The real thing. Not a simulation.
The TrendUp L-Program is a structured, end-to-end development pathway that bridges financial theory and professional market practice. Over three progressive levels, you learn how to analyze markets, design options and futures strategies, and manage portfolios using risk-adjusted frameworks applied across the buy-side.
Each level is hands-on, taught by professionals actively managing capital, and builds directly on the last. The program teaches you how investment decisions are actually made, and puts you in positions where you have to make them.
What sets the L-Program apart is that TrendUp tracks your performance across all three levels. Your analytical approach, investment ideas, and decision-making build a verifiable record of capability , the same record that drives SRP selection and that partner firms see when they access TrendUp candidates.
Apply to Summer '26 CohortWho is this for?
L1 prerequisites: ambition, drive, and a strong interest in investment strategy. Many of our top alumni came from engineering, law, the military, and other non-finance fields.
Live sessions on Saturday mornings. Recordings always available. Each level runs 3 weeks. You can complete L1 through L3 in under 3 months.
From first lesson to buy-side career.
The L-Program is a progression, not a collection of standalone courses. Each stage builds on the last.
Investment Foundations
Master the four schools of analysis. Build your investment framework from the ground up.
Options & Derivatives
Learn to build trades with superior risk/reward. Live trading session. Fund manager access.
Futures + CFOA
Hedge fund strategies, futures, and full CFOA prep. Every completer earns the exam subsidy.
Buy-Side Internship
Top performers join the SRP: a 10-week analyst or trader role at a partner firm.
The Three Levels
Each level is three weeks, approximately 3-5 hours per week. Live Saturday sessions with recordings available.
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.
What You Learn
- Financial markets structure and trading tools
- Fundamental analysis: valuation, company research
- Technical analysis: chart reading and pattern recognition
- Event-driven analysis: catalysts and positioning
- Volatility analysis and trade development
What's Included
- Live stock pitch session with a fund manager
- Leverage exercise with direct position sizing
- 1-on-1 debrief with a hedge fund professional
- Assessments, lecture recordings, and course materials
- Community forum access
Unlock the power of derivatives. Learn to build trades with superior risk/reward and profit probability, in any market condition, using options strategies applied by fund professionals.
What You Learn
- Directional and non-directional options strategies
- Probability assessment and risk/reward calculation
- How fund managers structure derivatives positions
- Trade construction across different market environments
- Equity research writing and publication opportunities
What's Included
- Live trading session with a fund manager
- 1-on-1 session with the hedge fund manager
- Real fund strategy demonstrations
- Assessments, lecture recordings, and course materials
- Research writing opportunity (CNBC, Seeking Alpha)
Complete your investment training with futures, complex derivatives, and hedge fund strategies. Prepare for the CFOA examination. Every L3 completer receives a full exam subsidy worth $390 , and top performers qualify for the SRP buy-side internship.
What You Learn
- Futures contracts and options on futures
- Macro, arbitrage, and event-driven hedge fund strategies
- Portfolio risk management frameworks
- Full CFOA exam preparation and study support
- Fund psychology and decision-making under pressure
What's Included
- Full CFOA exam subsidy ($390 value) for all completers
- SRP invitation for top quarter to top third of class
- Live sessions and 1-on-1 with fund manager
- Performance tracking and cohort ranking
- Assessments, lecture recordings, and CFOA prep material
The Specialization & Recruitment Program.
The SRP is what separates the L-Program from every other finance course. Top L3 performers are invited to join a 10-week analyst or trader internship at a TrendUp partner firm, alongside full career placement support.
This is not a simulated internship or a certificate. It is a direct position at a partner hedge fund, family office, or private investment firm , and it carries genuine weight on your CV.
Hear from people who did it.
"Coming from a non-target, TrendUp gave me the foundation and professional experience I needed to bridge the gap and land my dream role at a top investment bank."
"TrendUp, both the L-program and the SRP, delivered exactly what I needed to jumpstart my career in Finance. And recruiters took notice."
"I made the transition into a family office, and I have Alex and the TrendUp team to thank for that."
"Hired within days of finishing the program. The CFOA and the SRP internship gave me everything I needed to land the role immediately."
Certified Futures & Options Analyst (CFOA)
The CFOA is a professional credential issued by the International Council for Derivative Trading (ICFDT). It certifies expertise in derivatives , options and futures , and is recognized by funds, family offices, proprietary trading firms, and investment companies operating in the global derivatives space.
TrendUp is the exclusive, officially authorized ICFDT training provider worldwide. Every participant who completes L3 receives a full exam subsidy worth $390.
Only need the CFOA certification?
CFOA Direct gives you the full self-paced certification pathway at $595 , instant access, no cohort, no waiting list. Includes a money-back guarantee if you don't pass.
Clear, straightforward fees.
Each level is paid separately. Student and recent graduate pricing applies to current students and those who graduated within the past year. Interest-free installments available via PayPal Pay Later.
| Level / Program | Standard Price | Student / Recent Grad | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 , Foundations | $399 |
$199 |
3-week course, live pitch, 1-on-1 with fund manager |
| L2 , Options & Derivatives | $499 |
$299 |
3-week course, live trading session, research writing, 1-on-1 |
| L3 , Futures + CFOA Prep | $599 |
$399 |
3-week course, CFOA prep, full exam subsidy for all completers ($390 value) |
| SRP | By invitation , for top L3 performers | 10-week internship, personality report, mentoring, recruitment consulting | |
| CFOA Direct (self-paced) | $595 |
No student discount |
L2+L3 equivalent content, ICFDT prep, exam registration, money-back guarantee |
Next start date: May 23, 2026 · Applications close when the cohort fills
Upcoming Cohort Dates
Applications are open now. Seats are limited per cohort.
Each level runs 3 weeks, approximately 3-5 hours per week. Live sessions on Saturday mornings, recordings always available.
Are you a firm looking to hire?
Partner firms access TrendUp's vetted talent pool directly, with full visibility into candidate performance records, CFOA status, and cohort rankings. No recruiter fees.
Common questions.
Everything you need to know before applying. Still have questions? Contact us.
Ready to earn your place?
Applications for the Summer 2026 cohort are open. Seats are limited. The sooner you apply, the sooner you know you're in.
Next start date: May 23, 2026 · Applications close when the cohort fills