Four months after Intel shut it down, Ignite relaunches as an independent accelerator
Four months after Intel shut it down, Ignite relaunches as an independent accelerator
With a new model, Ignite aims to fuel deep-tech innovation and corporate partnerships. The new program is initially supported by the Israel Innovation Authority, the Ministry of Economy, and Intel as the first client, with other corporations expected to join.
Four months after being shut down by Intel, the Ignite startup acceleration program is returning with a new independent model, Calcalist has learned. Under this model, Ignite will provide innovation services to organizations and multinational corporations. The program will operate an accelerator for entrepreneurs in the deep-tech sectors at the ideation, pre-Seed and Seed stages. The new model is initially supported by the Israel Innovation Authority, the Ministry of Economy, and Intel as the first client, with other corporations expected to join.
The new program is led by Tzahi Weisfeld, who will serve as the chairman of Ignite and Alon Leibovich, as Managing Director. Weisfeld has recently been appointed as VP Startup Ecosystem at Intel Corporation, and brings 13 years of experience in startup acceleration. He founded the global Intel Ignite deep tech accelerator program five years ago, which expanded under his leadership to the U.S., Europe, and the UK.
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Ignite team (from left): Joseph Shamama, Alon Leibovich, Omri Neuberger, Amit Gorin, Avi Tel-Or, and Tzahi Weisfeld.
(Studio Gavra)
In a conversation with Calcalist, Weisfeld, who also previously managed Microsoft’s global startup accelerator programs for eight years, explained the transition. "Intel decided to shut down the program as part of a logical process, given the crisis it is currently experiencing and its focus on reducing activities not central to its core business. The noise surrounding the closure created significant pressure from the industry, which emphasized that there are few programs in Israel as impactful as this one.
"I spoke to my manager at Intel and told him I was ready to close the program, but the overwhelming pressure made me reconsider. He was willing to listen and reached out to Pat Gelsinger, asking if there was a way to save the program. At the same time, the Innovation Authority and the Ministry of Economy also expressed their support. This led to the decision to establish an independent organization, which is a mission-driven initiative for us. It's not a cheap model—on the contrary, it requires significant investment. Until now, I had always worked with one partner and built a framework focused on helping multiple companies simultaneously. Intel has agreed to be our first customer, and we also won a tender from the Innovation Authority to secure funding.
"We have approached many global companies and opened doors for collaboration," Weisfeld continued. "We are seeking $1 million per year for three years from each partner. These funds will help us support organizations and companies effectively. The core of our program is focused on Seed-stage startups, around which we have built a broader Pre-Seed initiative. This includes recruiting early-stage companies preparing for their next phase and those eligible for our Seed program. In addition, we run special projects, such as programs for ultra-Orthodox entrepreneurs, foodtech initiatives, and more."
Leibovich served as Managing Director of the Intel Ignite program in Tel-Aviv since 2022, and aside for its flagship program, led various social initiatives recognized for their importance by the President of Israel, including working with entrepreneurs from the ultra-Orthodox community to help them meet the global standards required in high-tech. Following October 7th, he initiated a recovery program with Kibbutz Holit, integrating high-tech into the kibbutz economy and creating connections between the community and entrepreneurs in food tech and agrotech sectors. Leibovich is also a former entrepreneur, having co-founded and served as CEO of BrandTotal.
Ignite’s value lies in its hands-on support for entrepreneurs navigating the early stages of product development, market adaptation, and organizational growth. The program provides mentorship, sales and marketing expertise, financial acumen, and strategic planning. Startups also benefit from soft skills training, such as managing mental challenges, stress, and family balance. Unique workshops for founders’ spouses promote sustainable family life, while cultural immersion activities help entrepreneurs prepare for U.S. markets, including an understanding of American business etiquette.
Entrepreneurs are supported by external advisors, including Greg Lavender, Intel's Global CTO, and mentors who are alumni of the program. Notable alumni from previous cohorts include Deci (acquired by Nvidia), Flow Security (acquired by CrowdStrike), Granulate (acquired by Intel), Speedb (acquired by Redis), Oxeye (acquired by GitLab) Helios (acquired by Snyk) and more. Among the companies that Weisfeld supported early on at Microsoft are Own, which was sold to Salesforce for $2.1 billion, AppFlyer, which is slated for an IPO, and unicorns including Semperis, Coralogix, and more.
Unlike many other accelerators, Ignite distinguishes itself by prioritizing the needs of the startups rather than aligning them with external corporate interests. "The program has always been about supporting entrepreneurs on their terms," Weisfeld emphasized. "The team behind Ignite has entrepreneurial experience, which allows us to address challenges from a perspective only those who’ve been there can understand."
Leibovich concluded: "Each of us had other career opportunities, but out of belief in our mission, we came together to ensure positive change in Israel continues. We’ve taken the existing model and reinvented it, making it nimble and open to diverse organizational support instead of being tied to a single corporation. This allows us to integrate into the innovation strategies of our partners, help develop innovation in areas they care about, and enable organizations to reinvent themselves through collaboration with startups. We are excited to return to the industry with this new model, continuing to support entrepreneurs and create the next success stories from Israel, leveraging high-tech for the benefit of the Israeli economy and society."
