Montréal, June 1, 2026 – Pôle entRepreneuriat and Familles en affaires HEC Montréal, in collaboration with École des dirigeantes et dirigeants, La base entrepreneuriale, and Pôle D HEC Montréal, are launching an innovative program designed for experienced professionals and entrepreneurs who wish to acquire SMEs with strong potential for growth and impact.

Inspired by entrepreneurship-through-acquisition support programs offered by leading international universities, the R+ Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program is being introduced in the context of a historic wave of business transfers, as several thousand SMEs are finding themselves without owners. Given its structuring role, the program benefits from financial support from the Government of Québec.

Starting in fall 2026, the program combines phases of training, intensive acceleration and support for acquirers capable of identifying, acquiring, and sustainably transforming promising Québec SMEs.

Key Quotes

“Entrepreneurship through acquisition is not only a response to the succession challenge: it is a strategic opportunity to train the entrepreneurs our SMEs will need in order to continue transforming and creating value. We must not only ask ourselves what businesses we will leave to future generations, but also what talent we are preparing to help them thrive. With R+, we support the next generation in acquiring established companies, renewing their business models, and generating positive outcomes for the economy, society, and the planet.”

Luis Cisneros, Professor, Founder and Co-Director of Pôle entRepreneuriat HEC Montréal

“For several years, we have observed the emergence of many challenges within businesses, particularly with regard to training the next generation of leaders. The program developed by HEC Montréal, inspired by internationally proven models, will be an excellent lever to support the next generations of entrepreneurs and make our SMEs even more competitive.”

Daniel Bernard, Minister for the Economy and Small and Medium Enterprises

A Lack of Cross-Cutting Support for Potential Business Acquirers

According to the 2022 Québec Entrepreneurial Index (IEQ 2022), the unprecedented wave of business transfers in Québec is partly attributable to the aging and declining number of business owners, as well as to the need to prepare both business transfers and a new generation of acquirers.

This imperative is also highlighted in the work of La sphère and Familles en affaires HEC Montréal, which are currently developing an online mapping of Québec’s entrepreneurship-through-acquisition ecosystem. Early observations point to a need for more cross-cutting support, particularly for experienced professionals who wish to take action, structure an acquisition project, mobilize financing, and sustainably transform an SME. This is precisely the need addressed by R+ Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition.

An Innovative Program to Sustainably Transform Québec SMEs

R+ Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition provides a rigorous framework for identifying an acquisition target, analyzing its potential, negotiating with a selling owner, structuring the governance of the acquisition project and the relationship with investors, and mobilizing the required funds, including through innovative financial vehicles such as search funds, starting from the business search phase.

Inspired by the best entrepreneurship-through-acquisition programs taught at universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and INSEAD, this high-level program prepares a new generation of acquirers capable of using acquisition as a lever for innovation, growth, and the sustainable transformation of Québec SMEs by renewing their business models and amplifying their positive impact on the economy, society, and the planet.

Program Details

R+ Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition provides direct access to financial partners throughout the program, explains the fundamentals of search funds, helps participants identify an acquisition target, structure the financing, negotiate with the selling owner, and supports them through the post-acquisition phase. The program is designed for entrepreneurs and professionals with significant experience, from the training phase through to the acceleration stage.

• Cohort size: approximately 30 participants
• Target audience: The program is intended for MBA or EMBA graduates, senior executives, and entrepreneurs with significant experience.
• Program duration: 10 weeks of part-time training, followed by 12 to 24 months of acquisition support
• Format: intensive courses delivered by faculty members and specialists from the entrepreneurial ecosystem; case studies and simulations; testimonials and networking; coaching and mentoring; activities designed to connect participants with investors
• Start date: fall 2026

For more information: poleentrepreneuriat.hec.ca/r-entrepreneuriat-par-acquisition.

About the Online Mapping of Québec’s Entrepreneurship-Through-Acquisition Ecosystem

This tool provides greater visibility for the programs, services, and organizations that raise awareness, support, and finance selling owners, acquirers, and businesses undergoing a transfer process. More specifically:

• For potential acquirers, the mapping will make it easier to identify relevant resources based on their region, profile, type and size of business, and stage of the acquisition project.
• It will provide selling owners with a clearer understanding of the stakeholders who can help them prepare for the transfer, structure their process, and find a properly supported successor.
• Members of the broader ecosystem — including economic development organizations, financial institutions, advisors, regional county municipalities, sectoral associations, and educational institutions — will also be better equipped to understand the complementarities, overlaps, and blind spots in the current offering.