Start-Up Nation Central

Start-Up Nation Central
Name	Start-Up Nation Central
Founded	2012
Headquarters	Tel Aviv, Israel
Founders	Gil Sadis, Shimon Peres, Dan Senor (note: see History and Founding)
Focus	Innovation, Technology, Economic Development, International Collaboration

Start-Up Nation Central is an Israeli non-profit organization that connects international businesses, investors, and governments with Israeli technology companies and startups. It operates technology scouting, investment facilitation, and sectoral research activities to promote Israeli innovation in fields such as cybersecurity, agritech, healthtech, fintech, and cleantech. The organization acts as an intermediary between ecosystems, facilitating collaborations across cities, corporations, universities, and research institutes.

Overview

Start-Up Nation Central acts as a bridge between Israeli innovation hubs such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Beersheba, and Beer Sheva and global markets including New York City, London, Berlin, Singapore, and Dubai. It curates databases of startups and scaleups, mapping companies working in verticals connected to Intel, Google, Microsoft, Amazon (company), and IBM. The organization highlights synergies with academic and research institutions like Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. It engages with multinational development banks such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and European Investment Bank to advance applied technologies. Start-Up Nation Central’s sectoral focus aligns with clusters around incubators and accelerators including Yozma Program, 8200 EISP, MassChallenge, Plug and Play (accelerator), and Techstars.

History and Founding

The organization was launched following the global attention garnered by the book Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer, which analyzed Israeli entrepreneurship and resilience after events such as the Second Intifada and the economic shifts of the early 2000s. Founders and early supporters included figures linked to Israeli public life and policy circles such as Shimon Peres, former prime ministers and ministers like Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Olmert who shaped technology policy, and investors with ties to firms like Sequoia Capital, Pitango Venture Capital, and Jerusalem Venture Partners. The group’s early years intersected with national initiatives influenced by the Innovation Authority (Israel), historical programs including the Yozma Program, and municipal innovation policies from the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and Ramat Gan. Over time it expanded partnerships with international delegations from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, China, and Japan.

Programs and Services

Start-Up Nation Central operates multiple programs connecting corporates, governments, and investors with Israeli tech. Its technology scouting and curated matchmaking services work with corporate partners like Coca-Cola, Siemens, Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. The organization provides sector reports and data-driven maps used by hedge funds and venture capital firms such as SoftBank, Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Accel Partners. Programs support thematic areas including cybersecurity (linking to firms in the Israel Defense Forces alumni ecosystem and entities related to Unit 8200), health innovation bridging startups with hospitals like Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center, and agritech pilots with companies tied to Netafim and Evogene. Start-Up Nation Central runs delegations and innovation missions to venues like Mobile World Congress, CES, VivaTech, and Web Summit and curates corporate innovation days with partners such as Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC.

Partnerships and Impact

The organization has collaborated with national trade bodies such as Israel Export Institute and bilateral chambers like the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce and Anglo-Israel Association. It has engaged with philanthropic foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Skoll Foundation to pilot social-impact technologies. Governmental and quasi-governmental partners have included delegations from ministries and agencies of United States Department of Commerce, UK Department for International Trade, Germany Trade & Invest, and development agencies like USAID and DFID. Impact metrics cited by stakeholders link to funding rounds involving investors like Benchmark (venture capital firm), Insight Partners, CVC Capital Partners, and sovereign wealth funds such as Temasek Holdings and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The group’s matchmaking has reportedly enabled pilots and procurements with multinational buyers including Unilever, Nestlé, and Siemens Healthineers.

Organization and Funding

Start-Up Nation Central is governed by a board with members drawn from Israeli and international business, philanthropy, and policy networks, including executives formerly associated with firms like Cisco Systems, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Intel Corporation, and BlackRock. Its funding model includes philanthropic grants, corporate sponsorships, fee-for-service engagements, and support from foundations and bilateral economic development programs. Major supporters historically have included philanthropic entities such as The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (Israel), high-net-worth donors linked to firms like Elbit Systems, Mubadala Investment Company, and institutional funders from European Commission grant programs and international development banks.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics have raised questions about the organization’s relationships with political actors and defense-adjacent technologies, drawing scrutiny from advocacy groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and university student organizations active at Harvard University, Oxford University, and Columbia University. Debates have emerged around export controls, arms trade regulations influenced by treaties like the Arms Trade Treaty, and university research collaborations with ties to military units such as Unit 8200. The organization’s focus on facilitating market access has prompted discussion among NGOs focused on corporate responsibility, including B Team, Transparency International, and Oxfam International, and with journalists from outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, Haaretz, Calcalist, and Globes. Some corporate partners have faced activist pressure from coalitions such as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions activists and student groups at institutions including University of California campuses and McGill University.

Category:Organizations based in Israel