Israeli reservists launch 150 startups through new entrepreneurship initiative

More than 150 startups founded by Israeli reservists have been launched through a new entrepreneurship programme supported by some of Israel’s best-known tech and business figures, including former Waze CEO Noam Bardin, former IDF chief of staff Aviv Kohavi and Armis co-founder Nadir Izrael.

The companies, created through 18x Elite Impact, have collectively raised more than $15 million in venture capital and non-dilutive funding within the initiative’s first year, according to organisers.

The milestone was unveiled today at the programme’s first annual summit in Tel Aviv, where selected founders presented their businesses to investors, technology executives and government officials.

Founded following the mass mobilisation of reservists since the 2023 Hamas attacks, the programme aims to channel the leadership, technical expertise and resilience developed during military service back into Israel’s startup ecosystem.

18x Elite Impact operates as an incubator-style initiative, pairing reservists with experienced entrepreneurs, investors and executives to help develop and scale early-stage ventures.

Mike Silberg, Managing Director and Founder, 18X Elite Impact, said: “We believe the same focus and mission-oriented mindset that epitomizes an elite soldier can, with the right support, make an extraordinary entrepreneur.

“Veterans often find reintegration into civilian life complicated. Through our work at 18X we are trying to help lift that burden. Our program helps reservists find and develop the energy and expertise within them, channeling it into entrepreneurship. This restores purpose and creates camaraderie, while at the same time unlocking successful business ideas and job opportunities. We are not just building business leaders, we’re cultivating the talent and teams to make the ventures a reality.”

The programme is backed by the Israel Innovation Authority, which described it as an example of fast-moving, high-impact entrepreneurship.

Dror Bin, CEO, Israel Innovation Authority said, “When we launched this initiative, we looked for programs that could deliver high-impact results at startup speed. 18x Elite Impact has emerged as a great example of success, scaling reservist-led startups, while leveraging a unique pipeline of talent that is essential to the future of Startup Nation”.

The program’s success is anchored by a wide-reaching volunteer network of over 400 of Israel’s most influential tech and business figures. These mentors and advisors provide hands-on According to organisers, more than 1,000 reservists have participated in the programme so far, supported by a volunteer mentor network made up of more than 400 figures from Israel’s technology and business sectors.

Mentors Mike Silberg (right) and Aviv Kochavi (right), the former Chief of General Staff of the IDF

Mentors and advisers include Aviv Kohavi and investor Daniel Bernard, founder and chairman of Redwood International Sports. He said: “In my career, I’ve seen that the best founders are those who can navigate uncertainty with total composure. These reservists have been tested in ways few civilians will ever experience. My role is simply to provide the framework and the network; the grit and the vision are already there. It is a privilege to work alongside people who display such tenacity and motivation to succeed.”

Aviv Kohavi, former Chief of General Staff at the Israel Defense Forces, who mentored Or Ben-Shabat, the CEO and founder of DCA (Digital Combat Academy), noted: “Throughout my service, I have seen the unparalleled caliber of our soldiers on the battlefield. Mentoring a reservist like Or through 18x Elite Impact has shown me that this same excellence is now the engine of our civilian resilience. Seeing Or translate the leadership he displayed in combat into a tangible contribution to the Israeli economy is deeply moving. Our reservists defended the state with their lives; now, through entrepreneurship, they are building its future.”

The summit was held in collaboration with the Israel Innovation Authority and hosted by leading law firm, Arnon Tadmor-Levy.

18x Elite Impact said the initiative is designed not only to support business creation, but also to help reservists rebuild professional networks and find renewed purpose following military service.

The programme comes as Israel’s technology sector continues to adapt to the economic and social impact of prolonged reserve duty following the October 7 attacks and subsequent regional conflict.