The accelerator combines MassChallenges no-equity, competition-based model with Israels dynamic innovation ecosystem. While based in Jerusalem, the accelerator focuses on promising startups across all of Israel, and also serves as an attractive entry-point for entrepreneurs all over the world who are eager to access Israels thriving environment for startups.
MassChallenge accelerator programs connect the worlds most promising startups with the right resources in order to drive growth, create value and improve the world. Entrepreneurs receive mentorship, office space, education, access to a vast network and other resources during four months of acceleration. At the conclusion of the programs, MassChallenge provides cash awards in no-equity, non-dilutive grants to the startups demonstrating the highest impact and highest potential.
The new accelerator builds upon MassChallenges efforts to bring Israeli startups to MassChallenge accelerators in Boston and the UK. Last year, 12 Israeli startups participated in MassChallenge, with seven startups accepted to the Boston accelerator and five startups accepted to the London accelerator.
It was our goal from MassChallenges earliest days to open an accelerator in Israel and today it becomes a reality, said MassChallenge Founder and CEO John Harthorne, who previewed the Israel accelerator during his presentation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Jerusalem accelerator will support startups from across Israel and across the globe — and will bring together the best mentors, leaders, and resources of the Israeli innovation ecosystem, all to support the success of our startups.
Israel has so much to offer high-impact startups — a multibillion dollar tech ecosystem, hundreds of multinational corporations, abundant partnership opportunities, and deep technical expertise across sectors such as cybersecurity, IoT, fintech, food, water, and agrotech, medical devices, eHealth, neurosciences, and so much more, said Israel Ganot, Managing Director of MassChallenge Israel. Our program brings all of these elements together in the City of Jerusalem, which is emerging as a hub for startups and an ideal environment for their growth.
Jerusalem has been named the number one emerging global tech hub by Time and Entrepreneur magazines, and the high-tech ecosystem includes 500 startups that have received hundreds of millions in funding.
Key partners for the MassChallenge Israel accelerator include the Israel Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, Jerusalem Development Authority, the City of Jerusalem, Israel Ministry of Economy, The Kraft Group, Bank Hapoalim, CJP of Greater Boston, EMC, Liberty Mutual, Herzog Fox Neeman, and Yigal Arnon & Co.
Hundreds Come Together for Launch Event
The launch event in Jerusalem includes an innovation showcase featuring 17 of Israels most promising startups, and will bring together hundreds of business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from Israel and across the globe, including remarks from:
- John Harthorne, Founder and CEO, MassChallenge
- Israel Ganot, Managing Director, MassChallenge Israel
- Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem
- Eyal Haimovsky, CEO, Jerusalem Development Authority
- Yair Seroussi, Chairman, Bank Hapoalim
- Jon Medved, Founder and CEO, OurCrowd
- Danna Hochstein Mann, Partner, PICO Venture Partners
MassChallenge Israel also today announced key dates for their 2016 calendar.
2016 Key Dates:
- Early Application Deadline: March 2, 2016
- Regular Application Deadline: March 31, 2016
- Judging Period: Late March through Early May 2016
- Finalists Announced: May 19th, 2016
- 2016 Accelerator Program: July through October 2016
- 2016 Awards Ceremony: October 27th, 2016
Startups interested in applying to MassChallenge Israel can visit MassChallenge.org/apply.
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 also reward the highest-impact startups through a competition to win a portion of several million dollars in equity-free cash awards. Through our global network of accelerators in Boston, London and Jerusalem and unrivalled access to our corporate partners, we can have a massive impact – driving growth and creating value the world over. To date, 835 MassChallenge alumni have raised over $1.4 billion and created over 8,500 jobs. For more information, please visit masschallenge.org.
Top MassChallenge partners include: Fidelity, Verizon, Bler, John Hancock, CASIS, Jamestown, The Boston Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Deshpande Foundation, Smith Family Foundation, SENA, INNPulsa, Gentera, INADEM, JPMC, VISA, Jerusalem Development Authority, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and IBM.
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