Startup Incubator Embraces New Immigrants To Israel

Bees have a well-honed communication system that allows them to work together to build successful communities. Inspired by these buzzing achievers, a new Israeli startup accelerator program is about to help Israel’s newest immigrants harvest their own startup honey.

TheHive is a six-month accelerator program for startup companies that are led completely or in part by new immigrants to Israel. The project is led by Gvahim – meaning ‘heights’ in Hebrew – a non-profit organization founded in 2006 to help new Israelis participate in the Israeli economy despite lacking language skills.

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TheHive, which is now incubating eight companies in its Tel Aviv headquarters, draws on the strength of Israeli investors and entrepreneurs and provides hands-on guidance rather than financial assistance.

Busy bees

TheHive co-founders are Audrey Chocron and Cynthia Phitoussi, who both moved to Israel from France. The two believe the accelerator will not only give professional immigrants a head start, but also help provide entrée to Israel’s export market for native Israelis who are looking to peddle their products in the birth countries of these newcomers: North America, the Ukraine, South America, the UK and France.

“We assessed there was a need for potential entrepreneurs who wanted to set up their business and who were lacking support, lacking connections and were feeling isolated working from home,” says Chocron.“It was this idea that Cynthia and I took to Gvahim one and a half years ago. We wanted to do something for these people,” she adds.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7UN0h9S8YA[/youtube]

Their initial idea was for Gvahim to provide working space for newcomer entrepreneurs, and it grew into an accelerator that started in November. Each team is attached to an Israeli mentor throughout the six-month program. The mentors share their contact networks, give weekly workshops and provide access to experts in various fields.

TheHive helps its “bees” to adapt international skills and find local opportunities in Israel. Entrepreneurs are mentored by decision-makers and proven leaders such as Rina Pridor, founder and former director of the government’s Technological Incubators Program; Eran Goren, the co-founder of Fidelis Family Office; and Moshe Mor, a partner at Greylock Venture Capital.

Picking up one’s life and moving to Israel mid-career is a startup project in itself, giving young entrepreneurs courage to bring their ideas to the international market, one Hive mentor says.

Who’s buzzing around the hive?

After receiving 50 applications, Chocron and Phitoussi narrowed it down to eight. The chosen would-be entrepreneurs include new immigrants from across the globe.

“It’s a very rich program because people are from different parts of the world in different fields of industry, such as mobile Internet and platforms for social media. One of our teams is thinking about a new concept for bicycles,” says Chocron.

Some of the companies now in TheHive include:

TheHive’s Steering Committee

PaperJet, headed by a South African-Colombian team developing a new service that lets students print documents for free in return for agreeing to promotional messages on the back of the document. Students register online and local service-providers are invited to place ads on the printouts. The service is currently available at Israeli universities.

Koola Ring, headed by a French-American team developing a SaaS (software as a service) technology that gives a support network for college and professional alumni. With messaging tools, directories and networking tools, it takes LinkedIn to the next level.

EZ Life, run by a French-Israeli duo to promote “green” alternative means of transport through innovative, high-end and distinctive products and services.

Taptank, an Israeli-American personal and social productivity tool to manage activities and plan and leverage contacts from social networks.

Quikbreak, a mobile site featuring web shows and games aimed at people aged 30 years and older.

Parko, which is developing an innovative Smartphone application that will solve the problem of finding parking in congested cities like Tel Aviv using advanced technology and crowd sourcing.

YadWire, started by Italian and French immigrants with the goal of monetizing free surfing for Wi-Fi operators, enterprises and public venues with the continuous and dynamic injection of geo-located and targeted ads.

The next six-month accelerator cycle will run from June through November, 2012.

Photos by Michael Alvarez-Pereyre For Gvahim