Birthright Israel Launches First Accelerator, Excel Ventures

 June 19, 2016|  Birthright Israel’s Leadership Program, “Birthright Israel Excel“, is launching “Excel Ventures” – a first of its kind program which invites young entrepreneurs from both leading American universities and the Israeli Defense Forces’ most prominent tech units, to join together in an innovative program to create the next big startups. The 10 week program will be held in Tel Aviv and will serve as an accelerator for the young entrepreneurs. In the program they will go through all the critical stages of bringing an idea to life, putting a team together, finding investors and carrying out a reality-changing new concept. The participants will be mentored by leading figures from the Israeli startup community, including Yoram Tietz (Managing Partner, Ernest & Young), Liat Aaronson (Partner, Marker LLC Venture Capital), Yifat Oron (CEO of LeumiTech), and Amir Pinchas (Head of Microsoft Ventures Startup Portfolio and Operations) among others. Excel Ventures is funded by the Steinhardt Foundation, the Schusterman Foundation and the Paul Singer Foundation, with the cooperation of other leading groups such as Ernest & Young and the Rise Community.