Linking Israeli Startups to Experienced Entrepreneurs who Volunteer their time to help you grow
Increase the pace in which you can connect with potential clients, distributors, joint venture partners, or market opinion leaders.
what link.il offers
Link.il matches Israeli startups with seasoned US tech entrepreneurs and managers who volunteer their expertise, connections, and insights. These advisors work directly with the startups to:
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Identify potential clients and design partners
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Develop US and/or global market entry strategies
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Connect with relevant sales channels
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Explore design partners and joint venture opportunities
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When applicable, facilitate introductions to investors
The program is tailored to the company’s needs and priorities – whether it is connecting them to potential customers, design partners, or investors. Our consultants can also review your go to market strategy to ensure it is attuned to US consumer behavior, marketing channels, regulatory requirements, etc. Engagements typically involve 3-4 meetings over a period of a few months and oftentimes much longer.
Confidentiality
Your information is safe with us! We'll sign an NDA if needed before sharing any confidential details.
Fees
This invaluable service comes at no cost; however, a non-refundable admission fee of NIS 300 will be required when we approve your participation in the program.
Apply now!
Ready to grow your Israeli startup in the US? Apply now with link.il for expert guidance and support every step of the way!
To apply, startups submit a one-page overview including their stage, funding, website, and goals. Startups that are admitted to the program will receive weekly meetings with their mentors, for a period that will be decided by both sides.
Simply fill out the Application Form with non-confidential information, to be considered for the next round of link.il.
If you wish to learn more write us: yarden@efi.org.il
Link.IL Program Leadership Team
Link.il was founded by Ayla Matalon, Chairperson at EFI and Prof. Mark Cohen (Justin Potter Professor of American Competitive Analysis, Emeritus, at Vanderbilt University), with entrepreneurs and managers with direct, relevant experience in the given field.
Prof. Mark Cohen
Co Founder & US Partner
YAEL MANI FELDMAN
Member, steering committee
Ayla Matalon
Co Founder & EFI Chairperson
Sample of Our Consultants
Additional consultants are being added regularly. link.il consultants domains of expertise include SaaS, MedTech, AI, and high-performance computing. Our consultants have between 15 and 45 years of experience in entrepreneurship, business development, legal issues, strategy consulting and VC funding.
Testimonials
Discover the experiences of our participants! Their stories shine a light on how Link.il has made a lasting impact on their journeys. From unlocking new opportunities to building valuable connections and skills, their testimonials showcase the transformative value of being part of our program.
I was introduced to EFI in July, and by August, I had already started working with my advisor/connector —who recently joined our advisory board. He has been invaluable both strategically and practically. He provided crucial feedback on our product and go-to-market strategy, introduced us to a highly experienced healthcare professional (who also joined our advisory board), and facilitated key connections while actively participating in follow-up meetings.
Our bi-weekly meetings with our advisor/connector are incredibly impactful; his dedication to anydish is evident, and every session brings valuable insights and meaningful introductions.
Michal Kahan
co-founder, anydish
My experience with Link IL was excellent. They connected me with a connector / advisor, full of knowledge and experience, a business owner who has lived the entrepreneurial world his entire life and is genuinely committed to listening and sharing. He connected me with additional mentors on relevant topics that came up in our discussions and provided me with honest and valuable feedback on the product, as well as potential adjustments for the U.S. market. I highly recommend the program!
Lee Sharir
Co-Founder and CEO, Relyon.ai
When we were admitted into the Link-il program, they matched us with a top-level mentor who is a strategic consultant specializing in startups within our industry. This mentorship has been an incredibly valuable resource, particularly for an early-stage startup like ours.
Together, we worked to define our specific needs and align them with our available budget, which was modest. Our mentor explored several solutions and options to help us achieve our business goals within these constraints.
Throughout the ongoing mentorship, we’ve had the opportunity to gather first hand feedback from potential customers and users of our technology—an invaluable step in validating and refining our approach. We’re looking forward to the final results and reports as we continue to progress toward our business objectives.
Waseem Geraisy
CEO and Co-Founder, Sorlis
Working with Link-il by EFI has been a fantastic experience for us. As a young startup operating in a niche and traditional market, identifying and engaging potential customers in the U.S. is a significant challenge. The EFI team demonstrated a deep understanding of our offering and target audience, successfully identifying the right prospects and connecting us directly to them. Their introduction led to a successful demo and, hopefully, a solid business relationship in the near future. It was a true ‘bingo moment’ — far exceeding our expectations. The follow-up and ongoing support from the EFI team have been nothing short of outstanding!
Tal Duvdevany
CEO & Co-Founder, WATCHIT