Schulich Masterclass Certificate in Venture Finance

Level up with LEEN LI, ex-CFO at Wealthsimple and ex-CEO at Wealthsimple Foundation.

Learn how to build a finance function that fuels growth, attracts investors, and scales with your venture. This program equips founders, finance leaders and professionals with the strategies, models, and investor insights needed to drive fundraising and financial decision-making in startup and scale-up environments.

Better yet, learn directly from a top Venture Finance executive herself: Leen Li is the ex-CFO at Wealthsimple and ex-CEO at Wealthsimple Foundation. Read more about Leen and her achievements here .

Limited scholarships available.

Your roadmap to venture finance leadership

Designed for founders, finance leaders and professionals in startups, scale-ups, and VC-backed companies, this program provides the frameworks and tools to manage fundraising, investor relationships, and financial strategy through all stages of growth.

But don’t stop there. Speak and learn directly from a Chief Executive Officer with over 20 years of experience. Breaking into Venture Finance means knowing and getting tips from the right people. This is your exclusive chance to network with high-level peers and get the secrets to success from an industry star.

Each cohort, there are a limited number of students who are accepted as Schulich Venture Scholars. This scholarship empowers high-potential venture leaders to access SVA’s programming. Ideal for founders and executives driving innovation, the program supports those committed to scaling ventures with impact.

Want to know if you are eligible for one of our limited Venture Scholar spots? Contact Shivam Sharma, Assistant Director, to learn more.

Email: [email protected]

Cell: (647) 779-3083

Learn how to prepare startups for institutional fundraising. Build investor-ready financial models, structure a data room, and align finance with a compelling pitch narrative.

Design efficient finance operations for early-stage companies. Manage cash strategically and build reporting systems that support disciplined, scalable growth.

Use financial modelling to guide capital allocation decisions. Learn to partner cross-functionally during fundraising and due diligence while ensuring financial accuracy and alignment.

Build a strategic annual planning process that moves beyond accounting. Lead monthly performance reviews and prepare board-ready insights that drive growth.

Develop collaborative planning processes that influence sales, marketing, and product teams. Use financial insights to drive disciplined capital allocation and execution.

Explore how to lead through uncertainty. Manage runway, identify early warning signals, and make strategic scaling decisions in both growth and downturn environments.

Participants apply course learnings to create a comprehensive monthly business review deck for their organization. They will incorporate instructor feedback to refine financial models, metrics, and insights. Finally, they will present the deck to drive informed decisions and support growth in a VC-backed business.

Celebrate your program graduation with Program Instructor Leen Li, Senior Leaders in the Venture Ecosystem and Leaders from the Schulich Startups Community. An opportunity to make in-person connections with top professionals and network for future job opportunities. Hosted in downtown Toronto at Schulich ExecEd.

Gain the financial frameworks, tools, and investor insights to manage capital effectively, support rapid scaling, and make strategic decisions that inspire investor confidence.

Strengthen your investor readiness and relationship management skills while deepening your understanding of the unique financial strategies that drive growth in venture-backed companies.

Develop the venture finance literacy to guide portfolio companies, advise on fundraising, and connect founders with the right capital partners to accelerate growth.

Learn from an experienced CFO who has scaled high-growth ventures and navigated fundraising with top investors.

Nail the investor updates that make you look like a pro behind the scenes.

Gain practical, actionable strategies from Leen Li, a leader who views finance & acocunting not just as a science but also as an art.

Join a curated community of founders, executives, and ecosystem leaders. Build relationships that drive opportunities, collaborations, and venture growth.