program

Founded in January 2012, UpWest Labs has already helped over 70 Israeli entrepreneurs build their startups. We are the only program that focuses exclusively on helping Israeli startups gain meaningful traction by onboarding customers & users from their target market.

Our three-month program in Silicon Valley’s highly competitive and dynamic environment is designed to “level the playing field” for Israeli entrepreneurs seeking to successfully innovate and grow their startups. It provides the essential ingredients for success: proximity and access to market and capital, a supportive community of talented peers, and a workspace conducive to rapid development & deployment.

Our program offers:

• Seed Funding: Up to $20k to cover your costs during the 3-month program, enabling you to remain laser-focused on your venture.
• Direct Mentorship: You will be supported by a network of experienced Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and executives. This process will enable you to set clear objectives, receive continuous feedback and address the issues that matter most to you.
• Access to Leading Investors: Our program provides multiple opportunities to build relationships with Silicon Valley’s leading investors and venture funds. They will engage in special sessions, drop by to meet the companies and attend the final "Demo Day" when you present your startup.
• Partner & Customer Connections: We will connect you with leading technology companies, emerging startups and potential customers that are specifically relevant to your venture, helping your product get traction.
• Silicon Valley Basecamp: We assist with your living arrangements and offer a vibrant, shared workspace to innovate, collaborate, and accelerate your startup.
• Special Perks: We have partnered with some of the leading companies in the world to offer you benefits that will help accelerate your startup’s development. See below for a list of some of the existing perks.
• Post-Program Support: Following the program’s completion, we continue to work with you and your team to successfully develop, grow and bring your product to market.

For this program and our ongoing efforts supporting you, we receive a small equity stake in your startup. We only succeed when you succeed.

For more information, please visit our FAQ page or contact us directly. We also strongly encourage you to speak with any of our graduating startups about their experience. 

Hosting		Approximate Value
	UpWest Labs companies are eligible for $10,000 in AWS hosting credit for 2 years and access to solutions architects.	$10,000
	UpWest Labs startups receive up to $20,000 in total credit for Google App Engine or Google Cloud Storage or a combination of the two services.	$20,000
	UpWest Labs companies are part of Microsoft’s BizSpark Plus Program, which includes up to $60,000 of value over two years: all the Windows Azure a startup needs to run their business for the first year, and 50% off Windows Azure retail for the second year.	$60,000
	Each UpWest Labs company receives $2,000/month in Rackspace hosting credit for 12 months, as well as coaching support	$24,000
Software
	UpWest Labs companies are granted free access to Zendesk Plus+ for 12 months, for up to 5 support agents. Zendesk’s cloud-based customer support software is the fastest way to enable great customer service for rapidly growing companies.	$3,500
Human Resources
	UpWest Labs companies receive $150 in oDesk Credits towards hiring an online contractor, as well as free access to Hire Up, oDesk’s hands-on hiring service - a premier recruiting service package that will help find qualified candidates for your first two jobs and get you up to speed on oDesk.	$600
Legal
	Ongoing legal support for UpWest Labs companies, with deferral of fees until closing of financing.	$10,000
Banking
	Free banking services with no minimum balance requirements for UpWest Labs companies.
Partnership
	UpWest Labs companies are part of Google Launchpad, a two-week bootcamp for early stage startups, helping with subjects including user interface, product strategy & technology, marketing, business development and more.