ScaleUp House begins search for Israel’s next generation of global companies
Twenty-nine companies presented to a committee of investors, founders and industry leaders after nearly 100 applied to join the initiative’s first cohort, which will support companies as they move from local traction to global growth.
Twenty-nine companies were invited to present before investors, entrepreneurs, and senior industry executives as part of ScaleUp House’s first Selection Committee. Around 15 to 20 companies are expected to be selected for the initiative’s first cohort, which is designed to support Israeli technology companies as they scale and expand globally.
ScaleUp House’s first Selection Committee convened last Thursday at the Tel Aviv offices of law firm Sullivan & Worcester, as part of the process of selecting the companies that will join the initiative’s inaugural cohort.
Nearly 100 Israeli technology companies applied to participate in the program. Following an initial screening process that examined the companies’ operations, products, teams, market potential, and stage of development, 29 companies were selected to present their activities before members of the Selection Committee.
The committee is composed of investors, entrepreneurs, and senior industry executives. Over the course of the presentation day, members evaluated the companies based on several criteria, including product maturity, commercial activity, the quality of the founding and management teams, and their ability to expand into international markets.
Ahead of the meeting, committee members received background materials on the participating companies, including information about their activities, stage of development, fundraising history, and founding and management teams. The aim was to provide committee members with a prior understanding of each company and allow the discussions to focus on the next stage of its growth.
Of the 29 companies that presented, approximately 15 to 20 are expected to be selected for ScaleUp House’s first cohort.
One of the key considerations in the selection process is the company’s fit for its current stage of development and the extent to which the initiative can help it address its next growth challenges. The focus is on companies that have developed market-ready products and demonstrated commercial activity or traction, alongside clear ambitions for global expansion.
The committee also examined the human element. Alongside technology and business performance, members considered the founding and management teams and their ability to lead their companies through the next stages of development. Discussions also addressed the challenges facing Israeli companies seeking to move from local or regional operations toward building a presence in international markets.
The Selection Committee marks the opening stage of ScaleUp House, a year-round initiative led by Calcalist and Showcase IL, in collaboration with LeumiTech, Google, Sela, Sullivan & Worcester, and Phoenix ESOP.
The initiative is designed to support Israeli companies that have moved beyond the earliest stages of building a startup and are now preparing for more significant growth — including expansion into new markets, subsequent fundraising rounds, building leadership teams, and adapting their operations for global markets.
Throughout the year, the companies selected for the first cohort will gain access to the ScaleUp House Strategic Network, which brings together experienced founders, investors, senior executives, and professional partners. The program will provide support in areas including fundraising, go-to-market strategies, international expansion, finance, technology, product management, and leadership.
Following the day of presentations and discussions, the Selection Committee is expected to complete its selection of the companies that will join the first ScaleUp House cohort.
The Selection Committee included Seffi Tsarfati, Head of Strategic Partnerships, VC & Startups at Google; Or Koren, VC & Startup Partnerships Lead at Google; Elyor Nicklass Zitalni, Deputy CEO Private Sector at ESOP Phoenix; Hadar Dahan, Marketing Manager at ESOP Phoenix; Oded Har Even, Partner and Co-Managing Partner at Sullivan & Worcester; Reut Alfiah, Co-Managing Partner at Sullivan & Worcester; Orit Wolkin, Senior Managing Director at A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners; Ishai Ram, EVP at Sela; Doron Aaronsohn, CMO at Sela; Yael Arnon Livneh, Head of Marketing and BizDev at LeumiTech; Nir Inbar, SVP Growth at LeumiTech; Maya Eisen Zafrir, CEO Founder at LeumiTech; Delia Pekelman, SVP Growth & Corporate at LeumiTech; Sharona Mizrahi, Founder & CEO at Spark Founder Lab; Yam Regev, exited founder and four-time CMO turned marketing advisor; Natalie Refuah, Managing Partner at Viola; Sivan Shamri Dahan, Founding Partner at Idea Venture Capital; Hila Karah, Managing Partner, Pitango HealthTech at Pitango; Rinat Remlet, Operating Partner at Glilot Capital Partners; Yodfat, Managing Partner at Blumberg Capital; Dorit Dor, Co-founder at Qbeat Ventures; Sarit Firon, Managing Partner at Team8; and Merav Bahat, Co-founder and CEO at Dazz.
