Yeshiva University, Hebrew U’s Yissum Launch NY Innovation Lab For Israeli Startups

Yeshiva University, a private, modern Orthodox research university based in New York City, is launching an innovation lab for Israeli startups, in collaboration with Yissum, the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The YU Innovation Lab will serve as a hub for Israeli startups and a launching pad for Israeli entrepreneurs in the city, Yeshiva University and Yissum announced in a press statement.

The lab will provide entrepreneurs will business infrastructure, access to talented YU students, and to the university’s network of expert mentors, and host workshop and events. The lab is supported by grants from the New York State legislature, including from Senator Todd Kaminsky (D-Five Towns).

“The synergy between YU students, faculty, Israeli startups, and the greater YU network, together with access to NYC business resources and local stakeholders, will create a launching pad for the startups to jump-start in the US,” Yeshiva University said in the statement.

Earlier this month, a delegation of 20 undergraduate students from YU, accompanied by Susan Bauer, executive director of the Yeshiva University Career Center, visited Israel to meet with leading Israeli entrepreneurs and startup executives.

The students met with representatives from over 15 tech startups and companies across the Israeli innovation ecosystem in industries such as medicine, agritech, biotech, cybersecurity, finance, and artificial intelligence, and participated in lectures on business ethics and Torah.

They also met with reps from tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Waze (a Google company since 2013). Some of the executives they met were YU alumni themselves, including from OurCrowd, Vayyar, Innovation: Africa, Wix, Hometalk, and Freightos, YU said.

The trip was developed in collaboration with Yeshiva University in Israel, and was designed to give students insight into careers and opportunities in the country and a firsthand look into the Israeli business ecosystem.

“One of the foundations of Yeshiva University’s strategic vision moving forward is to continue to build the YU-Israel Superhighway,” said Stephanie Strauss, executive director of YU in Israel. “By bringing students to see these companies and absorb their entrepreneurial energy, we make it easier for our students to envision their own futures in Israel and help them build connections and knowledge to make this future possible.”