“One of the biggest challenges for Israeli startups that wish to succeed overseas is understanding the respective local culture. That challenge is particularly hard for those who lack personal exposure to American culture.
Mass Challenge Jerusalem is Israel’s biggest startup accelerator. We are part of a group of accelerators with the flagship program based in Boston, and our goal is to deliver a nonprofit platform that promotes entrepreneurs who try to solve problems and bring something new to the world. Our role is to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation on a large scale. We select startups that have potential and provide the entrepreneurs with a network of mentors, materials necessary to succeed abroad, and contact with investors.
As part of our program, we take the startups to the U.S. and introduce them to potential American investors. But what do you do during COVID-19, when flying out of the country isn’t an option but foregoing the cultural training also isn’t possible?
This is how a connection was formed between us and Manal Haddad, a MAOZ Network member and a Program Manager and Grants Specialist at the U.S. embassy in Israel. Manal told me the embassy had released an invitation to tender aimed at encouraging commercial ties during COVID-19.
Together we established a program that prepares Israeli entrepreneurs to interact with American culture and markets. The program doesn’t only include the typical entrepreneurs – men who have completed their service in the elite IDF Unit 8200 – but rather, we decided we wanted to help women, Arab citizens, and the ultra-Orthodox, most of whom are real trail blazers.
We came up with a program that will provide them with everything they need, so that when they get on the plane they’ll know what to expect on the other end. Workshops, get-togethers, contact with investors – and it’s all online. The U.S. Embassy is not only a funding partner; it’s a partner in building the program itself. It gives us access to speakers, experts, and connections.
And thus, in spite of – and partly thanks to – COVID-19, a partnership was formed: one that enables us to overcome travel restrictions, and thereby continue to encourage Israeli success in the United States.”