Aliyah Ventures has completed the first close of its debut pre-seed fund in Tel Aviv, targeting immigrant entrepreneurs who face barriers in Israel’s tightly connected tech ecosystem.
Immigrant Founder Gap Drives Fund Launch
Immigrants founded 59% of United States unicorns, defined as privately held startups valued at $1 billion or more, according to data from the National Foundation for American Policy cited by Aliyah Ventures. In contrast, fewer than 5% of comparable Israeli companies feature immigrant founders. Alpar states that this disparity stems from an ecosystem reliant on local networks, where newcomers often lack fluent Hebrew, army connections, or established venture capital relationships.
International Networks Viewed as Advantage
Aliyah Ventures treats cross-cultural experience and overseas networks as competitive assets rather than liabilities. The fund leverages a network of more than 100 scouts across Jewish communities in New York, London, Paris, and Sydney to source founders prior to or shortly after immigration. Government incentives for new olim and falling artificial intelligence development costs further underpin the timing of the fund’s launch.
Initial Investments and Support Services
The fund has finalized its first two investments: Conspectus, an artificial intelligence intelligence platform founded by former CNN and Meta analyst Jennifer Korn, and Bayes, founded by Benny Attar, which uses prediction markets for business risk hedging. Beyond capital, Aliyah Ventures provides operational assistance, including help with government benefits, business Hebrew lessons, workspaces, and navigation of Israeli bureaucracy, banking, and healthcare.
Demographic Trends Among New Immigrants
Immigration data from Western countries accelerated in 2025, shaping the fund’s investment thesis. Aliyah from the United States grew 12% to about 4,150 individuals, French immigration rose approximately 45% to roughly 3,300, and British immigration increased 19%. Approximately one-third of these arrivals fell between the ages of 18 and 35, according to figures compiled from Israeli and Jewish organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aliyah Ventures
What is the typical investment size for Aliyah Ventures?
The fund typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 at the pre-seed stage. This capital targets early-stage technology companies built by new immigrants in Israel.
Who founded Aliyah Ventures and what is his background?
Ron Alpar, a former McKinsey executive who helped establish the firm’s Israel Tech Hub and led its artificial intelligence Center of Excellence in New York, founded the fund in 2026.
Which companies received the fund’s first investments?
The fund made its first two investments in Conspectus, an artificial intelligence intelligence platform founded by Jennifer Korn, and Bayes, founded by Benny Attar.
Worth a look