Israel is not just a cyber and fintech powerhouse. Quietly, far from the spotlight of the traditional high-tech industry, a new technological arena is emerging in Israel that connects code, sound, and consciousness. MusicTech Innovation Lab is a dedicated innovation hub and accelerator for music, innovation, and technology, aiming to position Israel as a global hub in combining music, sound, and frequencies with the development of technological products that have both business potential and social impact.
MusicTech Innovation Lab is headed by David Friedman, a tech entrepreneur with many years of experience in technology and entrepreneurship, alongside other founders, including Dr. Ilan Levy and Eli Hasson. "My connection to music started at a young age," Friedman explains. "I began in the world of music production, but already by the late 1980s, I realized that Israel did not always allow young people to initiate projects in this field; access to various projects was difficult. In 2014, we started developing an idea aimed at musicians who lacked business tools, exploring how musical ventures could become actual businesses."
The idea itself grew and developed in academia, at the music school at Ono Academic College. "Although a bachelor’s degree in music provides basic knowledge, there was no connection to the business world. That’s why we created a project that was a kind of mini-incubator, where we began working with people like attorney Oren Sharon, to first see how we could generate creative solutions and connect the world of music to the high-tech world."
From the start, attorney Oren Sharon, head of the high-tech department at S. Friedman Abramzon & Co., has accompanied the program, responsible for building the legal and business framework of the activity – from defining the accelerator’s operational model to ongoing support for entrepreneurs, business connections, and bringing strategic partners into various projects.
"Often, entrepreneurs enter the room with 'a hundred kilos of stones on their heads.' They don’t understand what comes first: Patents, copyrights, fundraising, or how to choose the right team," Sharon says. "The importance goes beyond the venture itself. We don’t just provide legal advice – we offer practical solutions that connect all the stakeholders, in Israel and abroad. Our goal in this hub is to make the process less complicated, provide knowledge and support to entrepreneurs. Young entrepreneurs or musicians with an idea, however good, do not always know what is most important or what to do first, and proper guidance is the foundation for success."
Information in Sounds
The field of MusicTech connects music and technology, offering new ways to create, share, and listen to music, but its impact extends far beyond music alone. Today, the sounds we create or record can also serve as information: Sound sensors and advanced software allow the detection of abnormal breathing or heart rates, tracking progress in speech or reading for educational improvement. It can also be purely technical, such as detecting unusual noises in car engines, or even identifying fires or other environmental hazards. Sound becomes information that provides insights and aids decision-making, showing how music and sound can be much more than creation: They are a useful tool for life, education, and safety.
The term MusicTech only started being used in 2018, when Friedman and his team began discussing the connection between music and technology. "It’s not just a local phenomenon," he explains. "As happened worldwide after COVID-19, people saw that the market is changing and creative solutions are needed."
The initiative consists of two main components. "An accelerator that promotes ventures in the MusicTech field, and secondly, the hub, a platform that provides holistic support to companies beyond the accelerator, connecting them to investors, raising resources, and offering professional and international validation."
The accelerator is currently in its second cycle, with each cycle receiving about 50 to 60 new ventures, all with specific knowledge in their field but without significant business experience. "This shows how significant and substantial the growth of this field in Israel is," he explains.
The accelerator promotes collaborations with local and international players: Universal Music Israel, LeumiTech, Waves Audio, and the Tel Aviv Municipality, increasing exposure. "We bring international expertise from Denmark, the United States, the UK, and other countries, to test and validate product feasibility even before significant investments."
Friedman explains that the combination of music and technology is no coincidence. "Music is just the starting point. We are talking about sound-tech, frequencies, AI, neuroscience, medicine, education, and even early detection of fires or engine problems. Israel’s advantage lies in engineering and scientific capabilities – and innovation far beyond what streaming offers."
Who are the entrepreneurs coming to you?
"It’s an interesting mix of musicians thinking like entrepreneurs, and PhDs and engineers from the Technion developing sound and AI solutions without a musical background. There are also 8200 alumni seeking meaning who found the field provides personal and social value. Ultimately, it’s about connecting technological innovation with social impact, with solutions that can influence education, health, environment, and more. I want to note that we plan to expand our activity to international audiences in a new hybrid cycle. Our goal is to create an ecosystem where each entrepreneur receives the tools, support, and connections needed to generate meaningful innovation both in Israel and abroad."
There’s also an aspect beyond technology.
"Some ventures integrate AI in an integrative way. This turns the entire field of sound into advanced technology that reaches applications in medicine, education, automotive, and even fire detection or engine failure.
"We are also looking for social impact. For example, in education, music can teach various skills through gamification. There are solutions teaching children English or musical creativity intuitively. The accelerator allows ventures to think outside the box – it’s not just music; it’s any connection between sound, frequencies, and AI. We create an ecosystem that allows entrepreneurs to advance their ventures quickly with holistic support."
According to Friedman, the initiative is already gaining international attention. "A company from our accelerator won an international entrepreneurship competition in smart audio technologies. This shows that the Israeli approach – combining innovation, AI, and sound – can lead to global success." The future of MusicTech in Israel, he says, is bringing international cycles to the hub. "We are already receiving inquiries from foreign ventures, evaluating how to launch a hybrid cycle connecting Israeli and international entrepreneurs. Israel is ready for this."
Between Human and Technology
Joining the conversation are two entrepreneurs from the hub who have already launched a social-musical start-up. The first is an electronic darbuka that feels, looks, and sounds like an acoustic instrument, but allows silent playing with headphones, recording, digital connection, and advanced practice experience. Dibb Abu Ganimah, 32, a darbuka player and teacher from Nazareth, who also works in a hospital and manages a family wine and beverage business, says the project was born from a personal experience. "My desire to play and practice encountered noise limitations: Neighbors, practice hours, and spaces that didn’t allow free playing."
Tamir Leo Konortov, 44, a senior technology expert with extensive experience in military and medical ventures and patents, joined him, and together they set out. "When I saw Dibb’s idea – a darbuka that feels and responds like an acoustic one but allows silent playing – the light bulb went off immediately. It was love for the project and the idea itself."
The electronic darbuka they developed combines a traditional playing experience with advanced technologies: Extremely low latency (ms0.07), connection to headphones and recording systems, a dedicated app with light indicators and visual feedback, enabling intuitive and enjoyable learning. The instrument is suitable for events, education, and therapy, allowing playing even in spaces where a traditional darbuka would create unbearable noise. Dibb adds: "The goal is to preserve the soul and technique of the traditional instrument, while providing a solution adapted for today’s musicians, including children and young people with concentration issues or environmental limitations."
You have significant business potential, I understand.
"We have an LOI for ordering 150 darbukas for a large youth event in the IDF, and we are in talks with distributors abroad. The vision is educational, therapeutic, and performative – a combination of music, experience, and technology."
The system allows real-time feedback from the app. "Instead of taking years to learn notes, with our darbuka you can quickly learn, feel the rhythm and intensity, and play silently without disturbing others. It’s a tool that brings children closer to music and connects hearts."
Another venture is SolCme by Shahar Maoz, coming from the digital therapeutic field, aiming to make musical expression accessible to anyone with disabilities. Maoz recalls the life-changing event: "Until 2022, I was involved in music – teaching, conducting choirs, performing – then a medical event confined me to bed. Playing became a physical struggle, and the disability pushed me to seek a new solution."
Maoz’s initiative is a system that translates body gestures, hand and head movements into real-time sounds, with no prior musical knowledge required. The tool enables musical expression even for those unable to play traditional instruments, creating a sense of success and creative fulfillment.
"One tool is based on hand movements (Hand Synth) and the other on head and facial movements. The system adapts to the user’s range of motion, so no gesture is missed. Anyone can create full musical expression, even without prior experience." The next stage includes piloting in rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities. "I am looking for partners for implementation, to make the tool accessible and easy to use for everyone."
Maoz adds that working on the venture was an integral part of his rehabilitation. "I learned to code as part of my recovery. I also realized I wasn’t alone; this is not just for me but for millions of people with motor disabilities. My goal was to create something experiential and empowering, yet accessible. Ultimately, seeing users succeed, create, and feel like musicians is the greatest joy. It’s real impact, connecting humans and technology."