The NSW Government has announced that it’s opened applications for ‘Israel Calling’, an initiative which will see 10 NSW-based cybersecurity and fintech startups travel to Austrade’s Tel Aviv landing pad to take part in a bootcamp program.
The program looks to uncover startups who are ready to take their product global, providing them a chance to immerse themselves in Israel’s wide startup sector.
Selected startups will travel to Austrade’s Landing Pad, located in SOSA, or South of Salame, a space formed as part of the Coalition’s National Innovation and Science Agenda.
Set over 10 days, selected startups will be given the opportunity to meet local entrepreneurial talent, discuss their business with mentors and gain insight into cybersecurity and data science information.
In addition to participation in the accelerator, successful applications will also be able to participate in Israel’s DLD Tel Aviv, the largest international innovation event held in Israel.
The startups will also be provided opportunities to explore potential commercialisation partners supported under the NSW and Israeli Innovation Agreement.
Signed last year by former premier Mike Baird and the Israeli government, the Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation in R&D saw the NSW and Israeli government invest $2 million into cooperative startup and innovation projects, with the accelerator emerging at the tailend.
Speaking about the program, NSW Innovation Minister Matt Kean said the landing pad serves as an ideal location for Australian businesses to tap into Israel’s strong local ecosystem.
“Tel Aviv is where the action is, so the knowledge successful startups bring home to NSW will be invaluable to their businesses and the local ecosystem. The chance for some of our most innovative startups to take their business models to Tel Aviv and network with fellow entrepreneurs is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.
Climbing the ranks over the years, Israel came in as sixth in Startup Genome’s 2017 Startup Ecosystem Ranking, with the country securing the title of holding the most startups per capita internationally.
Casey Elmer, Marketing Manager of Sail, a Sydney-based fintech that travelled to the landing pad as part of last year’s cohort, said the landing pad accelerator was key in helping launching the startup on a global scale.
“Austrade’s Tel Aviv Landing Pad not only facilitated access to leading VCs, investors, mentors and partnerships; it provided cutting-edge workshops and training in all areas of launching and running our fintech startup,” she said.
“The Tel Aviv Landing Pad is more than a 10-day intensive program of workshops and training; it offers a complete mindset shift in what it takes to be a successful global startup.”
Steven Ciobo, Tourism and Investment Minister, said Tel Aviv would also offer startups access to a wide network of global investors.
“Israel has world-class R&D institutions, and a sophisticated network of global investors, so Tel Aviv is the perfect place for NSW startups to land before launching to the world,” he said.
“We are looking for entrepreneurs who are ready to disrupt their marketplaces and have a vision for growth.”
You can find more about applying to the landing pad accelerator here.
Image: Tel Aviv 2016 cohort. Source: Supplied.
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