Buy In Canada 2025

Event Agenda

9:00 am

• Event Check In & Light Refreshments
• Crush Space

9:45 am

• Opening Session: The State of ETA in Canada
• Main Classroom - Smith 112

Speakers: Erin O’Hanley, Director of Finance & Operations @ Venture for Canada | Elspeth Murray, Director @ Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact, Associate Professor & CIBC Fellow in Entrepreneurship - Smith School of Business | Mirela Pirlea, Lead Partnerships Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, Desjardins Group

Welcome to the first-ever Buy In Canada conference. Join us as we dive into why this moment is the moment to explore a future in business acquisition – and to understand why potential buyers, like you, matter in the Canadian economic landscape. We will share our vision for a thriving and productive community around ETA in Canada, as well as what to expect for our day together.

10:15 am

• Fireside Chat: Behind the ETA Curtain: What Every Buyer Should Know
• Main Classroom - Smith 112

Speakers: Scott Stirrett, Founder @ Venture for Canada, in conversation with Mario Nigro, Partner @ Stikeman Elliott LLP

Let’s get clear on what ETA really looks like for deals in the $1-5M EBITDA range. This Fireside Chat will explain the difference between buying a business and buying yourself a job; why size matters for financing and exit potential; and provide both a success story and a cautionary tale. We'll also unpack the key players in the acquisition process and compare self-funded vs. traditional search so you can decide what path might fit you best.

11:00 am

• Break
• Crush Space

11:15 pm

• Panel: The Lived Experience of ETA
• Main Classroom - Smith 112

Speakers: Josh Wood, Founder & CEO at WoodCap Ventures | Jonathan Bega CEO at Gestalt Capital | Lisa Hooey, Founder & Managing Partner at Freda Capital + President & CEO at CRSS

Hosted by: Lily Akagbosu, Product Manager @ IBM and VFC ETA Bootcamp Graduate

In this panel, a searcher, an owner, and an investor walk… onto our stage, sharing what it really takes to get ready to search, and succeed. We’ll cover everything from personal finances, to family dynamics, to the mindset, skills, and strategies required for ETA. Get honest insights, hot takes and practical tips from those who’ve lived it.

12:30 pm

• Lunch & Networking
• Crush Space

Join us for a World Café style lunch, where meaningful conversations take center stage. Make use of the opportunity to meet speakers and other attendees by moving among tables, using prompt cards – or your own curiosity – to spark discussion.

1:45 pm

• Panel: The Money – Funding Your Search & Acquisition
• Main Classroom: Goodes 112

Speakers: Matt Hooper, Principal at Hemlock Capital and Partner at Operand Group | Sagar Sethi, Senior Director, Commercial Banking at National Bank of Canada | James Scott, Partner, Hadley Family Office | Alicia Mair, Managing Director & Market Lead Eastern Ontario, National Accounts, Desjardins Group

Hosted by: Crystal Kyabaggu, CFO @ United Way Simcoe Muskoka and VFC ETA Bootcamp Graduate

How do you fund an acquisition in Canada? Lower market investors, middle market investors, and a lender come together to break down the mechanics of financing ETA deals, and will cover equity, debt, and seller financing. Financing is unique in the Canadian ecosystem, and if you want to afford the business you want to buy, this is the session you can't miss.

3:00 pm

• Break
• Crush Space

3:15 pm

• Keynote: To Buy or To Build: Finding Clarity on What’s Next
• Main Classroom - Smith 112

Speaker: Danny Feuer, Chief Investment Officer @ Simple Ventures

At the end of our day, we hope you’re preparing to leave with a clearer vision of what your future could look like if you choose the path of entrepreneurship through acquisition. Of course, that’s not the only route to the flexibility and prosperity entrepreneurship can bring. To help clarify the options ahead, Danny Feuer, Chief Investment Officer @ Simple Ventures, will share how his team approaches the decision to buy versus build a business – offering a valuable comparison to help you determine which path may be right for you.

4:00 pm

• Closing Session
• Main Classroom - Smith 112

Reflect on what we have learned, identify what questions remain, and land on what it means to truly “buy in.” This closing session will connect the dots between the day’s insights and your next steps. We will highlight ways to stay engaged with the community beyond today, as well as ongoing resources available. It does not end here – this is the beginning of something bigger.

4:20 pm

• Continuing the Conversation
• Crush Space

If we succeed, you should end your day buzzing with better-informed questions about your ETA journey. Join us for coffee and tea just outside the main classroom.