Security Experts:

Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Management & Strategy

Microsoft Launches Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator Program in Israel

Microsoft Ventures, in collaboration with Israel-based venture capital firm Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), has launched a new accelerator program 

Microsoft Ventures, in collaboration with Israel-based venture capital firm Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), has launched a new accelerator program dedicated to cybersecurity startups in Tel Aviv, Israel.

During a four-month period, six to eight early-stage startups accepted in the first batch will be provided with the tools, mentorship and market expertise needed to accelerate their business, and create cybersecurity solutions capable of addressing the most significant threats.

The program takes place between September 2014 and January 2015 at the Microsoft Ventures accelerator in Herzliya, Israel. The application period is currently open and closes on July 24.

JVP Cyber Labs, which is taking part in the selection and mentoring process, has committed to invest $1 million in one of the participant startups. The company, considered Israel’s largest early-stage cybersecurity investor, has also promised to include the selected startup in its Be’er Sheva-based cybersecurity incubator.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Microsoft Ventures on this first-of-its-kind initiative. Together with my partner, at the JVP Cyber Labs, Nimrod Kozlovski, we put special emphasis on working with strategic partners, such as Microsoft, to get market validation for the significant innovations we are witnessing in the cyber-security space,” commented Yoav Tzruya, partner at JVP Cyber Labs.

“It is our top priority to create an ecosystem which nurtures entrepreneurs and startups independently of our portfolio. We are committed to offering a $1M investment and a spot in our Be’er Sheva incubator to at least one of the startups in this batch of the Microsoft Accelerator to develop their innovation and reach the beta phase,” Tzruya added.

So far, 85% of the startups that graduated Microsoft Ventures’ accelerator program have raised on average $1.2 million, and some of them, like Kitlocate and Appixia, have been acquired.

Hanan Lavy, director of Microsoft Ventures Accelerator, noted, “Our accelerator program leverages the Microsoft worldwide footprint to give startups unparalleled routes to customers and partners. We use this power to push startups to their success. We are eager to work closely with JVP to provide unique opportunities for entrepreneurs in our accelerator.”

 

Written By

Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is a contributing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher for two years before starting a career in journalism as Softpedia’s security news reporter. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering.

Click to comment

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

Join this webinar to learn best practices that organizations can use to improve both their resilience to new threats and their response times to incidents.

Register

Join this live webinar as we explore the potential security threats that can arise when third parties are granted access to a sensitive data or systems.

Register

Expert Insights

Related Content

Application Security

Cycode, a startup that provides solutions for protecting software source code, emerged from stealth mode on Tuesday with $4.6 million in seed funding.

Management & Strategy

SecurityWeek examines how a layoff-induced influx of experienced professionals into the job seeker market is affecting or might affect, the skills gap and recruitment...

Funding/M&A

Twenty-one cybersecurity-related M&A deals were announced in December 2022.

Management & Strategy

Industry professionals comment on the recent disruption of the Hive ransomware operation and its hacking by law enforcement.

CISO Strategy

SecurityWeek spoke with more than 300 cybersecurity experts to see what is bubbling beneath the surface, and examine how those evolving threats will present...

Management & Strategy

Tens of cybersecurity companies have announced cutting staff over the past year, in some cases significant portions of their global workforce.

CISO Conversations

SecurityWeek speaks with two leading CISOs in the aviation industry – Mitch Cyrus of Honda Aircraft, and Mark Ferguson of Bombardier.