
Kick off in person with your cohort — workshops, a shared meal, and direct networking with business owners, investors, and bankers.
- 2
Live virtual sessions
Expert-led panels, hands-on workshops, case studies, and a self-study guide. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7–9 p.m. ET, with about two hours of weekly prep.
- 3
In-person graduation
Reflect on your learning, celebrate with your cohort, and prepare for the next steps in your search for the right business.
This program is for you if…
- ✓You're serious about buying a business — past the books and podcasts, ready for a structured search.
- ✓You want to build a deal pipeline and start real conversations with brokers and sellers.
- ✓You want to understand your financing options before you find the right business.
- ✓You want a serious community of committed buyers, operators, investors, and advisors around you.
Who it’s designed for: mid-career professionals with 5+ years of work experience, comfortable with basic financial statements. No prior ETA or M&A experience required — participants join from across Canada, with the launch and graduation sessions in Toronto.
Ready to start your search?
Applications for the Bootcamp are handled on Venture for Canada’s program page — you’ll find the full curriculum, instructor lineup, and the application form there. Tuition is $2,600 CAD ($1,950 early bird), with scholarships and funding options available if cost is a barrier.