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For Mid-Career Professionals

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Bootcamp:
Learn How to Buy a Business

Program Dates: Oct 24, 2026 - Nov 28, 2026 | Enrolment Closes: Oct 14, 2026
Hybrid  |  5 Weeks  |  Scholarships Available  |  Summer Special: $2,200 CAD

ETA Bootcamp is an intensive program for professionals ready to launch a business search in the next few years.

In five weeks, you will learn to build a proprietary and broker-led pipeline of deals, analyze company profiles, and explore financing structures with a network of peers and mentors.
No prior experience required. Designed to fit around your current career.
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ETA Bootcamp

Why Now

There is a $2 trillion transfer of wealth happening in Canada 

The timing is right. With a historic wave of business owners retiring, there are more 54,000 small businesses on the market waiting for a new owner to step in and lead.

ETA Bootcamp can help you take over a business with existing revenue, a customer base, and a team in place. Put your energy into growth and leadership instead of building from zero.

With ETA Bootcamp, you will:

Build your acquisition playbook

Gain valuable
hands-on experience

Join an ambitious community

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Everything you need to make your first acquisition

Build the skills, strategy, and network to search for and buy your first business, over five focused weeks & an in-person session in Toronto, ON.

Pillar I: Targeted Thesis and Pipeline Architecture

Stop searching and start selecting. Move from vague interest to a focused acquisition thesis anchored in the specific realities of the Canadian landscape.

Before the hunt begins, you will build the discipline to define rigorous target criteria before setting up your own sourcing engine on your ideal company profile and exit plans.

By the end, you’ll know how to consistently generate deal flow aligned with your lifestyle and acquisition goals.

Pillar II: Financials & First Filters

Pillar III: Capital Stacks and the Path to LOI

By graduation you will have the skills to find a business worth buying, the confidence to evaluate and structure deals, finance the purchase, and be acquisition-ready for own search.

INSIGHTS YOU CAN'T FIND ONLINE

Meet our past instructors

This bootcamp brings the experts and their playbooks straight to you, including buyers who have experience closing real deals in Canada. Our instructors will teach you step-by-step how to buy your first business and connect you with their personal network.


Mario Nigro Liz MacRae Marc Nzojibwami Jalal Jetha Andrew Stordeur Laxmi Yadav Scott Stirrett
+25More!

What Our Alumni Say

"The curriculum was hands-on, the guest speakers shared relevant real-world lessons with openness, and the peer network made the experience even more valuable."

Lily Akagbosu

Lily Akagbosu

Product Manager, IBM

"Great opportunity to get familiar with ETA fundamentals and gain access to a network of industry peers. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering ETA."

Vincent Panepinto

Vincent Panepinto

Principal Consultant, PartnerPath Consulting

"It really highlighted all the different aspects of acquiring a business in Canada, something I haven't found in any other acquisition programs."

Aaron Biblow

Aaron Biblow

Director of Client Experience, The Superpower Accelerator

Is ETA Bootcamp Your Next Step?

This program is for you if...

  • You're serious about buying a business, not just exploring the idea. You've read the books and listened to the podcasts. Now you want a structured search and the tools to actually run it.
  • You're ready to get in front of real opportunities. You want to build a deal pipeline, work with brokers, and start real conversations with sellers, not wait for listings to land in your inbox.
  • You're ready to fund the deal. You want to understand your financing options and how to bring the right money to the table when you find the right business.
  • You want a serious community around you. You want to search alongside a cohort of committed buyers, plus the operators, investors, and advisors who've done it before.
  • You're a mid-career professional with 5+ years of work experience, comfortable with basic financial statements. No prior ETA or M&A experience required.
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How the program works

Five weeks. Hybrid program. 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

Sessions include expert-led panels, hands-on workshops, case studies, and a self-study guide. Designed around a busy working schedule.

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.

Start your business buying journey today

Share a few details below to start your application for the Toronto cohort.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost? Is there any financial support?

How is ETA Bootcamp different from ETA Academy 101?

What should I expect to away with after this course?

Do I have to be in Toronto or can I join from another province?

Do I need to have prior experience in ETA, M&A, or finance?

When are the live sessions?

How much time should I set aside for this program?

Will I be assigned take-home work?

What if I'm already ready to begin my search?

Who is ETA Bootcamp designed for?

Not the right fit?

Explore our other programs

ETA Academy 101

A virtual, cohort-based program for professionals who want to explore buying an existing Canadian business. You'll learn how deals are sourced, funded, and closed, and whether owning a business on your own terms is your next move.

Learn more

Fellowship Academy — Sales & AI Edition

A live sales portfolio, hands-on AI tools experience, and a cohort of peers who are figuring out the future of work alongside you, all before the next hiring cycle.

Learn more

Intrapreneurship Program

The alternative way to gain real, paid work experience. Contribute to innovating a small business by working on a part-time, 7-week project on your schedule, from anywhere in Canada.

Learn more

Internship Program

Experience startup culture and get paid for it. Short-term internships at Canadian small businesses and startups, plus VFC's entrepreneurial skills training, will build your resume and grow your opportunities when you graduate.

Learn more

LEARN MORE ABOUT ETA IN CANADA

ETA Academy Opens Waitlists

ETA Academy Opens Waitlists for Three New Business-Buying Programs

Read
What is ETA?

What is Entrepreneurship through Acquisition?

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Navigating ETA in Canada

Navigating The Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Landscape in Canada

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Bridging the ETA Training Gap

Bridging the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Training Gap in Canada

Read
Get Started See requirements