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The SmartUp Academy

SmartUp's mission is to teach entrepreneurs the profession of building successful, fast growing, profitable companies with a modest investment and a clear set of guiding principles.

*Admission is subject to review

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SmartUp Foundations Course

The Foundations Course is Stage 1 of our accelerator program, designed to give entrepreneurs the essential tools for building successful companies.
This course is led by Yonatan Stern
December 4, 2025
Thursday, 14:30 - 17:00
HaPnina St. 2, 1st floor, Ra'anana
For more info and application
  • Screenshot 2025-11-26 at 9.56.40

    Welcome Datamint

    Welcome Itay Weinberger and Datamint to our residency program.
    We are thrilled to welcome you aboard. Together, we’ll make amazing things happen!
    READ MORE
  • Screenshot 2025-11-02 at 15.02.20

    SmartUp New Course

    SmartUp Course launches on November 6, 2025. Equipping entrepreneurs with the core tools for building successful companies.
    READ MORE
  • Screenshot 2025-09-17 at 9.24.31

    Welcome EverReach

    Welcome Liran Dickstein to our residency program.
    We are excited to have you on board. We can’t wait to reach new heights together!
    READ MORE
  • Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 13.26.53

    Welcome Qwan

    A warm welcome to Qwan and its founders, Shmulik Boaz and Roi Shonshol, as they join our residency program.
    Big journey ahead! We’re excited to be part of it.
    READ MORE

The SmartUp Process

Foundations Course

Learn the SmartUp principles

An in-person program led by Yonatan Stern, founder of ZoomInfo, teaching the core principles of building profitable, thriving companies.

Workshop

Refine your strategy

A hands-on program where founders work directly with Yonatan Stern and the SmartUp team to sharpen their strategy, refine their business model, and apply practical methods for building a strong, thriving company.

Residency

Scale your venture with expert guidence

A program for founders who working closely with the SmartUp team to refine their growth strategy, receive ongoing mentorship, and prepare their company for scaling and investment.

SmartUp Academy Companies

"Building a successful company is a career that requires mastery – just like any other profession. Learning how to do the work is the first step, but true mastery comes from years of practice and experience."
Yonatan Stern
Founder and Teacher
Our programs encourage participants to think differently about building a company.
From product development and marketing to sales and operations.

  • Accelerator Stage 1 - Foundations Course

    Learn the principles and steps to build and run a successful company on a small investment. This course will change the way you think about building a company and help you avoid the big mistakes.

    Open to entrepreneurs at all stages.
    Read More

  • Accelerator Stage 2 - Companies Workshop

    Directed discussions on applying SmartUp principles with fellow company leaders. Learn from real-life situations and receive mentoring for your ongoing challenges.


    For leaders in established companies.
    Read More

  • Accelerator Stage 3 - Residency Program

    Partner with us to grow your company, or learn by joining one of our resident companies.






    Open to entrepreneurs at all stages.
    Read More

  • Angels Circle

    Learn how to guide your portfolio companies toward profitability, increase their chances of success, and retain more equity.






    For angel investors only.
    Read More

It's Going to Be Different

We challenge conventional wisdom and achieve uncommon results.

Do you need to target a $5 billion market?

No.

VCs need to cash out on their investment within a few years, so they push you to target massive markets and grow as fast as possible.

But if your goal is profitability, you're better off targeting a narrower, more focused market you can reach with accurate, compelling messages and lower your cost of acquisition in the process. You can be profitable with sales in the $3-5M range, which requires a market size of $100M or less. That doesn't mean you stop there. Dominating a small market is often the gateway to many other related markets.

Do you need to be first to dominate the market?

No.

There are countless examples of products that reached the market first but never made it, only to be overtaken by imitators.

A wonderful product that no one understands, or that no one wants to hear explained, simply won't sell. Being first also comes with a burden. You have to create the market and educate your audience entirely on your own.

If you are going to be first to market, make sure you already have the market's attention. By far the most effective and affordable way to do that is by building a strong brand, a process that takes time and should be your top priority from day one.

Do you need groundbreaking technology?

No.

Following the same logic as being first to market, the most common mistake entrepreneurs make is believing their product is so amazing it will sell itself. If no one knows about your product, no one will buy it. It's your job to set the stage in advance. The cheapest and most effective way to do that is by building a strong brand.

Do you have to grow fast to dominate the market?

No.

Regardless of how fast you grow, if no one wants to buy your product, you won't dominate anything.

Rapid growth at an early stage is actually a liability. It drains your resources and pulls your focus away from the single most important task of any company, which is finding a repeatable process for acquiring paying customers.
""The skill set that I was missing I found with Yonatan's mentorship""
Ziv Segal
CEO & Co-Founder
WATCH VIDEO
"He is really thinking completely differently about marketing"
Eyal Wultz
President & Co-Founder
WATCH VIDEO
""Yonatan has interesting solutions to the company's issues""
Ashi Horovitz
CEO & Co-Founder
WATCH VIDEO
""You build your company, from marketing through core business""
Ori Shafir
CMO & Co-Founder
WATCH VIDEO
""The greatest value of working with Yonatan is his wide thinking and vision that makes our company focus on the important things""
Eli Baratz
CTO and Co-Founder
WATCH VIDEO

FAQs

What is SmartUp Academy?

SmartUp Academy is a school for entrepreneurs. We teach the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to build fast-growing, successful, profitable companies through courses, workshops, and a residency program.

Who should apply to SmartUp Academy?

SmartUp Academy welcomes:
1. Founders working full time on their idea
2. Potential entrepreneurs currently employed elsewhere
3. Existing companies without VC funding
4. Curious individuals who want to learn the SmartUp Method
5. Investors looking to back companies that follow the SmartUp Model

Can I apply even if I don't have a company or an idea?

Yes! Whether you want to become an entrepreneur but are still in a job, have some business or tech experience, have an idea but don't know where to start, or don't have an idea yet and want to be paired with other founders, there's a place for you here. Visit our programs page or get in touch to find the right fit.

Want to learn more?

We'll be in touch with more information about our programs and to learn more about your needs