JERUSALEM  MassChallenge Israel, the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet, today awarded 500,000 ILS in zero-equity cash prizes to four of the highest-impact startups from its 2017 cohort. The cash prize winners, along with the Top 10 startups in the cohort, will take part in the first MassChallenge Israel US Trek, a curated business trip and introduction to the innovation ecosystems in Boston and New York in November.

“At the Awards we celebrated the entrepreneurs who have the audacity to imagine a better world and who use their imagination to impact our community. All ten of the Top 10 Finalists will join us in November on a curated roadshow to Boston and New York. This is the first roadshow of its kind in MassChallenge history and were excited to be launching it tonight, here in Jerusalem,” said Israel Ganot, Managing Director of MassChallenge Israel.

The prizes were announced at the second annual MassChallenge Israel Awards, which brought together over 300 leaders of the international entrepreneurial community at the famous venue Zappa, in Jerusalem. The event was the capstone on another record-breaking year in Israel. MassChallenge Israel received more than 500 applications from 40 countries and accelerated 52 startups. Over the past three months, the 2017 cohort has worked with more than 150 mentors, participated in a variety of workshops, and connected with corporate partners and investors to refine and grow their businesses.

“MassChallenge Israel’s diverse and multinational 2017 cohort shows just how Israel – and Jerusalem – is quickly cementing its position as a major player on the international innovation stage,” said John Harthorne, Founder and CEO of MassChallenge. “MassChallenge is proud to be a part of – and help continue to grow – such a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The MassChallenge Israel prize winners join an elite community of MassChallenge startups. Since 2016, MassChallenge Israel has accelerated more than 100 companies from 10 countries, which have raised approximately $20 million. Notable MassChallenge Israel alumni include last year’s grand prize winner Versatile Natures, which makes construction sites smarter and safer by using cranes as an IoT data provider; MassChallenge Israel, the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet, today awarded 500,000 ILS in zero-equity cash prizes to four of the highest-impact startups from its 2017 cohort. The cash prize winners, along with the Top 10 startups in the cohort, will take part in the first MassChallenge Israel US Trek, a curated business trip and introduction to the innovation ecosystems in Boston and New York in November.

“At the Awards we celebrated the entrepreneurs who have the audacity to imagine a better world and who use their imagination to impact our community. All ten of the Top 10 Finalists will join us in November on a curated roadshow to Boston and New York. This is the first roadshow of its kind in MassChallenge history and were excited to be launching it tonight, here in Jerusalem,” said Israel Ganot, Managing Director of MassChallenge Israel.

The prizes were announced at the second annual MassChallenge Israel Awards, which brought together over 300 leaders of the international entrepreneurial community at the famous venue Zappa, in Jerusalem. The event was the capstone on another record-breaking year in Israel. MassChallenge Israel received more than 500 applications from 40 countries and accelerated 52 startups. Over the past three months, the 2017 cohort has worked with more than 150 mentors, participated in a variety of workshops, and connected with corporate partners and investors to refine and grow their businesses.

“MassChallenge Israel’s diverse and multinational 2017 cohort shows just how Israel – and Jerusalem – is quickly cementing its position as a major player on the international innovation stage,” said John Harthorne, Founder and CEO of MassChallenge. “MassChallenge is proud to be a part of – and help continue to grow – such a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The MassChallenge Israel prize winners join an elite community of MassChallenge startups. Since 2016, MassChallenge Israel has accelerated more than 100 companies from 10 countries, which have raised approximately $20 million. Notable MassChallenge Israel alumni include last year’s grand prize winner Versatile Natures, which makes construction sites smarter and safer by using cranes as an IoT data provider; Airscort, a self-navigating and recharging drone company; and Keepers, and internationally recognized anti-bullying app. 

150k ILS Diamond Winners

• Kheyti (India) – Kheyti is ending poverty for one million small farmers through their Greenhouse-in-a-Box – an affordable, modular greenhouse bundled with end-to-end services.
• RenewSenses (Jersualem) – We create a novel eyes-free perceptual experience for visually impaired, conveying the visual world through sound and touch.

100k ILS Gold Winners 

• 6Degrees (New York) – 6Degrees is developing an encapsulated solution helping people with Loss of Hand Dexterity reconnect to their digital life.
• Catalytic (Rhode Island) – Catalytic Innovations develops electrolysis technology to clean up our air and environment.

About MassChallenge

MassChallenge is the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet. No equity and not-for-profit, we are obsessed with helping entrepreneurs across any industry. We use competitions to identify the highest-impact startups and reward them with a portion of several million dollars in equity-free cash awards. Through our global network of accelerators in Boston, the UK, Israel, Switzerland, and Mexico, and unrivaled access to our corporate partners, we are making a massive impact – driving growth and creating value the world over. To date, 1,211 MassChallenge alumni have raised over $2 billion in funding, generated approximately $900 million in revenue, and created over 65,000 total jobs. For more information, please visit masschallenge.org.
 

MassChallenge Israel Partners
The Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Ministry of Economy, Poalim Hi-Tech, the Kraft Group, Bolt, Inc., PTC, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, CJP, Swiss Re, The Boston Consulting Group, Liberty Mutual, Herzog, Fox & Ne’eman, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co, Reinhold Cohn Group, Deloitte, Hutchison-Kinrot, Yigal Arnon & Co., Sagent Management, Start-Up Nation Central.

“>Airscort, a self-navigating and recharging drone company; and Keepers, and internationally recognized anti-bullying app. 

150k ILS Diamond Winners

• Kheyti (India) – Kheyti is ending poverty for one million small farmers through their Greenhouse-in-a-Box – an affordable, modular greenhouse bundled with end-to-end services.
• RenewSenses (Jersualem) – We create a novel eyes-free perceptual experience for visually impaired, conveying the visual world through sound and touch.

100k ILS Gold Winners 

• 6Degrees (New York) – 6Degrees is developing an encapsulated solution helping people with Loss of Hand Dexterity reconnect to their digital life.
• Catalytic (Rhode Island) – Catalytic Innovations develops electrolysis technology to clean up our air and environment.

About MassChallenge

MassChallenge is the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet. No equity and not-for-profit, we are obsessed with helping entrepreneurs across any industry. We use competitions to identify the highest-impact startups and reward them with a portion of several million dollars in equity-free cash awards. Through our global network of accelerators in Boston, the UK, Israel, Switzerland, and Mexico, and unrivaled access to our corporate partners, we are making a massive impact – driving growth and creating value the world over. To date, 1,211 MassChallenge alumni have raised over $2 billion in funding, generated approximately $900 million in revenue, and created over 65,000 total jobs. For more information, please visit masschallenge.org.
 

MassChallenge Israel Partners
The Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Ministry of Economy, Poalim Hi-Tech, the Kraft Group, Bolt, Inc., PTC, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, CJP, Swiss Re, The Boston Consulting Group, Liberty Mutual, Herzog, Fox & Ne’eman, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co, Reinhold Cohn Group, Deloitte, Hutchison-Kinrot, Yigal Arnon & Co., Sagent Management, Start-Up Nation Central.