Israeli tech ecosystem in New York gets dedicated hub as 470 startups operate in city
Hakibbutz NYC opens in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood to connect Israeli founders, investors and corporations as more companies establish U.S. operations.
The Israeli technology ecosystem in New York has reached a new stage of growth with the opening of Hakibbutz NYC, a dedicated hub for Israeli startups, investors and technology companies operating in the city.
Located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, the hub was established through a partnership between Hakibbutz, an Israeli innovation and workspace company, and Israeli Mapped in NY, a platform that tracks and connects the Israeli technology ecosystem in New York.
Approximately 470 Israeli startups currently operate in New York, according to Israeli Mapped in NY data. The number has grown significantly over the past decade, rising from 56 companies when the ecosystem mapping project began.
The new space is intended to provide a permanent location for Israeli entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital firms, corporations and business partners to meet and build relationships. Cybersecurity company Zafran Security is among the first companies to establish operations at the hub, with additional startups expected to join in the coming months.
New York has become a major base for Israeli technology companies seeking to expand in the United States, particularly in sectors such as cybersecurity, fintech and artificial intelligence. The city provides access to U.S. customers, investors, financial institutions and multinational corporations, leading many Israeli startups to establish local teams and operations there.
"Over the past several years, we've watched the Israeli tech industry fundamentally change the way it operates in the United States," said Guy Franklin, founder and CEO of Israeli Mapped in NY. "More and more companies are establishing a permanent presence in New York, hiring local teams, and managing their U.S. growth from here."
Franklin said that the growth of the ecosystem created the need for a dedicated gathering place. "Once you have nearly 470 Israeli startups in New York, it's time they have a home," he said.
The hub will host events throughout the year, including founder meetings, investor gatherings, professional discussions and meetings with executives from U.S. corporations.
Amir Wolner, founder and CEO of Hakibbutz, said the goal was to create more than a traditional office space. "We didn't want to build just another office space. We wanted to create a place that people and companies genuinely want to be part of," he said.
The opening comes as Israeli companies continue expanding their presence in New York. According to Israeli Mapped in NY, the ecosystem currently includes approximately 600 open positions at Israeli technology companies in the city.
Cybersecurity is the largest sector among Israeli startups operating in New York, with approximately 80 companies active in the field. Around 40 companies operate in fintech, while digital health has become one of the fastest-growing areas.
Approximately 10% of Israeli startups operating in New York were founded by women, according to the mapping data.
Hakibbutz was founded by Wolner and operates innovation and workspace hubs in Israel. Israeli Mapped in NY was founded by Franklin after he relocated to New York more than a decade ago and began tracking the growth of Israeli technology companies in the city.
