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Next cohort (Winter'25) start date: January 18, 2025
Master investment strategy and gain the mentorship needed to break into Finance.
Learn the ins-and-outs of investment funds’ strategies, network with global investment communities, and place yourself in the top performing pool of applicants for our partner hedge fund internships. Join our 400+ participants who have opened the door to Investment, Finance and Consulting roles.
Where Our Students Have Landed Jobs
Learn About The TrendUp Finance Professional Development Program
What tools will help you excel against your competitors on your pathway into Finance? Industry skills, employer recognition and global network. And that’s what TrendUp Now is all about.
With increasing competitiveness to land jobs in Finance, it is essential to learn how to stand out with specific application based knowledge and the ability to network with industry professionals. The hands-on training and experience that industry professionals are looking for cannot be provided by university or alternative investment courses. In addition, if you lack the recognition and network to propel you forward, having skills alone will not be enough to break into Finance.
TrendUp is not like any other course, it is a Finance professional development program. You will learn in a limited-size cohort, chat with investment fund manager(s) one-on-one, participate in engaging investment challenges, and potentially get your research articles published on sites like CNBC or Seeking Alpha. Our top participants are invited to join our Specialization and Recruitment Program (SRP), which connects them to internship opportunities at our collaborating firms.
Transform your skills and abilities into a career in Finance with TrendUp Now.
In L1, you will develop a solid knowledge and skill base to identify strategic investment decisions quickly using the four schools of analysis: fundamental, technical, event-driven and volatility analysis.
The 3-week L1 course includes a live stock pitch session with an investment fund manager, a leverage exercise, a skills as well as final assessment — on top of downloadable slides, on-demand course videos, quizzes, forums, and an instant chat function with the investment fund manager. At the end of L1, you get to meet with the investment fund manager one-on-one, to talk about your experiences, goals, the markets, etc. Upon passing the L1 final assessment, you can proceed to L2.
In L2, you will learn how to unleash the power of derivatives through option strategies, in order to build trades with superior risk/reward and profit probability regardless of the situation. L2 focuses on options, trading derivatives, directional and non-directional strategies.
The 3-week L2 course includes a live trading session, option log activity, subsidized trading challenge (keep your profits with no downside risk), and equity research writing opportunities. Just like L1, there will be downloadable slides, on-demand course videos, quizzes, forums, and an instant chat function with the investment fund manager. At the end of L2, you get to meet with the investment fund manager one-on-one, to talk about your experiences, goals, the markets, etc. Upon passing the L2 final assessment, you can proceed to L3.
L3 completes your training for a successful entry into the investment world. You will explore futures contracts, complex futures-based derivatives like options on futures, trade and risk management skills, as well as the different types of hedge funds and their strategies. You will also review content on options and futures, and prepare for your CFOA exam.
The 3-week L3 course includes a 2-week futures and options trading challenge (using simulated money), a hedge fund strategy group activity, and equity research writing opportunities. Upon passing the L3 final assessment, you can receive full subsidy for the CFOA exam worth US$290.
Throughout L1-L3, our investment fund professionals also gather data on your performance, strengths and weaknesses, which we then analyze and share with you at the end of L3, during your one-on-one session with the investment fund manager. If you have demonstrated excellent performance throughout the TrendUp program, this is when you can be offered an internship or other career opportunities.
Throughout L1-L3, you will learn concepts and skills, as well as receive advice from investment fund manager(s) on how to develop a trading profile and career path that match your personality, strengths, and style.
Upon completion of L1-L3, all participants can apply for advanced opportunities with TrendUp Now. These include specialization courses, a personality & skills assessment, as well as job consultancy services (candidate assessment, resume development, interview prep & simulation).
Top ranking participants throughout L1-L3 may receive invitations to internship (eligible for college credit in most universities) and/or full-time opportunities at TrendUp’s collaborating funds. Other participants with satisfactory performance may also receive referrals and letters of recommendation from the investment fund manager.
TrendUp Now
University Courses
Other Online Finance Courses
Cost Per Course
$199 - $599 per Course
$2000 (public in-state) - $5000 (private schools) per Course
$10 - $10000 per Course
Completion Time
2 Months
3 - 4 Months
5 - 40 Hour Completion Time
Instructors
Hedge Fund Managers
University Professors
Unknown
Content Focus
Application-Based Content Based on Current Investment Fund Strategies
Theory-Based Content
Ranges from Theory-Based Content to Unproven Financial Knowledge
Format
Hybrid of Online Lessons and Application-Based Activities
Traditional Lessons and Assignments
Online Lessons in Video Format
Support
One-on-One Sessions with Investment Fund Managers
Professor and TA Office Hours
Facebook Groups or Email Inquiries
Industry Connections
Investment Networks (hedge funds, family offices, prop shops...)
University Alumni Networks and Corporate Partnerships
None
Career Prep
1-on-1 Resume Advice, Cover Letters, Personal Branding, Portfolio Development, Internship Opportunities.
Generic advice from the Career Center
None
Save on your tuition by earning college credit through TrendUp's internship opportunities.
TrendUp Now
University Courses
cost
$149 - $299 per Course
cost
$600 - $1200 Tuition Cost per Course
Completion time
2 Months
Completion time
3 - 4 Months
instructors
Hedge Fund Managers
Instructors
University Professors
COntent focus
Application-Based Content Based on Current Hedge Fund Strategies
content focus
Theory-Based Content
format
Hybrid of Online Lessons and Application-Based Activities
format
Online Lessons and Assignments
Support
One-on-One Sessions with Hedge Fund Managers
support
Professor and TA Office Hours
industry connections
Hedge Fund Networks
INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
University Alumni Networks and Corporate Partnerships
Career Prep
1-on-1 Advice for Resume, Cover Letters, Personal Branding, Portfolio Development, etc.
Career Prep
Generic advice from the Career Center
91%
working in Finance
(within 6 months of graduating from the program)
94%
CFOA passing rate
(out of eligible L3 participants)
100%
of SRP participants secure an Investment Finance internship
(hedge fund, family office or investment firm)
1-on-1 Time With Investment Fund Professionals
The Hedge Fund industry is one of the most competitive sectors to break into with the acceptance rate being lower than 2%.
Securing a role in this secretive industry can be near impossible, so join our alumni of over 400 graduates who have tapped in to our network of industry insiders.
Our participants have taken advantage of the one-on-one meetings with Investment Fund Professionals to discuss investment strategies, as well as plan their progression into High Finance careers.
Relevant & Actionable Skills
The way we teach is unlike any other investment course. We don’t just have pre-recorded courses and assignments. We invest in your development through strategic activities including live sessions, research article publication opportunities, trading challenges and group strategy projects.
Our small cohorts also give you the opportunity to ask the investment fund manager(s) industry specific questions, allowing you to obtain relevant insider knowledge.
Career Prep & Advancement Opportunities
TrendUp participants are able to stand out through the opportunities we offer: During the program, we help you publish your own equity research and build credibility. In the Specialization and Recruitment Program (SRP), we help you with your job applications (resume, cover letters, best career paths etc), and connect you to recruiters and internships.
Our objective is to make a real impact for our students. Learn what our past participants have to say about their experience with TrendUp Now.
Still have questions? Leave us a message here.
General
The weekly commitment is approximately 3-5 hours, making the program fully compatible with full-time work and/or study.
Each L-Course includes 1-2 live sessions that are held on Saturday mornings. In case it is not possible for you to attend the live session, a recording of the session will be made available to all participants. With regard to the one-to-one sessions, you will get to choose from a wide range of times/days, based on your personal availability.
Each L-Course can be completed in 2-3 weeks. L1, L2, and L3 are held back to back so that participants can complete the entire program in less than 3 months.
All programs and courses are designed and led by a hedge fund manager. Other hedge fund professionals (data analysts, fund psychologists, etc.) also play a role throughout the program.
The program is available at a significantly reduced rate, thanks to subsidies from our partner employers who recognize the value of access to pre-vetted, talented candidates.
Standard pricing: L1 at $399; L2 at $499; L3 at $599
Subsidized pricing for students and recent graduates (graduated within the past year): L1 at $199; L2 at $299; L3 at $399
Click here to learn more about the value of each L-course and check your eligibility for subsidized student pricing. Note: you will need to click on each individual L-course’s details.
Hedge funds are notoriously diverse so earnings vary wildly. However, unlike investment banking and other sell-side jobs, pay in hedge funds is generally uncapped.
This makes it possible for professionals in the industry to receive bonuses that bring their overall compensation to levels that surpass that of any other job. Junior traders typically earn $300k – $3M per year, and it’s possible to reach the upper end of that range in 4 – 8 years. Senior portfolio managers can easily earn over $10m per year. There is high degree of volatility in hedge fund compensation as a significant percentage of this is performance pay.
There is no one ‘typical TrendUp participant’ and our program is open to a wide variety of profiles. However, statistically speaking:
About 45% of our participants are working professionals in their 20s and 30s.
40% are university students (undegraduate and post-graduate).
The remaining 15% is made up of an eclectic mix of profiles (experienced professionals looking to pivot, doctors who want to improve their investment skills, business owners looking to expand their knowledge, retirees with an interest in market strategy, etc).
Each level is designed to give you critical skills and knowledge about buy-side finance, making you not only a well-informed trader, but also a much more attractive candidate to potential employers if you are seeking a career in Finance.
Since the training you receive at TrendUp is based on the training we give our incoming analysts at our hedge funds, prospective employers would understand that they do not need to spend additional time and money putting you through similar training once they hire you.
Additionally, successful completion of the program allows us to detect your strengths which can lead to potential career opportunities at our own hedge funds or referrals to other companies that could be a good match for you.
Yes. Some of our participants simply sign up to learn how hedge fund professionals manage money. You may have a career in Medicine, but you will still need to know how to invest the cash you make from your job.
Developing these skills early will allow you to save thousands of dollars in management fees, and will give you the upper hand when discussing investment opportunities. It can also help you open a door to a professional field that you may want to explore later on in life.
Application Process
The program is open to anyone who is ambitious and has an interest in Finance, investment analysis and trading strategy. We are looking for bright, creative and hard-working individuals who want to expand their horizons regardless of their career choice.
Whether you are looking to (i) develop a career in the Finance industry, or (ii) learn how to profit from financial markets, you are welcome to apply for the TrendUp Now program.
This varies depending on the candidate pool in any given cohort. In general, the acceptance rate drops for each subsequent level since participants must pass an exam in order to move on to the next level. Roughly 50% of candidates accepted into L1 will end up completing L3.
Candidates who successfully complete L3 will have the opportunity to take the CFOA examination for free, gain access to specialization courses, skills and personality assessments, job consultancy and internship placements, etc.
Absolutely. The reason for shifting this program online lies in our belief that talent is global, so we do not restrict admission based on citizenship or residence.
Our program has reached participants from accross the world; examples include the US, UK, UAE, Switzerland, Andorra, India, Hong Kong, just to name a few.
You first need to complete a TrendUp application which includes a few questions about your interest in the program as well as your current investment knowledge. Once your application has been approved, you can then enroll and start L1 on the next start date. While there are stated application deadlines for upcoming cohorts, we recommend applying and enrolling as early as possible to ensure you have a spot in the upcoming cohort. See more enrollment details here.
Now Accepting Winter'25 Applications
L1 Start Date: January 18, 2025 (see Program Calendar)
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