Innovation Discovery Turning Strategy into Action

Why Global Leaders Are Looking to Israel 

Israel’s innovation economy has entered a new chapter. What began as a startup-driven environment built on urgency and technical depth has matured into one of the world’s most resilient and dynamic tech ecosystems. 

Despite complex local challenges, the sector continues to grow. Funding rounds are increasing in size, M&A activity is accelerating, and more companies are making the leap from early-stage to scale-up. According to the 2024 Startup Nation Finder Annual Report: 

• 7,030 tech companies are active across diverse verticals 

• 863 investors are actively backing innovation 

• 434 multinational corporations operate local R&D or innovation centers 

• 414 hubs, including accelerators, incubators, and university-linked TTOS, anchor the ecosystem 

Israel consistently ranks first globally in startup density and venture capital investment per capita. Leading sectors such as health tech, cyber, food systems, climate innovation, and AI are not only driving growth locally but also influencing global markets. 

As this momentum continues, more global companies are choosing to engage with the ecosystem. They are investing, scaling operations, and forming long-term strategic partnerships. 

Who Innovation Discovery Is For 

Innovation Discovery is designed for organizations seeking a structured, outcome-oriented engagement with Israeli innovation. This includes corporate innovation teams, strategic investors, R&D leaders, public-sector innovation offices, and others involved in identifying, developing, or deploying technological solutions. 

This process supports efforts to: 

• Identify technologies addressing core business or policy challenges 

• Explore partnerships, co-development opportunities, or investment options 

• Benchmark against global best practices in innovation and open innovation models that work best in Israel 

• Expand into new markets or test emerging concepts with experienced Israeli teams 

What Innovation Discovery Offers 

Startup Nation Central is an independent, philanthropically funded nonprofit that provides unmitigated access to Israel’s tech ecosystem. The organization leverages data, insights, and relationships to ensure that global stakeholders engage with the right technologies, startups, and experts. 

Innovation Discovery is a guided, structured process that transforms strategic objectives into curated engagements with the most relevant innovators in Israel. The result is not a broad market overview, but a highly focused experience aligned with defined priorities. 

The Process: Step by Step 

Kickoff and Introduction 
The process begins with a working session to define innovation goals and operational challenges. This step sets the foundation for a focused engagement. 

Define Areas of Interest 
Strategic focus areas, whether by sector, technology, or business function, are clarified. This ensures alignment between internal needs and external scouting. 

Sourcing Startups and Ecosystem Stakeholders 
Startups and innovation partners are sourced using real-time ecosystem data and direct network knowledge. The result is a curated list tailored to the organization’s profile and goals. 

Prioritization 
The organization reviews and ranks the sourced startups and stakeholders. This ensures the most relevant players are featured in the final agenda. 

Agenda Development 
A tailored in-market agenda is developed, including: 

• Meetings with vetted startups and growth-stage companies 

• Sessions with ecosystem leaders, investors, and domain experts 

• Site visits and technical deep dives 

Curated Visit to Israel 
The visit is fully coordinated, with pre-scheduled meetings and built-in context. The experience is designed to generate actionable outcomes and strategic insights. 

Why It Works 

Innovation Discovery has been used by over 400 global organizations to inform innovation strategy, identify high-value partnerships, and explore new markets. Its success lies in the alignment between business needs and ecosystem engagement, supported by expert facilitation and ecosystem fluency. 

Participants complete the process with a focused network, market-relevant insights, and opportunities that are directly aligned with strategic objectives. 

What Happens Next 

Following the visit, Startup Nation Central continues to support outcomes. This includes: 

• Coordinating follow-up meetings and ongoing engagement with startups 

• Providing support for internal analysis and strategic alignment 

• Assisting with next-phase activities such as additional scouting, deep dives, or introductions 

The relationship is continuous. As innovation goals evolve, Startup Nation Central remains a point of connection for updates, ecosystem insights, and further opportunities. 

Startup Nation Central’s Role 

Startup Nation Central connects global demand with Israeli innovation. The organization operates independently and without commercial bias, focused solely on unlocking the value of Israel’s tech ecosystem for international partners. 

Innovation Discovery reflects this mission. It provides a practical, efficient, trusted, and free-of-charge pathway into one of the world’s most capable innovation environments. 

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