MIBA Israel Finds Game-Changing Startups in Haifa
Written by Liza Yedwab, MIBA Manager of Business Development, Israel
The MIBA Israel team recently completed our fifth site visit, the latest in a series of impactful innovation hub tours.
We continue to:
- Promote Michigan as a serious contender for Israeli companies scaling to North America
- Explore new centers for Israeli innovation and entrepreneurship
- Engage with compelling startups relevant for the State of Michigan, and
- Learn of new potential business models for the MIBA.
This month we traveled to the HiCenter in Haifa.
Operating since 2008 with support from the Israel Innovation Authority, HiCenter has evolved into a comprehensive support system for tech startups in Haifa.
HiCenter functions as a business/innovation/ investment hub – connecting companies to funding opportunities and providing business development services to overcome startup challenges. Working synergistically with local institutions, HiCenter accelerates Haifa’s technological entrepreneurial ecosystem and provides incentives for companies to select Haifa as their business HQ.
HiVentures: Powering Tech Growth
The center’s flagship program, HiVentures, supports post-proof-of-concept technology companies in sectors including FoodTech, Digital Health, and Medical Devices. Since 2020, the program has supported 67 startups across six cohorts, collectively raising more than $140 million.
Innovative Startups Showcase
We met with four promising ventures:
- IDAN Health: Founded by Keren Golan, this AI-driven healthcare platform focuses on women’s health, collecting and analyzing data to be the pre-emptive catalyst in identifying and preventing diseases.
- Reborn Medical: Shir Kashi’s startup is developing a portable brain scanner using ultrasound technology, delivering CT-scan quality imaging without radiation risks, targeting ICU applications.
- EndoCure: Dr. Hadas Ziso’s company uses AI-powered ultrasound with contrast agents to detect and map endometriosis, enhancing diagnosis and surgical planning.
- FVMat: This deep-tech startup combines multi-physics simulation with machine learning to optimize R&D workflows and predict product performance under real-world conditions.
Our visit to HiCenter highlighted the vibrant innovation ecosystem in Haifa and demonstrated promising opportunities for the MIBA.
