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Foundations Course

Learn How To Build A Successful Company

The Foundations Course is Stage 1 of our accelerator program, designed to give entrepreneurs the essential tools for building successful companies. It equips you with the knowledge and methodology to create profitable, fast-growing businesses on a modest investment. Covering everything from branding and marketing to sales and operations.

*Admission is subject to review

We'll show you how to build a thriving business with a high likelihood of success.
We’ll teach you how to make money.
We’ll give you practical tools to build a real business with paying customers.
We’ll guide you toward profitability, sustainable growth, and real control over your company.
You'll have opportunities to meet with investors throughout the course.
Outstanding participants will be invited to join our exclusive workshops and residency programs.

Course Syllabus

01

Strive for Profitability

Discover why sustainable startups focus on profitability from the start, and how to balance growth with financial discipline, manage cash flow wisely, and buil…

02

Branding First

Learn why defining your brand before marketing is essential, how clear positioning, consistent storytelling, and emotional resonance build trust and set your s…

03

Lean Business Model

Understand how to design a lean business model. One that tests assumptions, reduces waste, and iterates quickly toward a scalable, sustainable way to deliver r…

04

Pricing

Explore how to set prices that reflect your product's true value, match your customers' willingness to pay, and support a profitable, competitive business stra…

05

Jobs to be Done

Learn how to uncover the real motivations behind customer decisions by identifying the "jobs" they hire your product to do, so you can design solutions that tr…

06

Growth Engines

Discover the core mechanisms that drive sustainable startup growth. Whether through virality, paid acquisition, retention loops, or network effects. And learn …

07

Enablers & Innovation

Explore how enabling technologies, market shifts, and changing behaviors create opportunities for innovation and how startups can leverage them to build produc…

08

Sales

Learn how to build and manage an effective sales process. From identifying leads and handling objections to closing deals and building long-term customer relat…

09

Co-Founders, Hiring, Compensation

Understand how to build a strong founding team, make smart early hires, and create fair compensation structures that align incentives and foster long-term comm…

10

Time & Money

Discover how to manage your two scarcest resources, time and money, by focusing on what truly drives growth, avoiding distractions, and allocating capital stra…

11

Startup Success Strategies

Explore the key principles and habits that set successful startups apart. From validating ideas quickly to executing with focus, resilience, and a data-driven …

12

Scaling

Learn how to move from early traction to sustainable scale, by building the systems, teams, and processes that support rapid growth without losing agility or c…

Course Leader

"I designed the Foundations Course to teach how to build profitable, fast-growing companies with modest investment—distilling decades of experience into practical lessons."
Yonatan Stern
Founder & CEO
More About Yonatan Stern

Guest Presenters

Libby Molad
""I will show you how to navigate the tough decisions every founder faces - clarifying priorities, avoiding distractions, and focusing on what truly drives growth.”"
Libby Molad
COO & Co-Founder
Smartup Academy
ayala torgeman
""I will teach you what they don’t teach in business school: how to build a cash flow report, how to look at your revenues and expenses, how to create a Bookings report. Knowledge that isn’t taught anywhere else and things you absolutely must know in order to operate successfully as a CEO.""
Ayala Turgeman
CFO & Co-Founder
Smartup Academy
""As the founder of Iridize, I’ll share what I learned from not being able to raise money—and how that experience led me to success now.""
Eyal Lewinsohn
Mentor
oracle

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a certificate after completing the course?

Yes. Participants who complete the Foundations Course receive a SmartUp Certificate of Completion, recognizing their mastery of the methodology for building profitable, fast-growing companies. The certificate can be shared with investors, partners, or on LinkedIn to showcase your achievement.

To be eligible, participants must have at least 80% attendance and active participation throughout the course.

What is the Foundations Course?

The Foundations Course is the first stage of our accelerator program, focused on teaching entrepreneurs how to build profitable, fast-growing companies on a modest investment. It covers branding, sales, product, pricing, team building, and more.

Who can join?

The course is free, but it's not open to everyone. We carefully select participants to ensure the program is the right fit. Our goal is to support those who can benefit most from this knowledge and grow significantly with the accelerator behind them. By reviewing applications, we make sure every seat goes to someone who is ready to make the most of the opportunity.

What topics are covered?

Branding, business models, pricing, Jobs to Be Done, growth engines, sales, hiring, financial models, scaling, and more.

What will I gain?

The knowledge and methodology to build a successful company, avoid common mistakes, and increase your chances of success.

You'll also receive a Certificate of Completion, a recognition of your achievement that can be shared with investors, partners, and on LinkedIn.

And you'll join a community of entrepreneurs, gaining access to peers who share your challenges and ambitions, and building valuable connections for the journey ahead.

Does SmartUp offer other programs?

Yes. As part of our accelerator, we also offer Workshops (small-group deep dives) and a selective Residency Program, where SmartUp partners with you as co-founders for the long term. Together with the Foundations Course, these create a complete path for entrepreneurs who are ready to learn, grow, and build.
View our course certificate and read our course terms and conditions
*Admission is subject to review

SmartUp Networking Hours

The SmartUp offices will open two hours before and after every meeting, giving participants direct access to meeting rooms and workspaces.

This time is designed to help founders and investors connect, explore opportunities, and collaborate. Investors can discover new companies. Founders can get feedback and build relationships that matter.

After the first set of sessions, a curated list of registered investors and a separate list of participating founders and their startups will be shared, helping you identify the right people to connect with and why.

The SmartUp Foundations Course is about more than learning the principles. It's a practical environment for building trusted connections and generating real business outcomes.

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