ETA Certificate Program

This certification program provides accelerated access to how to go from employee to business owner using Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). ETA is a lower risk alternative to startups for aspiring entrepreneurs. ETA is a strategy to become a business owner, where the entrepreneur typically seeks the support of investors to find, acquire, operate, grow and potentially sell a company, typically $5M-$15M in revenue at time of acquisition. The entrepreneur attracts investors, runs the search process and usually leads the acquired company as CEO. 

The ETA Certificate is ideal for people seeking to jumpstart their ETA journey. The program consists of three ETA courses typically completed over two semesters in less than one year (typically September-May) during evening and weekend class sessions. However, courses can be taken in any order and over whatever time frame best suits the student.  

Weatherhead’s ETA faculty are active ETA entrepreneurs and investors who bring real world experience, practical/experiential learning and guests who are ETA investors, entrepreneurs and advisors.  

ETA Certificate Program Highlights

• The certificate program is open to non-degree students, that is people who are not enrolled as full-time or part-time Weatherhead MBA candidates.  
• Program led by the ETA faculty, Reid Tileston, Scot Lowry and GJ King, who are current ETA entrepreneurs and investors who have collectively owned, operated and invested in over 100 companies.   
• ETA certificate participants gain access to the Weatherhead MBA program
  (ETA 1 and 2) offered in the fall and spring semesters, in addition to a third Executive Education ETA course (ETA 3) offered over one weekend annually in January. 
• Certificate participants take all three ETA courses in any order based on when they enroll.
• Certificate courses covers strategies from self funded to investor supported acquisition strategies.  
• Participants are also given access to the Promise Partners ETA Accelerator, allowing them to attend Promise Partner’s events while enrolled in the certificate program as special guests.  
• Upon completion of the certificate program, participants are offered full membership in the Promise Partners ETA Accelerator with a recommendation from the ETA certificate faculty.
• Courses emphasize experiential learning with dozens of class guests who are ETA entrepreneurs, investors and advisors providing relatable ETA case studies, including examples from the 44 Weatherhead alumni who have become business owners using ETA strategies. 
• Certificate participants create a comprehensive ETA plan designed to guide their journey from employee to owner pursuing their personalized ETA strategy designed with the support of the ETA faculty as part of their certificate coursework.     

Who Should Attend

Professionals who are interested in owning their own business when the time is right in their life. 

Coursework for the Certificate

The Certificate is awarded after completion of three ETA courses. 

ETA 3 - Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition for Executives may be taken separately without completion of the entire certificate program. ETA 1 and 2 are included in the three course ETA Certificate program.  

If you are interested in taking ETA 3 only, click here.

All three courses emphasize experiential learning components with class guests who are primarily ETA entrepreneurs and relatable ETA case studies, including examples from the 44 Weatherhead alumni who have become business owners using ETA strategies. 

Students that complete all three courses will receive an ETA Certificate and be exposed to a wide diversity of case studies, guests and small business leadership scenarios/role plays across all stages of the ETA journey. These courses are also valuable to professional managers interested in using the strategies and practices of entrepreneurial leaders in larger company settings to excel as “intrapreneurs,” a leadership approach that is of high value to employers.  

Dates

• ETA 1: Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 29 to Dec. 5, 2023 
• ETA 2: Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 16 to April 29, 2024
• ETA 3: Jan. 5, 6 and 7, 2024

Future sessions will be during similar dates annually. Courses can be taken in any order. All courses will be in person at the Peter B. Lewis Building and the Dively Center on the Case Western Reserve University campus in Cleveland, OH. Accommodations can be made for some sessions to be attended via Zoom, however it is recommended that most sessions be attended in person.

Cost

The following is the cost for non-degree students who want to enroll in all (three) courses and receive the ETA Certificate. 

• Individual Participants $11,950*
• Nonprofit and CWRU Alumni Participants $8,963

*Early registration benefit: Register by Nov. 15, 2023, and individual participants receive the CWRU Alumni rate of $8,963 (25% savings). 

Receipt of Certificate

Participants will receive their ETA certificate at the conclusion of all three courses.

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