Aliyah Ventures is a Tel Aviv-based venture capital firm backing immigrant founders (olim) building technology companies in Israel, founded by former McKinsey executive Ron Alpar. The firm describes itself as Israel's first VC fund dedicated to immigrant founders.
Aliyah Ventures backs immigrant founders building technology companies in Israel, arguing that traits often seen as weaknesses for new immigrants, such as a limited local network, can instead be advantages, including international market knowledge and overseas connections.
The fund cites a gap in Israeli tech: immigrants founded or co-founded 59% of U.S. unicorns, but fewer than 5% of Israeli unicorns have immigrant founders.
The firm invests at the pre-seed and seed stages, with check sizes of $250,000 to $500,000.
Beyond capital, Aliyah Ventures supports founders with government benefits, business Hebrew lessons, workspace, and help navigating Israeli bureaucracy, banking, and healthcare, and draws on a network of more than 100 scouts in Jewish communities including New York, London, Paris, and Sydney.
Aliyah Ventures has completed the first close of its debut fund, Aliyah Ventures Fund I.
The fund's size has not been disclosed. It has made two investments to date and is evaluating roughly 50 more startups.
The fund is backed by family offices and individual investors with backgrounds at firms including Google, Blackstone, and Goldman Sachs.
Leadership
Aliyah Ventures was founded by Ron Alpar, a former McKinsey executive who spent seven and a half years at the firm, including helping establish its Israel Tech Hub and later leading its AI Center of Excellence in New York. Alpar has been an immigrant for most of his life and views the experience of relocating as valuable training for founders.
Investment Strategy
The fund targets technology companies founded in Israel by immigrants, including founders who are still abroad but plan to relocate. It emphasizes speed to a first round and hands-on support for founders adjusting to life and business in Israel.
Strategic partners, including Amazon Web Services, monday.com, and Deel, offer Aliyah Ventures' portfolio companies hands-on support and discounts reported to be in the six figures.
Notable Investments
Israel
