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🗓️ Saturday, March 22, 2025 | In-Person Attendance Required
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| Sessions (EST) | Session Descriptions |
|---|---|
| **9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | |
| Kickstart & Connect: Building Our Entrepreneurial Community** | |
| Kick off the journey with a warm welcome to the program and and get to know your cohort and set the stage for success. We’ll establish community norms, form teams, and set clear goals for the course. Plus, you’ll reflect on and prepare for how you will stay motivated and accountable throughout this ETA adventure. | |
| **10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | |
| From Vision to Reality: Embracing the ETA Path Ahead** | An inspiring keynote. Learn why this program was created and dive into the story of a successful entrepreneur who has walked the ETA path. You'll leave motivated and excited about what's ahead! |
| **11:15 AM - 12:30 PM | |
| Unlocking ETA: Your Roadmap to Opportunities in Canada** | Explore the world of ETA in Canada! We’ll break down what ETA is, the different paths you can take, and what the end game could look like. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of the opportunities waiting for you. |
| **12:30 PM - 2:00 PM | |
| Dine & Dialogue: Building Bridges in the ETA Community** | Join us for a dynamic World Café-style lunch where you'll mingle with ETA stakeholders over a meal. This interactive session encourages open dialogue, allowing you to exchange ideas and insights with key players in the ETA community, fostering valuable connections and learning opportunities. |
| **2:00 PM - 2:30 PM | |
| Milestones & Mindsets: Navigating the ETA Success Journey** | Hear from those who’ve been there and done that. This panel will guide you through the key milestones of ETA, sharing insights on the different paths you can take and the skills needed to succeed. |
| **3:30 PM - 5:00 PM | |
| Aligning Ambitions: Formulating Your ETA Hypothesis** | |
| Time for some self-reflection. In this workshop, you’ll assess your own traits, skills, and lifestyle to see if ETA aligns with your goals. By the end, you’ll have a hypothesis on whether this path is the right fit for you. |
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🗓️ Tuesday March 25, 2025 - Wednesday March, 26, 2025
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| Session | Session Description |
|---|---|
| **25 March, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Profit Filters: Finding Your Ideal Acquisition** | 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. |
| **26 March, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | |
| Sourcing Strategies: Navigating Broker and Proprietary Paths** | 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. |
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🗓️ Tuesday, April 1, 2025 - Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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| Session | Session Description |
|---|---|
| **1 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Due Diligence Decoded: Insights from Industry Practitioners** | Gain insights from a diverse panel of searchers, owners, brokers, and investors on the steps involved in pre and in-depth due diligence. Learn what to expect at each stage and recognize the key red flags to watch out for during your acquisition journey. |
| **2 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | |
| From Numbers to Knowledge: Unlocking Business Value through Financial Analysis** | 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. |
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🗓️ Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - Thursday, April 10, 2025
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| Session | Session Description |
|---|---|
| **8 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Funding Fundamentals: Navigating Canada’s Financial Landscape** | Get the lowdown on funding options in Canada! This panel will 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. |
| **9 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Debt Dynamics: Crafting Effective Financing Plans for Your Business** | 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. |
| **10 April 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Funding Your Vision: Avoiding Pitfalls and Estimating Equity Needs** | 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. |
<aside> 🤝
🗓️ Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - Thursday, April 17, 2025
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| Session | Session Description |
|---|---|
| **15 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Engaging Sellers: Strategies for Effective Outreach and Negotiation** | Learn how to quickly gauge if a seller is truly motivated and worth pursuing for in-depth due diligence. This panel will also cover the essential steps and best practices for negotiating with sellers, ensuring you're prepared to navigate these critical conversations effectively. |
| **16 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | |
| Document Decoded: Navigating Letters of Intent and Placement Memorandums** | Get hands-on with Letters of Intent (LOIs) and Private Placement Memorandums (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. |
| **17 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Deal Breakers & Offer Models: Navigating Final Hurdles in Acquisitions** | 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. |
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🗓️ Thursday, April 24, 2025 - Friday, April 25, 2025
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| Session | Session Description |
|---|---|
| **24 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | |
| Smooth Sailing: Crafting Your Transition Plan with Insights from Owners** | Learn what support to ask for from the seller to ensure a smooth transition after acquisition. This panel will guide you through creating an effective transition plan, setting you up for success as you take the reins of your new business. |
| **25 April, 2025 | |
| 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | |
| Building Bridges: Cultivating Trust in Your First Six Months** | The first six months are crucial. In this workshop, you'll learn strategies to establish trust-based relationships with your new customers and employees, laying the foundation for a positive and productive work environment. |
<aside> 🎓
🗓️ Sunday, April 27, 2025 | In-Person Attendance Required
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| Session | Session Description |
|---|---|
| **3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | |
| Reflection & Revelation: Evaluating Your Hypothesis Journey** | Reunite with your cohort to reflect on your journey and personal growth throughout the course. Revisit and answer the hypothesis you posed at the start, evaluating how your perspectives have evolved and what you’ve learned. |
| **4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | |
| Your Feedback Matters: Collaborative Feedback Sessions** | Share your thoughts and experiences! The VFC team will gather feedback through two focus groups, giving you a chance to shape the future of the course while also reflecting on your own learning experience. |
| **6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | |
| Next Steps & New Horizons: Guidance from Industry Leaders** | Gain inspiration and practical advice from two keynote speakers as they share their insights on the next steps in your ETA journey. Their stories and guidance will help you navigate your future path with confidence. |
| **7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | |
| Cohort Celebration: Toasting Achievements and New Beginnings** | Celebrate your accomplishments with a festive closing dinner! Enjoy a meal with the Toronto-based instructors who supported you throughout the course, and commemorate your achievement with photos and certificates. |