When I bought my first business at 27, I learned that an acquisition does not begin with finding a company for sale. It begins with understanding what kind of business you are equipped to own, operate and grow. I also learned that having the right people around you can be as important as the transaction itself. Those lessons helped shape Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), developed by the M&A Club of Canada with the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship. The program helps aspiring owner-operators clarify their acquisition thesis, evaluate opportunities and prepare for ownership—while learning alongside peers on the same journey. The curriculum will be offered as an intensive Boot Camp or a three-month evening-and-weekend format, with the option to later apply to the ETA Lab. The first Boot Camp takes place in Montreal, October 27–30, 2026. For those who have already made the journey: what do you wish you had known before your first search? redacted