The Canadian Private Capital Investment School (CPCIS) is a comprehensive training program designed to meet the unique demands of professional investors in Canada’s venture capital and private equity industry. The program, offered in collaboration with the CVCA, was created to give aspiring and experienced fund managers, institutional investors, angel investors, and professional service providers the advanced skills they need to successfully navigate the rapidly expanding and evolving ecosystem.
Employers who want to improve their junior and sub-partner level staff should engage in the CPCIS program where employees have a rare opportunity to develop the mentality and knowledge base necessary to succeed in private capital investment management. Participants will gain practical knowledge that can be immediately applied to their current employment through a combination of case studies, fireside chats with industry experts, peer networking opportunities, individualized mentoring from investors in residence, and an applied capstone learning project.
The program, now in its fourth year, has seen several employers sending members of their team year after year. Toronto-based VC McRock Capital is one of those employers.
“Private Capital is an apprenticeship business however it can be challenging for the most senior members to find the time to train the team,” said Scott MacDonald, Co-founder & Managing Partner, McRock Capital. “The CPCIS has helped McRock Capital educate its workforce and create a common base knowledge around the core skills required in private capital. CPCIS has become a mandatory onboarding tool for new employees at McRock.”
The private capital sector, like many industries, is experiencing talent challenges, and finding top-notch human resources continues to be difficult. This issue is addressed by the CPCIS program, which also helps train the following generation of private capital experts. Employers who invest in the CPCIS program are putting themselves and their staff in a position to benefit from the opportunities of building new enterprises and expanding Canadian businesses.
CPCIS emphasizes incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) opportunities to advance participants’ careers and set their organizations apart. Participants will learn to create deal structures that work with their other investments, increasing the likelihood that their portfolios will be successful.
DEI is a key area in the private capital sector and the CPCIS program is actively working to reinforce these principles by providing participants with the skills and knowledge they need to make a positive impact in this area and building a support network of ethically driven like-minded private capital professionals. DEI is a business imperative for BDC Capital, the investment arm of BDC. Michelle Scarborough, Managing Partner, Strategic Investments and Women in Technology Venture Fund at BDC Capital believes the CPCIS is a helpful resource in achieving DEI goals.
“At BDC Capital, we are committed to setting the bar high for inclusion and diversity in Canada’s venture capital and private equity sector. We consider the professional development offered by initiatives like CPCIS to be a key element in accomplishing this objective. In addition to assisting our team in identifying and evaluating possible investments, the training also gives them the know-how and abilities to recognize and assist minority founders and entrepreneurs. By investing in our employees’ professional development, we are not only achieving strong returns but also actively working to promote a more diverse and inclusive industry.”
The CPCIS curriculum is highly experiential, founded on case studies, and led by knowledgeable teachers from the Ivey Business School and guest lectures by top investment industry experts. The program’s real-world case method emphasizes learning by doing rather than through textbooks and lectures. Through in-depth discussion and simulations, participants will identify particular, applicable learning takeaways. They will then design an implementation plan with input from other leaders.
Upon completion of the CPCIS program, participants will receive a certificate of completion from the Ivey Academy, will have gained new skills, heard insights from peers, expanded their network, and developed a clear strategy to tackle specific challenges back at work.
Enrolling in CPCIS is not only an investment in employee development but also benefits organizations as a whole. It is an investment that responds to the existing talent shortages in the sector and provides staff with the training and tools they need to be successful in their positions. Employers who want to ensure their employees have the skills necessary to succeed in the private capital industry should strongly consider the CPCIS program.
As a benefit, CVCA member organizations receive a 25 percent discount for the program. Learn more about the CPCIS and register here.
