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Birthright Excel to receive funding from Prime Minister's Office

Birthright has been using its Excel program to connect exceptional young Jewish business leaders with business leaders in Israel; the program received a major boost in the form of a major grant from the PMO, which will provide up to one-third of the program's budget.

The Prime Minister’s Office signed an agreement to contribute up to one-third of the finds required to support the Birthright Israel Excel program on Thursday.

 

 

The Excel program was launched in specifically geared towards participants interested in businesses and technology. It is an exclusive fellowship that starts with an all-expense paid 10-week internship program in Israel and continues with year-round workshops led by the community and its members. Government funding will enable the program to diversify and develop further, as well as reach a greater number of students from the Jewish communities around the US and the world.

 

Excel connects high-performing college students and recent graduates with leading businesspeople in Israel. The program offers opportunities to work in a wide range of fields including finance, venture capital, consulting, cybersecurity, high-tech and bio-tech, or to join a venture creation boot camp for 10 weeks. More than 230 young adults have participated to date.

 

Birthright Excel participants at their ceremony (Photo: Avishai Finkelstein)
Birthright Excel participants at their ceremony (Photo: Avishai Finkelstein)

 

“We are pleased that the Israeli government has recognized the strength and potential of our Excel program,” said Birthright Israel CEO Gidi Mark. “This added support will allow the program to connect even more Jewish young adults with their Israeli peers and leading entrepreneurs in Israel in order to create life-long career, business and networking opportunities for them.”

 

Companies that have participated in the Excel program include Check Point Software, Ernst & Young Israel and Magma Ventures Partners.

 

In addition to the business track, Birthright Excel launched the Ventures track this year, a similar fellowship focusing solely on entrepreneurs. Participants of the Ventures program work in an accelerator environment starting from initial creation to an early stage proof of concept and are mentored by leading figures of the Israeli startup community. Out of the six pilot teams, five are still working on launching their companies.

 

Graduates of the Birthright Excel Ventures program (Photo: Adam Lazovski)
Graduates of the Birthright Excel Ventures program (Photo: Adam Lazovski)

 

Last summer, as part of the organization’s efforts to engage with the flourishing technology and startup scene in Israel, Birthright Israel opened the “State of Mind” Innovation Center in Tel Aviv. In partnership with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the exhibit celebrates Israeli entrepreneurship throughout history and has hosted hundreds of Birthright Israel participants to date.

 

Since 2000, Birthright Israel has provided free trips to more than 500,000 Jewish young adults aged 18-26 with the goal of strengthening Jewish identity, facilitating cultural understanding and fostering solidarity with Israel and its people. Israel Birthright Excel is supported by The Steinhardt Family Foundation, The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and The Paul E. Singer Foundation.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.11.16, 14:58
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