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A one-week program in Israel for pre-seed founders who want to validate their idea, sharpen their thinking, and start building the Silicon Valley way, from day one.

Apply now

ICON.BUILD is designed for founders at the very beginning of their journey — those who haven’t raised yet or have only closed a family-and-friends round. It’s designed for founders who are all in — those who’ve left their jobs and are fully committed to turning their vision into a reality.

This is the Power of the

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This program is led entirely by SV101 by ICON alumni, serial entrepreneurs, and operators — people who have built, scaled, and exited companies. You'll learn not just from their successes, but from their mistakes — saving you time, wrong turns, and costly missteps. Through the power of ICON’s community, you’ll get hands-on support, direct mentorship, and a process that accelerates your journey..

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By the end of the week,

you’ll walk away with:

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A validated idea, backed by ICON’s community

A clear MVP plan

A sharpened, compelling pitch

A 90-day roadmap with next steps

Ready to move faster and build smarter?

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Program
overview

Across five intensive days, founders dive into the fundamentals: ensuring they are solving the right problem for the right audience, generating and validating ideas, creating a quick prototype and testing it with real users, and developing a strong go-to-market strategy.

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The week wraps up with a Demo Day, where founders pitch to investors and operators and walk away with a concrete 90-day execution plan.

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Throughout the program, they receive mentorship, practical frameworks, and hands-on feedback — all designed to help them build smarter and faster from the very beginning.

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What Makes It Different

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No equity taken.

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Direct access to the ICON community and alumni network.

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Led by ICON alumni, operators, and serial entrepreneurs.

  • What does the ICON.BUILD program cover?
    ICON.BUILD is a one-week program, designed to help pre-seed founders validate their idea, define their MVP path, and sharpen their pitch. The program covers customer discovery, ideation, validation, prototyping, go-to-market, and investor readiness — all led by ICON alumni and experienced operators.
  • What is the program timeline and structure?
    The program runs over five intensive days, in person, in Israel. Each day focuses on a core startup-building component, ending with a Demo Day and a clear 90-day execution plan. Expect workshops, mentor sessions, and practical feedback throughout the program.
  • Who is eligible for ICON.BUILD?
    Founders who are pre-seed — either haven’t raised yet or have only raised a friends-and-family round. The program is designed for founders who are full-time or ready to go all in.
  • What is the application deadline?
    Each batch has a specific deadline, listed on our website. Applications submitted before the open window are considered for the upcoming batch.
  • How do I apply?
    You can apply right here.
  • What if I submit my application after the deadline?
    Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed closer to the application open window for the next batch.
  • Can I reapply if my application is not accepted?
    Yes! We understand that early-stage startups are in constant evolution. If you’re not selected for the current batch, we encourage you to keep refining your product and reapply in the future.
  • If I’ve already secured funding, can I still apply?
    Yes, we aim to be the first check into your company but also accept early-stage companies that have already raised capital.
  • Can I apply if I’m a solo founder?
    Absolutely—you can apply as a solo founder! We value founders who demonstrate the ability to build from scratch and overcome challenges independently. That said, due to the complexities of scaling a startup, we generally prefer teams with multiple founders who bring complementary skill sets. If you’re a solo founder with a strong track record of execution, we strongly encourage you to apply, and we’re open to helping with founder matching where necessary.
  • How is the review process structured?
    TBD
  • If ICON has already supported a company with a similar idea — does that affect my chances?
    Not at all. We evaluate each team on its own merits. Even if we’ve backed companies in similar spaces, what matters is your unique approach, the strength of your team, and your potential to execute. Overlap in ideas isn’t a barrier.
  • How many companies are accepted into each cohort?
    TBD
  • What post-program support and alumni network can I expect?
    Even after the program concludes, you’re not on your own. Graduates gain ongoing access to our robust alumni network and exclusive networking events. This long-term support is integral to ensuring that you have the resources needed to scale your startup well beyond the program.

Build Smarter, From Day One

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