Mix together entrepreneurial zeal, technological brilliance and the strictly-Orthodox ethos, and what do you get?
An intelligent mikveh purifier, a smart baby bottle and wedding photography that uses facial-recognition technology, to name a just few of the innovations that were on display at a Charedi start-up event in London last week.
The 21 companies that showcased their creations owe some of their success to BizLabs Scalerator, an Israeli programme that provides workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities to Orthodox innovators and has raised an impressive $45million in funding since it was set up five years ago.
baby bottle
The smart baby bottle
Jonathan Heller, 37, CEO of MikvaTech, which uses advanced technology to clean and maintain mikveh water, said that there had “never been a better time to be a Charedi entrepreneur. Programmes like this one offer support and access to the outside world without people having to sacrifice their values.”
Another start-up, SnapiT, has come up with a system that uses facial-recognition technology to automatically send wedding guests the professionally taken photos in which they appear.
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PR platform: Ruchama Kahaneman
Some firms also took part in a Dragons’ Den-style event for London investors. The boss of CyWat, pitched a device which measures pollution in water systems every ten minutes; GD Stride demonstrated a remote-controlled dynamic orthotic worn by diabetics to quicken healing and avoid amputations.
The smart baby bottle that helps prevent colic was presented by Elchanan Vaserman of BabyTech; and a website by Novotalk helps people who have children with speech disorders find online treatment with the help of AI.
According to Rachel Wagner Rosenzweig, in charge of business development at Bizmax, which oversees BizLabs, “the development of the strictly Orthodox economy is the most important factor to the successful future of Israel”.
But research by the Israel Innovation Authority found that only six per cent of startups launched by Charedi founders survived after a year due to problems with funding, marketing and team-building.
This is in sharp contrast to those supported by BizLabs, 89 per cent of which remain active. Since the BizLabs Scalerator programme started five years ago, 45 startups have taken part, raising almost $45million in funding.
elchanan vaserman
Elchanan Vaserman
Shuli Segal Zlotsky, 26, from Jerusalem, the CEO of Same Side, which connects families seeking medical treatment abroad with other families who have been through a similar experience, said the programme had given her access to “very high-level mentors. They encouraged us and didn’t give up on us.”
Ruchama Kahaneman, 40, from Bnei Barak, CEO of about.me, a PR platform, said: “My husband learns Torah, so I think the fact that I need to bring money home has pushed me to be a good businesswoman and search for the next challenge.”
The mother of seven said that startups “are a new world. BizLabs has given me mentoring and knowledge which I can’t get from books.”
Leo Noé, who set up the Kemach Foundation, the largest organisation in Israel focusing on Charedi employment and one of BizLabs’ founding partners, said he was motivated by a belief that “Charedim were not performing as much as they should be, but that they should have the opportunity to each earn a living.”
Dr Jacob H Schmidt, a finance professor and investor based in London, said: “This could be the next success story in Israel.
jTwo or three of the startups have great potential. It’s about having the right business model and being in the right sector.” He added that success could come from “Charedi and less Charedi partners” working together.
His views were echoed by Motti Eichler, CEO of Achim Global, BizLabs’ other founding partner. “Walls don’t exist in Bizmax or BizLabs. The atmosphere in Israel is so divisive at the moment. The only way we can build a sustainable country is by working together.”
