Over 200 entrepreneurs attended Expert Day at Bizmax – the Jerusalem business hub for haredi entrepreneurs. The event culminated with a startup competition, whose winner represented Bizmax at the London Conference for technology and innovation last week, and where he also had the opportunity to meet with mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat.
Throughout the Expert Day haredi entrepreneurs had the opportunity to sit with representatives of 30 leading high-tech companies and venture capital funds, including KPMG, Mobileye, Intel, OurCrowd and JVP, among others, for one-on-one mentoring sessions. The event was held in collaboration with Made In JLM – an organization promoting startups and hi-tech innovation in the Startup Nation’s capital – and included lectures on technology and business, from legal issues to finances to business and technological development, as well as investor management.
Following the lectures and mentoring sessions, a startup competition was held in Bizmax’s auditorium, where nine entrepreneurs presented their companies. The presenters got to answer questions about their product, from the audience as well as from the panel of judges.
Motti Eichler, Chairman of Achim Global which promotes haredi entrepreneurism and innovation, awarded a Bizmax trophy to Yonatan Caras who won the competition and who subsequently presented his startup at the London Conference last week. Yonatan expressed his gratitude to Marc Schimmel, President of Achim Global, and thanked him for the opportunity to attend the conference.
The highlight of the event was the exposure of haredi entrepreneurs to the international market through Israeli high-tech companies. Bizmax Manager Itzik Crombie said that many of the entrepreneurs who attended have formulated ideas for future business collaborations with leading companies in the industry.
The point is not just to enable haredim to integrate into the labor market, but to enable entrepreneurs and technological innovators to get the guidance they need in order to develop professionally and promote their product. The one-on-one consulting sessions provided by the mentors will enable more and more haredim in technology to find their way in the industry and earn a decent living.
Bizmax is a brilliantly designed workspace commons, following the international trend of shared workspace facilities but adapted to the specific needs of the haredi community. Since it opened its doors earlier this year, over 70 entrepreneurs and small business owners have joined. It offers haredi freelancers, entrepreneurs and small business owners the opportunity to expand their businesses while leveraging the synergistic networking environment. The premises has open workstations and private offices available, equipped with all the amenities, as well as a cafeteria and conference rooms. In addition, Bizmax provides an array of services including consulting, business development workshops and courses, and assistance with finding angel investors and securing loans.
The event was hailed by entrepreneurs as another successful initiative of Bizmax and Achim Global to promote entrepreneurism, innovation and globalization for haredi entrepreneurs and business people.
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One Response
I was at Bizmax for a meeting with someone that has his office there and I was blown away by the facility, I would never imagine a place like this especially in the orthodox community in Jerusalem, I wish they would open one in New York I would join in a heart beat