We are opening an exclusive cohort for The Pitch by Deel participants. Skip the waitlist. Get straight in!
Join the Program
Founders with an idea or early prototype who want to validate it before burning runway
Founders with a product who feel stuck and need a reset
Builders who want to move from prototype to fundable company faster
What You Will Get
This isn't a theory class. Everything you do here gets applied directly to your startup. By the end of the module, you will:
Run your idea through real validation. Either commit with confidence or kill it early (both are wins!)
Build focus around the problem you are solving and who you are solving it for
Turn ideas into a clear plan you will execute right away
Earn your shot at the offline bootcamp, where you will work closely and get direct feedback from one of the most experienced early-stage VCs, Igor Ryabenkiy
For teams that demonstrate focus and execution during the bootcamp, the journey can continue into Stage 3, with potential investment from AltaLab (starting at $50K), AltaIR Capital (up to $500K) and warm intros to investors.
AltaLab is useful not only at the idea stage but also for teams already building a product. It helps founders structure their thinking, clarify priorities, and approach product development in a more systematic way.
Maksim Kargaltsev
Co-founder & CEO, Para2move.com
What I carry out of AltaLab is not just a sharper pitch or a cleaner ask, though I have both. What I carry is a more rigorous relationship with the difference between what I believe and what I can prove, and a clear understanding that for a founder seeking serious capital, that gap is the only thing that matters.
Lindiwe Matlali
Founder & CEO, Swerfvalk
The program brings together founders to focus on what really matters: building products that solve real problems and can scale. For me, the past weeks were packed with valuable insights, sharp frameworks, and honest feedback from the AltaLab team and fellow founders.
Ron Veerkamp
Founder & CEO, Voca
1
ONLINE
The Foundation Sprint
This is where everything starts. You work through an online program with practical assignments. You define the problem, test assumptions, and build the core materials you’ll use moving forward.
What happens
- A free online course led by Igor Ryabenkiy - Practical assignments applied to your startup
What you will walk away with
- A clear understanding of what problem you are actually solving and for whom - Proof that your idea is worth pursuing, or a signal to stop or pivot it - The tools you need to move fast: a focused one-pager, a clear MVP roadmap, and sharp pitch versions for users and investors - A simple, realistic plan for what to do next
2
ON-SITE
Based on Stage 1 performance, a small group of teams is invited to the offline bootcamp. You roll up your sleeves and work through your idea: refine the concept, build a prototype, and get real feedback.
What happens
- In-person support of your project by AltaIR Capital mentors and partners - Deep focus on execution and launching a prototype - Hands-on feedback
What you will walk away with
- A working prototype that users can actually test and interact with - Battle-tested assumptions — you'll know what works and what doesn't - A close network of founders building alongside you
3
ONGOING
Build
and Scale
For teams that show real focus and execution, the work continues.
You build toward PMF with hands-on support, guidance, and potential capital.
What happens
- Continue working on your product and finding PMF with hands-on guidance from the AltaIR Capital team - Get mentorship from experienced operators and investors in the network - Access capital to fuel growth: first checks starting from $50,000 to $500,000 for teams hitting milestones - Warm intros to investors when you're ready to raise
What you will walk away with
- A real business (not just a pet project!), with traction, users, revenue (or a clear path to all three) - The resources and network to scale what's working - Your best shot at building something that lasts
About
AltaLab is grounded in two decades of investing experience of AltaIR Capital, a global VC firm with $600 million in AUM.
The company has invested in over 400 tech companies, including 10+ unicorns, most of which (Miro, Deel, PandaDoc, OpenWeb, Socure, Turing, and others) were backed at an early stage.
In 2025, AltaIR Capital was ranked among the Top 2.5% venture capital firms in EMEA by Dealroom.
400+
portfolio companies worldwide
$600M+
assets under management
10+
unicorns
Dr. Igor Ryabenkiy is an author, entrepreneur and investor, Founder and Managing Partner at AltaIR Capital. He signed his first angel check in 1998 and founded AltalR Capital in 2005 to support early stage companies across the US, Europe and Israel.
Igor invests in B2B SaaS, Future of Work, FinTech, Productivity Tools, and Digital Health, guiding founders from their first idea to market leadership.
He is the author of bestselling books, Adventures in Venture Capital and Unicorn Focus.
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FAQ
Apply to the Program
This cohort is exclusively for The Pitch by Deel participants.
Spots are limited and open until April 30, 2026
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