International Entrepreneurial Lab
CATALYST
From Idea to Pitch in 4 Weeks
Build the Mindset of a Founder
A hands-on international entrepreneurship program that blends academic frameworks with real venture experimentation.
Step into an international environment of aspiring entrepreneurs, where ideas are challenged, shaped, and brought to life.
Work alongside peers from around the world, engage directly with Israel’s startup ecosystem, and learn from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and leading lecturers—developing the mindset and capabilities required to build a real venture.
Who Is It For?
- Aspiring founders who want to turn an idea into a real venture
- Early-stage entrepreneurs looking to validate and refine their startup
- Students interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and AI
Program highlights
An intensive program designed to turn ideas into validated ventures using the power of Generative AI.
Develop your startup concept
Practical workshops using the latest AI tools to accelerate market research, validation, and product development.
Learn from entrepreneurs & investors
Field visits to startups, VCs, and accelerators in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Expert mentorship
Group discussions and deep-dives with mentors in a dynamic, supportive learning environment.
Master founder tools
Business model design, competitive analysis, and venture storytelling — tools founders actually use.
Pitch at Demo Day
Tell the story of your startup in a simulated investor pitch at the end-of-program Demo Day event.
Program overview
The CATALYST Entrepreneurship Lab is designed as a first step into entrepreneurship. Participants join a fast-paced environment where they meet other students with startup ideas, experience what it takes to build a venture, and work toward presenting their concept at the program’s Demo Day.
Throughout the program, students acquire practical tools to navigate this process while leveraging the capabilities of Generative AI, which increasingly plays a central role in how founders research markets, develop products, and test ideas.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- Leverage AI-powered experiments and simulations to validate concepts, refine and evaluate an idea with higher velocity.
- Assess the market size and identify a business opportunity of their own solution to an existing problem.
- Discover the key financial decisions entrepreneurs must make in the early stages of a startup.
- Understand the process of raising capital and how to speak to investors in an AI-driven market environment.
- Create their own Mini-Project, after validating a clear economic potential using advanced digital validation tools.
- Tell the story of their own venture, in a professionally planned presentation, to investors, customers and partners and present it at the DEMO DAY event at the end of the course, demonstrating a strong grip on both the business model and the technological execution
Curriculum
Topics explored throughout the course
- Identifying and validating startup opportunities
- Market analysis and competitive landscape research
- Business model development
- Financial decision-making in early-stage ventures
- Communicating with investors
- Storytelling and pitch development
Students apply AI-powered tools to accelerate market research, validation, and early product development, enabling faster and more precise experimentation.
Course components
Practical assignments during the program
Students apply inventive problem-solving principles and use AI tools to prototype and visualize innovative concepts.
Design and analyze a BMC for your own startup idea or a company studied in class, focusing on value creation and revenue streams.
Advanced analysis of 10+ direct and indirect competitors using AI-driven research tools to map market gaps and opportunities.
5-minute startup pitch in teams at Demo Day. Demonstrate how you used AI tools to develop, validate, and refine your startup idea.
Israeli tech ecosystem
Ecosystem experience
A key element of the CATALYST program is direct exposure to the Israeli startup ecosystem.
Led By Experts
Dr. Dan Marom
Head of CATALYST
Dr. Marom holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the Hebrew University, an M.B.A. in Marketing and Management from the Open University, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Ben-Gurion University. His research addresses entrepreneurial finance and crowdsourcing. In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Marom is part owner of a consultancy that addresses various projects in technology and development, and served as the CEP of Breyer Group PLC.
Dr. Michael Mizrachi
Entrepreneurial Expert
CEO of the Engineering Accelerator AtoB of Jerusalem’s Azrieli Engineering College.
Internationl Participants
As an international participant, you’ll be fully supported from the moment you arrive. The dedicated Welcome Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is designed to ensure a smooth integration into campus life—academically, socially, and culturally. From orientation and personal guidance to social events and networking opportunities, the Welcome Center helps you connect with both local and international students, making it easy to feel at home and get the most out of your experience in Jerusalem.
Course information
Administrative details
Ready to build your venture?
Students interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and emerging technologies are invited to apply for the CATALYST program.
Got questions?
We'd love to help.