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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

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Course dates and hours

Where will the course take place?

What will this course give you?

What will you gain by the end of the course?

Course dates and hours

Session 1- 11/10/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 2- 18/10/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 3- 25/10/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 4- 01/11/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 5- 08/11/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 6- 15/11/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00

Where will the course take place?

The course will take place at the SmartUp offices, located at HaPnina Street, 1st Floor, Ra’anana.

What will this course give you?

The SmartUp Foundations Course gives entrepreneurs the practical tools, mindset, and methodology needed to build a focused, profitable, and fast-growing company.

You will learn how to define your business model, understand your customers, sharpen your positioning, price your product correctly, build your sales and marketing process, and make smarter decisions as a founder.

What will you gain by the end of the course?

By the end of the course, you will have a clearer understanding of what to focus on, how to avoid common startup mistakes, and how to turn a good idea into a company with real business potential.

The goal is to help you move from uncertainty to clarity, and give you a structured way to build a company that can grow sustainably on a modest investment.

Course dates and hours

Session 1- 11/10/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 2- 18/10/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 3- 25/10/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 4- 01/11/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 5- 08/11/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00
Session 6- 15/11/26 Sunday, 14:30 - 17:00

Where will the course take place?

The course will take place at the SmartUp offices, located at HaPnina Street, 1st Floor, Ra’anana.

What will this course give you?

The SmartUp Foundations Course gives entrepreneurs the practical tools, mindset, and methodology needed to build a focused, profitable, and fast-growing company.

You will learn how to define your business model, understand your customers, sharpen your positioning, price your product correctly, build your sales and marketing process, and make smarter decisions as a founder.

What will you gain by the end of the course?

By the end of the course, you will have a clearer understanding of what to focus on, how to avoid common startup mistakes, and how to turn a good idea into a company with real business potential.

The goal is to help you move from uncertainty to clarity, and give you a structured way to build a company that can grow sustainably on a modest investment.

Course Syllabus

11/10/2026-15/11/2026
Every Sunday at 14:30-17:00
11/10/2026-15/11/2026
Every Sunday at 14:30-17:00

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 build a business that thrives without constant fundraising.

Branding First

Learn why defining your brand before marketing is essential, how clear positioning, consistent storytelling, and emotional resonance build trust and set your startup apart from the competition.

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 real value to customers.

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 strategy.

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 truly fit their needs.

Growth Engines

Discover the core mechanisms that drive sustainable startup growth. Whether through virality, paid acquisition, retention loops, or network effects. And learn how to identify and optimize the one that fits your business best.

Enablers & Innovation

Explore how enabling technologies, market shifts, and changing behaviors create opportunities for innovation and how startups can leverage them to build products that redefine industries.

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 relationships.
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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

Course Team

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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