Israel will have its first dedicated home for Israeli startups based in New York, after Hakibbutz launched its NYC operations on Monday, aiming to become a hub for the hundreds of Israeli companies operating in the Big Apple.
Created in collaboration with Israeli Mapped in NY, the project already includes the cybersecurity company Zafran Security, according to their release, while additional companies are expected to join in the coming months.
"We didn't want to build just another office space. We wanted to create a place that people and companies genuinely want to be part of," said Amir Wolner, Founder and CEO of Hakibbutz.
"The model we've built in Israel is based on the understanding that in an era when people can work from almost anywhere, a workplace is no longer defined only by its offices, but by the people around you and the value created through those connections," he added.
The project also announced its roadmap, which will include several events throughout the year to attract new startups and help Israeli entrepreneurs expand their operations into New York.
Some 470 startups in one city
The main house will be located in Chelsea, one of Manhattan's leading technology and innovation districts, with the organizer saying they designed the site to become a central gathering place for founders, startups, venture capital firms, investors, corporations, and other key players.
According to Israeli Mapped in NY, 470 Israeli startups currently operate in New York City, alongside venture capital firms, investors, multinational corporations, and thousands of professionals.
"When we realized that New York had become a major hub for Israeli technology companies, we knew it was the right place to bring what we do best," added Wolner, who has already opened similar sites with Hakibbutz over the last several years.
'It's time to have a home in NYC,' Guy Franklin, founder of Israeli Mapped in NY
Guy Franklin, founder of Israeli Mapped in NY, added, "When I first started mapping the Israeli tech ecosystem in New York, there were only 56 Israeli startups here. Today there are nearly 470. This isn't just growth in the number of companies; it's the maturation of an entire industry. Once you have nearly 470 Israeli startups in New York, it's time they have a home."
"Our goal is that no Israeli company arriving in New York should have to start from scratch. Instead, they should be able to immediately connect with a network of founders, investors, customers, and business partners," he explained.
"Our vision is for Hakibbutz NYC to become the place every Israeli CEO operating in New York, every founder visiting the city, every venture capital firm looking for Israeli innovation, and every American corporation seeking to work with Israeli startups knows they should visit."