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Shape / For Shapers / Foundation
FOUNDATION · 21 DAYS · ON YOUR OWN TIME

Build the practical basics companies expect on day one.

A focused 21 day track for students and early career talent. Learn at your own pace, with a minimum of 2 hours per week, and finish with a verified Shape profile.

Apply to Foundation See the curriculum
Duration
21 days
Per week
Min 2h
Format
Self paced
Mentor
Weekly
Who Foundation is for

A starting line, not
a finishing one.

Foundation gives you the day one toolkit companies expect. Three profiles get the most out of it.

ST

Students

Final year or about to graduate, and you want practical skills your university did not teach.

EC

Early career

You finished your studies recently, you are interviewing, and you keep hearing "we need someone hands on."

SW

Self learners

You have watched the courses, taken the certificates, and now you want a structured, evaluated path.

Curriculum

Six practical modules,
two mini projects.

A focused track. No filler, no padding. Each module ends with a deliverable that a real mentor reviews.

01
DAYS 1 TO 3 · ORIENTATION

Working like a team

How real teams plan, communicate, and ship. The vocabulary you will hear from day one in a company.

  • Sprints, standups, retros
  • Async communication that does not waste anyone's time
  • Reading a brief and asking the right questions
02
DAYS 4 TO 7 · CORE SKILLS

Tools and fundamentals

The base toolkit that applies to your chosen track, with hands on exercises every day.

  • Track specific fundamentals
  • Version control and shared workspaces
  • Daily mini exercises with feedback
03
DAYS 8 TO 11 · MINI PROJECT 1

Your first deliverable

A scoped, realistic brief you complete and present. Your mentor evaluates the work, not just the result.

  • Scope, plan, build, present
  • Mentor review at the end
  • First evidence on your Shape profile
04
DAYS 12 TO 15 · DEEPENING

Going one layer deeper

You move past the basics and start working with the kinds of trade offs that come up in actual teams.

  • Quality, performance, accessibility
  • Reading and reviewing the work of others
  • Working under realistic constraints
05
DAYS 16 TO 19 · MINI PROJECT 2

Build it like it ships

A second deliverable, with higher expectations. The same flow: brief, plan, build, present, review.

  • Higher scope than mini project 1
  • Cohort cross review
  • Second evidence on your Shape profile
06
DAYS 20 TO 21 · PROFILE

Verified Shape profile

You turn your two projects, your endorsements, and your evaluations into a public Shape profile.

  • Skills, projects, mentor endorsements
  • Readiness score for matching
  • Shareable public profile
The weekly rhythm

Three weeks, three
distinct phases.

Each week has its own shape. You learn, you build, you present, in a deliberate cycle. The minimum commitment is 2 hours per week, on your own time.

WEEK 1

Orient and build the toolkit

Get the vocabulary, the tools, and the first practical exercises under your hands.

  • D1
    Kickoff and mentor match
  • D2
    Working like a team
  • D4
    Core skills, exercise day
  • D7
    First mentor check in
WEEK 2

Ship your first mini project

A real brief, a real deliverable. Your mentor reviews the work, and you fix what needs fixing.

  • D8
    Mini project 1 brief
  • D9
    Scope and plan review
  • D11
    Mini project 1 review
  • D14
    Going deeper, week wrap
WEEK 3

Build like it ships, then publish

A higher bar this week. End with your verified Shape profile, ready to be seen by partner companies.

  • D15
    Mini project 2 brief
  • D19
    Mini project 2 review
  • D20
    Profile build session
  • D21
    Verified profile published
Mentorship

A real senior reviews
your work every week.

In Foundation, mentorship is weekly and focused. Your mentor knows your level, sees your output, and pushes you in the right places.

  • CK
    Weekly check ins
    A scheduled session every week to review progress and unblock you.
  • PR
    Project reviews
    Honest, specific reviews on both mini projects, with action items.
  • EN
    Endorsements
    Skill endorsements on your verified profile, only when earned.
Your Foundation mentor
WEEKLY · 45 MIN
Sarra K.
SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGNER · INSTADEEP
YOUR MENTOR
Last review note
NEXT SESSION · THU 17:00
RESCHEDULE →
Pricing and eligibility

Clear price.
Real expectations.

No tricks. Foundation has one price, one pace, and a simple set of conditions to make sure you can actually complete it.

FOUNDATION TRACK
21 days, self paced
On request

Reach out for the current pricing for your cohort. Scholarships are available for students.

  • Six modules across 21 days
  • Two mini projects with mentor reviews
  • Weekly one on one mentor session
  • Verified Shape profile
  • Access to the Shape candidate network
Apply to Foundation

Eligibility

Foundation is open to everyone, with a few practical conditions so the program actually works for you.

  • 01
    Minimum 2 hours per week available for the program. Less than that and the rhythm breaks.
  • 02
    A stable internet connection for mentor sessions and deliverable submissions.
  • 03
    Working English or French. Mentors and briefs are available in both.
  • 04
    Genuine motivation to ship. Foundation rewards output, not attendance.
NOT SURE WHICH PROGRAM FITS YOU? COMPARE PROGRAMS →
Frequently asked

Foundation, the honest answers.

Is 2 hours per week really enough?
Two hours is the minimum, not the average. Most Shapers spend three to five hours a week on Foundation. Two hours keeps the rhythm so the mentor sessions and project deadlines still work. If you can give more, you will get more out of it.
What if I cannot make a deadline?
Talk to your mentor first. We can adjust within a sprint, but the 21 day frame is fixed. If life happens and you need to pause, we move you to the next cohort, no penalty.
Will I get matched with a company at the end?
Foundation builds your verified profile, which is the entry point to the matching network. So, you can have a Direct company matching. The recruitment pathway with partner companies requires meeting our eligibility criteria.
Do I need a laptop or any specific software?
Yes, a working laptop and a stable internet connection. The specific software depends on your track, and most of the tools we use are free. Your mentor will help you set up in week one.
Can I skip Foundation and go straight to Advanced?
Maybe. After you apply, we run a practical assessment. If your level is already past Foundation, we will tell you and point you to Advanced directly.
Is there a certificate?
Foundation gives you a verified Shape profile with project evidence and mentor endorsements. We do not believe certificates by themselves prove anything. Your profile is what companies actually look at.
Other programs

Going further
after Foundation.

Foundation is the starting line. When you are ready for company projects and full matching, Advanced and Career Change are the next two steps.

3 MONTHS · MOST POPULAR

Advanced

Go deep on a specialization. Real company briefs, weekly reviews, measurable output, on your own pace with a minimum of 5h per week.

RECRUITMENT PATHWAY · MENTOR · READINESS SCORE See Advanced 6 MONTHS · IMMERSIVE

Career Change

Pivot fully into a new field. A complete pathway from foundations to apprenticeship grade portfolio, paced for working professionals.

CAREER COACHING · COMPANY EXPOSURE · 5H PER WEEK See Career Change
Ready when you are

Start with
Foundation.

Three weeks, two projects, one verified profile. Apply today and we will get back to you with the next steps.

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