Understanding venture capital and determining if it’s right for you

Venture capital is often seen as a necessary step for startups. However, it is not suitable for all companies or all entrepreneurs.

It is precisely to address this reality that MAIN, in collaboration with Front Row Ventures and Espace CDPQ, is offering a training program focused on venture capital. The goal is simple: to give entrepreneurs a thorough understanding of the rules of the game before they decide whether to get involved.

Training to Make Better Decisions

This training is not intended to persuade you to raise funds. As an entrepreneur, here’s what you’ll learn:

• understand investors and your financing needs
• learn the practical basics of venture capital and the ideal fundraising process
• develop your pitch and manage your pipeline for successful fundraising with VCs

Learning through hands-on activities 

The training program draws on real-world cases, concrete examples, and feedback from participants. It is made possible through a collaboration between Front Row Ventures, MAIN, and Espace CDPQ, key players in Quebec’s investment ecosystem.

It brings together active participants in the ecosystem:

• Venture capitalists
• Institutional actors
• Entrepreneurs who have raised funds

Their role: to share an unfiltered perspective based on experience.

Format and duration

The training program is designed to be:

• Accessible (short, targeted video formats)
• Step-by-step (from diagnosis to preparation)
• Actionable (with practical tools)

It can be used in conjunction with other MAIN resources, particularly to assess where you stand in your entrepreneurial journey, develop a growth strategy, and better understand your financing options.

This training helps answer a key question: Is venture capital really the right tool for me right now?